The Embodiment Coaching Podcast

Kung fu teacher, Zen practitioner and author Keith Martin-Smith joins Mark for a bromantic chat about Chinese martial arts, northern vs. southern styles, beauty, wushu, the Shaolin Temple, Asian vs. Western teaching methods, Ken Wilber and integral theory (it gets a bit geeky), adult development and Spiral Dynamics, cleaning up vs growing up vs waking up, his fierce Zen teacher Junpo!!!! abuse and shadow and the embodied writing. This was a yang one, and a fun one. http://www.keithmartinsmith.com

Embodied Non-Violent Communication trainer David Weinstock joins Mark to talk peace and the body. They chat about aikido, why language matters too, the challenges of community, the power of love, practice, the 5 elements, listening and empathy, feelings and needs, how to be a better listener, the contributions of Richard Strozzi Heckler and Wendy Palmer, purpose, people who "have your back", conflict resolution and work in prisons. This episode is also quite practice heavy with several techniques demonstrated. http://liminalsomatics.com/

Tai chi teacher Dan Docherty joins the show and tells us about his journey from the Hong Kong police, to full-contact championships to being a tai chi teacher with Parkinson's. He describes what tai chi is (including the martial and internal aspects), talks internal strength, hard and soft, yin-yang, going with the flow, why people are exhausted, what the hands show, internal alchemy, the "three treasures", body language, day-to-day life, health, ageing, judo, adaptation, finding a good teacher, not being a hippie and Chinese culture. http://www.taichichuan.co.uk/

A slightly anarchic romp through the world of yoga research with New York based teacher and author Ariana. She exposes yoga myths, explores the psychology of why people perpetuate them, we look at the current and recent evidence base, chat about fundamentalism and postmodernism, gurus, ask if flexibility is always a good thing, the appeal of certainty, hot yoga, "urban" London/NY style yoga, "kicking butt" as a teacher, Trump, politics generally, and why when there is so much money in yoga are most yoga teachers poor?!! Excuse the background noise, it was Bikram being tortured. http://www.arianayoga.com https://www.yogaresearchandbeyond.com/

Dave joins the show to discuss his movement from martial arts to the field of "enchantment" and how stretching can be much deeper as an art than commonly seen. He discusses how to move more effectively from the physical to the holistic, what makes a practice transformative, Australian body culture, what "disenchantment" is, physical alchemy, Aldous Huxley and Fight Club, what "stretching" actually is anyway, the stretch reflex and, stretching as a tool for personal growth. He also offers some top stretching tips for all of us. www.physicalalchemy.com.au/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/physicalalchemy/ Kit: https://stretchtherapy.net/

Experienced dance movement and trauma therapist Amber joins Mark to discuss humanitarian work, polyvagal theory, state sharing, self compassion and self care when you work with trauma, the new trauma rock stars, humour, and not wearing kid gloves. We also discuss simply "what works" in trauma, and offer practical trauma-related tips for any embodiment professional. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvagal_theory http://amzn.eu/2sF9SLS http://restorativeresources.net/

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Soma Move Founder Linus on physiotherapy, movement in daily life and matching movement to clients needs, "Trojan-Horsing" gyms and fitness, innovation, Swedish culture, confidence, free movement, training for pleasure and why the body is NOT a temple. http://www.movdoo.com http://www.somamove.com

A rambling chat between Mark and movement and personal growth coach Chandler on BJJ http://www.chandlerstevens.com/

Senior Alexander Technique teacher Bruce Fertman joins Mark to discuss what the AT is and what the point is, his early days in gymnastics with Dan Millman, how AT lessons work, the root of tension, inhibition, personal somatic responsibility, being and doing, "end-gaining", mindfulness, the cross cultural body (he's an American in Japan), how we have many bodies, the "cosmetic body", embodied ethics, a deeper look at touch (his specialism) and gratitude. A wise man who's touched a lot of people. https://peacefulbodyschool.com