Active Pause

In this conversation, we explore dissociation and embodiment. It helps to think of dissociation as a natural “skill” that is necessary for us to be able to multitask – e.g. in such simple things as walking whilst not paying attention to our legs. In order for that dissociation to not become semi-permanent, we should naturally cultivate a positive relationship to the health in our bodies. Constant attention to problem solving and only focussing on what is “wrong” sets us up to be more likely to lose coherence. This has important implications for both psychological and physiological/physical health.

Andrew Cook: I originally trained as a mining engineer – and then re-trained as a hydrogeologist. After some time in a research post, I worked in rural water development projects in deserts (including 2 years on the fringes of the Kalahari), and eventually specialised in the hydrology of wetland nature reserves. Parallel to this, from about 1987, I became interested in complementary therapies, and qualified as a Craniosacral Therapy practitioner in 1997. Other influences include about 20 years taiji/qigong practice, and an enduring love of nature. I see the human body in the context of the natural world in which we evolved, and to which we are inextricably linked. I now live and work as a Craniosacral Therapist in Norfolk, UK. See: http://www.body-mind.co.uk/

Published March 2016

As you listen to this conversation, we hope you heave as much fun as we had meandering through various topics related to mindfulness and the human condition.

Dwight Hurst is a psychotherapist, writer, and podcaster who lives in Utah. He lives with 3 cool children, one cool wife, and a cool but nervous little dog. Dwight is the host & creator of The Broken Brain podcast and writes psychology articles and strange short stories. Follow him on Twitter @breakabrain or at http://dwighthurst.com

Published February 2016

This conversation is part of an ongoing exploration of stress, resilience, and mindfulness. Here, we talk about stress, how it comes about, and how it can be a gateway for growth. This is part of an invitation to all of us to explore this Mindful Place.

Mette Mouritsen is living in Denmark. She has been working as a medical doctor for 26 years and the past 15 years as a general practitioner. Due to stress she started practising mindfulness, which brought her further on to a psychotherapeutic study. The combination of these studies, together with a daily mindfulness practise and a rather sudden shift in consciousness brought her a further understanding of how body and mind are interconnected, which she uses in her new position as a holistic doctor, public speaker and author. She is the mother of three adult children, enjoys daily meditation, regularly exercise, writing and the many moments of stillness in nature and in everyday life.

Download PDF of Stress: A possibility to unite body, mind and spirit by Mette Mouritsen

Published January 2016

What next? An invitation for all of us to explore this Mindful Place:

Says Mette:

“It is really a deepfelt wish to create a space for applied mindfulness. A kind of compassionate “playground” mostly for adults and eventually teens. It could as well be named authentic relating, It is about presence. To be present within while being in contact without. A way to strengthen our ability to sense our selves, to know our limitation and go beyond them in full awareness. And utilise the strength in the common field of compassionate awareness.”

“The intention is to return to all that is here and now, each time we are caught by the stories we are retelling and recalling. It is a way to become more presence in life, and in our many relations in daily living, right there where we easily may loose the balance. It is a possibility to connect and be inspired, in stead of using our safe and well known avoiding strategy.”

“This place could also offer different awareness training like, painting, yoga, singing, music, silent nature walk, besides mindfulness. All what possibly could support our many different ways in becoming more aware. Then the group meetings will be the place to apply our mindful way of being. Like bringing the being into the doing, before walking out into the ‘bigger world’ ”.

Mette Mouritsen

In this conversation, Sonia Sequeira talks about mindfulness, with a special focus on sound meditation.

Sonia Sequeira, PhD is a neuroscientist and clinical researcher. She manages the investigational drug development program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in NYC and leads the Institute for Meditation Sciences in cutting edge research on meditation practices. She created the Advances in Meditation Research Conference Series, which are scientific meetings open to the public, to increase awareness and establish guidelines for quality in the field. At MSKCC, she spearheads the meditation program in the pediatrics department, for nursing staff and patients. Sonia currently teaches at Naam Yoga NYC, the Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Sciences and at MSKCC.

Published December 2015

In this conversation, we explore Suzanne’s experience in dealing with difficult feelings and transforming them. This is a short conversation (7 minutes), also available as PDF transcript illustrated with drawings by Suzanne.

Get printable PDF transcript.

See also: I realized what I wanted to kill was my feelings, not myself, by Suzanne Noel.

Suzanne Noel is a Certifying Focusing Coordinator. She developed Recovery Focusing and the H.O.W. We Heal model for group work. She lives in the central valley of Costa Rica. Her favorite quote is “I met what came, left behind my sorrows, and am traveling still.” (Movie, Restoration). Her websites are www.RecoveryFocusing.com and suzannelnoel.com

Published December 2015

In this conversation, we explore what it is that predisposes us to experiencing a sense of shared connection in a group, and relate it to the mammalian brain, and the synchronization of mammals.

About Roberto Larios Aguilar: Originally he was a Medical Doctor in the area of General Surgery, he quit and, as he began to feel the ‘lack of connection’ with other people, that reason and his own struggles made him began a Masters degree in Psychotherapy. There he was immediately attracted to the experiential theory of E. Gendlin. He is a certified Focusing Trainer and Wholebody Focusing coordinator. He loves mountain climbing and long remote trekkings. Actually he devotes his time to the clinical practice in the area of experiential psychotherapy, and recently very interesed in exploring “the shared Field” and the role of Wholebody Focusing, Touch and Consciousness in healing physical and emotional issues.

Published November 2015

Michelle Lee Weldon blends Yoga, Psychotherapy and Neurosculpting® to help her clients create sustainable change by re-wiring new patterns and habits into their daily routines.  She is a guest lecturer in several Yoga Teacher Trainings across the country, a national presenter in the field of mindfulness and is the co-creator of Neurosculpting® Yoga. In addition to teaching yoga classes and providing individual coaching and psychotherapy sessions, Michelle provides professional mentorship to therapists and coaches interested in creating a successful practice integrating yoga, meditation and psychotherapy.

Michelle is a Licensed Professional Counselor, an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher and a Certified Neurosculpting Fellow based in Denver, Colorado.  In her spare time she dabbles in social entrepreneurship and writing and loves the ocean, world travel and being generally ridiculous. See her website.

Published November 2015

In this conversation, Bruce Nayowith talks about Subtle Activism at an experiential level.

As Dr David Nicol describes it, Subtle Activism is applying the wisdom of our inner work to the collective dimension, for collective transformation, rather than the personal domain. Another of his quotes: “Subtle activism can be understood as a set of practices that allow us to connect, in the depths of our being, with our love for the world and our longing for it to reflect the highest potentials of human nature.”

Anytime one engages in a personal growth or healing process, it benefits others around them. What distinguishes Subtle Activism is that one is intentionally working with a larger realm than the personal – the collective is the subject of our attention and care, rather than simply a byproduct of it.

If you are interested in Subtle Activism, here are links you may want to explore:

* The Gaiafield Project. Quoting from their website: The Gaiafield Project promotes the study and practice of subtle activism, which affirms the power of consciousness-based approaches like global meditation and prayer events to support social and planetary transformation.

* HeartMath Institute has done much research in the connections between heart, brain, others, and the Earth. They sponsor science and research pointing to ways that the Earth’s fields, and human fields, interaffect each other.

Also: Summary and Notes from Subtle Activism Summit Sept 8-10, 2015:

* 5 page Summary of TITLES of the talks that Bruce Nayowith attended:

http://www.serviceoflife.info/planetaryhealing/SAsummary.htm

http://www.serviceoflife.info/planetaryhealing/SASummary.rtf (downloadable)

* 39 pages of NOTES from the talks that Bruce Nayowith attended:

http://www.serviceoflife.info/planetaryhealing/SASummitNotes.htm

http://www.serviceoflife.info/planetaryhealing/SASummitFullnotes.rtf (downloadable)

Since 1987, Bruce Nayowith has been Focusing personally, and to explore other processes that encourage the unfolding of individual and systemic potential. These include neurobiology, depth, and developmental psychology, whole-brain education, NonViolent Communication, and emergent group processes such as Dynamic Facilitation, Open Dialogue, and Family Constellations.

 

Published October 2015

In this conversation, Bruce Nayowith talks about Subtle Activism at an experiential level.

As Dr David Nicol describes it, Subtle Activism is applying the wisdom of our inner work to the collective dimension, for collective transformation, rather than the personal domain. Another of his quotes: “Subtle activism can be understood as a set of practices that allow us to connect, in the depths of our being, with our love for the world and our longing for it to reflect the highest potentials of human nature.”

Anytime one engages in a personal growth or healing process, it benefits others around them. What distinguishes Subtle Activism is that one is intentionally working with a larger realm than the personal – the collective is the subject of our attention and care, rather than simply a byproduct of it.

If you are interested in Subtle Activism, here are links you may want to explore:

* The Gaiafield Project. Quoting from their website:The Gaiafield Project promotes the study and practice of subtle activism, which affirms the power of consciousness-based approaches like global meditation and prayer events to support social and planetary transformation.

* HeartMath Institute has done much research in the connections between heart, brain, others, and the Earth. They sponsor science and research pointing to ways that the Earth’s fields, and human fields, interaffect each other.

Also: Summary and Notes from Subtle Activism Summit Sept 8-10, 2015:

* 5 page Summary of TITLES of the talks that Bruce Nayowith attended:

http://www.serviceoflife.info/planetaryhealing/SAsummary.htm

http://www.serviceoflife.info/planetaryhealing/SASummary.rtf (downloadable)

* 39 pages of NOTES from the talks that Bruce Nayowith attended:

http://www.serviceoflife.info/planetaryhealing/SASummitNotes.htm

http://www.serviceoflife.info/planetaryhealing/SASummitFullnotes.rtf (downloadable)

Since 1987, Bruce Nayowith has been Focusing personally, and to explore other processes that encourage unfolding of individual and systemic potential. These include neurobiology, depth and developmental psychology, whole brain education, NonViolent Communication, and emergent group processes such as Dynamic Facilitation, Open Dialogue, and Family Constellations.

 

Published October 2015

In this conversation (September 2015), Dirk Marivoet talks about getting an embodied experience of life…a sense of your own rhythm and pulsation….a sense of your orientation in the universe you live in… and an understanding and integration of the lessons that lie in the encounter…thus dreaming and weaving yourself into a life while being dreamt and being the web yourself…

Dirk Marivoet is the director of the Institute for Bodymind Integration in Ghent (Belgium). He studied Core-Energetics under John C. Pierrakos, MD; Postural Integration®, Energetic Integration and Pelvic-Heart Integration under Jack Painter, PhD (and has been a certified trainer/supervisor since 1999). He has also worked extensively with native shamanism both in Europe and North America. Earlier in the 80s and 90s he was adjunct faculty Psychomotor Therapy at Leuven University, where he still teaches.

Published September 2015