Today's conversation is with Will Johnson.

Will received his B.A., magna cum laude, in Art and Archaeology from Princeton University in 1968. After graduation, he worked for several years as an art critic in New York before moving to the west coast of North America where he began actively exploring gazing, moving, and sitting meditations. He became a Buddhist practitioner in 1972 and was trained as a Rolfer™ in 1976. He began the formal sharing of the practices of Embodiment Training in 1995. he’s the author of 15 books (two of which won awards as “Best Spiritual Book of the Year.”) on the role of the body in spiritual awakening which can be ordered through your local bookseller or online at Will Johnson's Books .

He and his wife (and partner in the practices) Coco live in Delicias, Costa Rica, just outside the little bohemian town of Montezuma at the southern tip of the Nicoya peninsula where they have created Bambu Hueco, the Hollow Bamboo Retreat Center where they welcome serious meditation students to enter into intensive 7-21 day self retreat. During these retreats, people have the opportunity to work closely with Will in their meditation practices and receive deep bodywork and dream sessions as support for their intensive practice.

In today’s talk we talked about Will’s view of the state of SI schools today and the losing of a piece of the mystery that Dr Rolf alluded to. We discussed various aspects of the body, breath, and consciousness, including the potential benefits of meditation and body awareness practices. They also explored the importance of maintaining a meditative aspect in their work, the potential for holding space for others, and the importance of ongoing dialogue and mutual learning.

You can learn more about Will at https://www.embodiment.net/

If you are enjoying and getting something out of these talks, we'd appreciate it if you would leave a positive review of the podcast and subscribe to it through the platform of your choice. When you do this it really helps other people find us, and we greatly appreciate your support.

You can find more about Andrew at http://andrewrosenstock.com and http://RolfingInBoston.com

Many thanks to Explorers Society for use of their song " All In" from their majestic album 'Spheres' Please check them out here https://open.spotify.com/album/1plT1lAPWEQ1oTRbWOiXm3?si=eAL08OJdT5-sJ6FwwZD50g

Today's conversation is with Duffy Allen, MS.

Duffy has been practicing Rolfing structural integration and Rolf movement since 1995. She was a faculty member at DIRI for fifteen years. She particularly enjoys teaching from a place of curiosity and affirmation. Prior to embarking in the field of structural integration, she was a scientist. Currently, she lives, practices, and teaches in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Her favorite word is ineffable.

In today’s talk we had a comprehensive discussion about our personal and professional experiences, including teaching methods, the importance of relationship and connection in the practice of healing, and the evolution of their approach to client care. We also shared about the importance of integration in the work, emphasizing the need for a balance between reductionist and holistic approaches.

You can learn more about Duffy at https://www.fifth-element.training/

If you are enjoying and getting something out of these talks, we'd appreciate it if you would leave a positive review of the podcast and subscribe to it through the platform of your choice. When you do this it really helps other people find us, and we greatly appreciate your support.

You can find more about Andrew at http://andrewrosenstock.com and http://RolfingInBoston.com

Many thanks to Explorers Society for use of their song " All In" from their majestic album 'Spheres' Please check them out here https://open.spotify.com/album/1plT1lAPWEQ1oTRbWOiXm3?si=eAL08OJdT5-sJ6FwwZD50g

Today's conversation is with Raja Selvam, PhD.

Raja is a licensed clinical psychologist, is the developer of Integral Somatic Psychology™ (ISP™), an effective somatic therapy that helps clients achieve optimal mental health by fully embodying their emotions.

His book The Practice of Embodying Emotions: A Guide for Improving Cognitive, Emotional, and Behavioral Outcomes is currently being translated into several languages.

Dr. Selvam is also a senior trainer at Dr. Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing® International. He has taught for twenty-five years in over twenty countries in North and South Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Far East.

Dr. Selvam’s work is informed by older body psychotherapy systems of Reichian Therapy and Bioenergetic Analysis, newer body psychotherapy systems of Bodynamic Analysis and Somatic Experiencing, and bodywork systems of Postural Integration and Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy.

His work is also inspired by Jungian and archetypal psychologies, Kleinian and intersubjective schools of psychoanalysis, affective neuroscience, quantum physics, yoga, Polarity Therapy, and Advaita Vedanta (a spiritual psychology from India).

Dr. Selvam’s work also draws upon his clinical psychology PhD dissertation on Advaita Vedanta and Jungian psychology, based on which he has published an article titled “Jung and Consciousness,” in the international analytical psychology journal Spring in 2013.

In today’s talk we talked about what brought Raja to where he is today. We discussed topics from Raja’s book “The Practice of Embodying Emotions,” the interconnection between the mind, body, and environment in the context of psychology. We explored the complex relationship between pain and pleasure in the human brain, the role of defenses in shaping emotional experiences, and the effectiveness of Somatic Experiencing as a trauma modality. We also discussed the importance of accepting and managing life's difficulties, the integration of Eastern psychology into our approaches

You can learn more about Raja at https://integralsomaticpsychology.com/

If you are enjoying and getting something out of these talks, we'd appreciate it if you would leave a positive review of the podcast and subscribe to it through the platform of your choice. When you do this it really helps other people find us, and we greatly appreciate your support.

You can find more about Andrew at http://andrewrosenstock.com and http://RolfingInBoston.com

Many thanks to Explorers Society for use of their song " All In" from their majestic album 'Spheres' Please check them out here https://open.spotify.com/album/1plT1lAPWEQ1oTRbWOiXm3?si=eAL08OJdT5-sJ6FwwZD50g

In today's conversation I am joined again by Ryan Hofer and Paul Wirth for a second round of a triad of introspection.

We discuss and contemplate writings of the Osteopath Jim Jealous, the need for improved listening skills training, we also explored different pedagogical approaches, the role of the autonomic nervous system in manual therapy, and the concept of structural integration. We go into some really fun and exploratory spaces and I greatly enjoy being in conversation with these two.

A note, this talk came at the end of a busy day for me and some of my cortical channels were not as up to snuff as they could have been. I lost my train of thought a few times and thankfully Paul and Ryan were right there with me to pick them up, expand or contrast them and continue the conversation forward.

Ryan Hofer is fascinated by applications of body-based systems thinking and hands-on therapies. He graduated from the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute and was the chair of a Structural Integration certification exam program. He has completed a Masters of Teaching and a Masters of Communication, and he is currently pursuing a doctorate in naturopathic medicine.

Paul Wirth is a bodyworker and movement educator, a Certified Advanced Rolfer® and a student and teacher of Tai Chi Ch’uan. His practice integrates Structural Integration, craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation, and various kinds of movement work. A guiding question for Paul is: “How does a person's innate capacity for healing make use of my presence and input, and what about that is up to me?” He endeavors to continually be surprised by the reality that each person he works with is a living, present being, and to undertake practices that remind him that he is, too.

You can find out more about Paul at http://mosaicbodywork.com

If you are enjoying and getting something out of these talks, we'd appreciate it if you would leave a positive review of the podcast and subscribe to it through the platform of your choice. When you do this it really helps other people find us, and we greatly appreciate your support.

You can find more about Andrew at http://andrewrosenstock.com and http://RolfingInBoston.com

Many thanks to Explorers Society for use of their song " All In" from their majestic album 'Spheres' Please check them out here https://open.spotify.com/album/1plT1lAPWEQ1oTRbWOiXm3?si=eAL08OJdT5-sJ6FwwZD50g

Today's conversation is with Pierpaola Volpones.

Pierpaola graduated as Physical Educator (1976) and in Sociology (1982). She taught physical education in public schools and applied kinesis therapy in private centers for more than ten years. After having attended a Rolf Movement™ Workshop, she started Rolfing® education.

She certified first as Rolf Movement™ Practitioner (1986) and then as Rolfer (1988). In 1996 she became a Certified Advanced Rolfer™. Since 1986 she runs her practice in Italy, as a full time profession. In 2006, the Rolf Institute certified Pierpaola as International Rolfing® and Rolf Movement™ Instructor. Outside of Rolfing, Pierpaola has continued to deepen her studies in Visceral Manipulation and Somatic Experiencing.

In today’s talk we discussed Pierpaola's journey through Rolf Movement, her teaching style, and the importance of cross-cultural communication. We also touched upon the challenges and responsibilities of teacher training, the significance of adaptability and finding alternative approaches, and the concept of tonic function. Our conversation emphasized the importance of self-awareness, understanding personal space and proximity in client interactions and much more.

You can learn more about Pierpoala at http://www.volpones.it

If you are enjoying and getting something out of these talks, we'd appreciate it if you would leave a positive review of the podcast and subscribe to it through the platform of your choice. When you do this it really helps other people find us, and we greatly appreciate your support.

You can find more about Andrew at http://andrewrosenstock.com and http://RolfingInBoston.com

Many thanks to Explorers Society for use of their song " All In" from their majestic album 'Spheres' Please check them out here https://open.spotify.com/album/1plT1lAPWEQ1oTRbWOiXm3?si=eAL08OJdT5-sJ6FwwZD50g

Today's conversation is with Leslie Kaminoff

Leslie is a yoga educator inspired by the tradition of T.K.V. Desikachar. He is an internationally recognized specialist with five decades’ experience in the fields of yoga and breath anatomy. He leads workshops for many of the leading yoga associations, schools and training programs in the world.

Leslie also helped to organize international yoga conferences while serving as Vice-President of Unity in Yoga, and was part of the ad-hoc committee that established national standards for yoga teacher training. Prior to the formation of The Yoga Alliance, Leslie was a strong voice in the ensuing national debate regarding the application of those certification standards. This dialogue resulted in the creation of e-Sutra, pioneering e-mail list and blog with a worldwide readership.

Leslie is the founder of The Breathing Project, a New York City based non-profit educational corporation and studio which ran highly respected year-long courses in yoga anatomy from 2003 to 2017.  The courses taught at The Breathing Project in New York City have been available online to a worldwide audience at yogaanatomy.net since 2011, with thousands of students worldwide participating in this growing online community. 

Leslie has also partnered with Lauri Nemetz and Lydia Mann as KNMLabs.com to produce week-long human dissection lab experiences for yoga and movement professionals.

In our conversation today we had a wide-ranging discussion about our work, life experiences, and shared interests in yoga and bodywork. We discussed the importance of adapting to each individual's needs in teaching yoga, the core principles of yoga, the therapeutic effects, and the mind-body problem. Towards the end, we touched upon the importance of emotional regulation and the role of a yoga teacher.

It was a very enjoyable conversation and I wish it could have gone on for hours more. Leslie is a seasoned veteran in both the bodywork and yoga world and his experience, wisdom and compassion help make him a top leader in the field.

You can learn more about Leslie at https://yogaanatomy.org

If you are enjoying and getting something out of these talks, we'd appreciate it if you would leave a positive review of the podcast and subscribe to it through the platform of your choice. When you do this it really helps other people find us, and we greatly appreciate your support.

You can find more about Andrew at http://andrewrosenstock.com and http://RolfingInBoston.com

Many thanks to Explorers Society for use of their song " All In" from their majestic album 'Spheres' Please check them out here https://open.spotify.com/album/1plT1lAPWEQ1oTRbWOiXm3?si=eAL08OJdT5-sJ6FwwZD50g

Today's conversation marks a departure from our usual format. Today I am joined by Ryan Hofer and Paul Wirth. In mid 2023, Ryan organized a discussion among a small group of us on the topic of embodiment—a conversation I found particularly enriching, especially as it introduced me to Paul for the first time. The depth and content of that conversation seemed too valuable not to share on the podcast.

You can find out more about Paul at http://mosaicbodywork.com

If you are enjoying and getting something out of these talks, we'd appreciate it if you would leave a positive review of the podcast and subscribe to it through the platform of your choice. When you do this it really helps other people find us, and we greatly appreciate your support.

You can find more about Andrew at http://andrewrosenstock.com and http://RolfingInBoston.com

Many thanks to Explorers Society for use of their song " All In" from their majestic album 'Spheres' Please check them out here https://open.spotify.com/album/1plT1lAPWEQ1oTRbWOiXm3?si=eAL08OJdT5-sJ6FwwZD50g

Today's conversation is with Pedro Prado.

Pedro Prado, PhD, of Sao Paulo, Brazil, has been instructing Rolfing® SI for over 30 years. He is a member of the Advanced and Movement Faculties of the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute®, as well as a Somatic Experiencing Instructor for the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute. He is a clinical psychologist and a former professor of Somatic Psychology. His signature approach to the work, to which he has devoted his clinical practice and research, explores the bridges among the Structural, Functional and Psychobiological perspectives. Since having become a Rolfer in 1981, Pedro has introduced Rolfing® and nurtured practitioner communities in his native Brazil and elsewhere in the world. He has taught throughout the US, Latin America, Europe, Japan, South Africa and Australia.

In our conversation today we talked about Pedro’s history and how he came to Rolfing, how Rolfing came to Brazil, his experiences and work in the academic and clinical world, the importance of collective inquiry, exploring new concepts and teaching strategies, the importance of philosophy and science in the field of embodiment and much more. This was another one of those talks that just flew by and it felt like we just barely scratched the surface. Hopefully we will be in more conversations together as Pedro is a beautiful soul with a wealth of information and lived experiences.

You can learn more about Pedro and his library at https://pedroprado.com.br/

If you are enjoying and getting something out of these talks, we'd appreciate it if you would leave a positive review of the podcast and subscribe to it through the platform of your choice. When you do this it really helps other people find us, and we greatly appreciate your support.

You can find more about Andrew at http://andrewrosenstock.com and RolfingInBoston.com

Many thanks to Explorers Society for use of their song " All In" from their majestic album 'Spheres' Please check them out here https://open.spotify.com/album/1plT1lAPWEQ1oTRbWOiXm3?si=eAL08OJdT5-sJ6FwwZD50g

Today's conversation is with Dr Joel Bennett

Joel Bennett, Ph.D., is President and Founder of Organizational Wellness & Learning Systems (OWLS), a consulting firm specializing in evidence-based wellness technologies to promote organizational health and employee well-being. Dr. Bennett first delivered stress management programming in 1985, and OWLS programs have since reached nearly 250,000 workers across the United States and abroad, including training over 1,000 facilitators and coaches. He is a primary developer of “Team Awareness” and “Team Resilience,” evidence-based culture of health programs recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Surgeon General as effective in reducing employee behavioral risks. Team Awareness/Resilience have been adopted by the U.S. National Guard as one of their flagship prevention programs.  They have been used by municipalities, hospitals, restaurants, electrician training centers, small businesses, Native American tribal government, in rural settings, and in Italy and South Africa.

In 2022, Dr. Bennett was acknowledged with the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the National Wellness Institute and, internationally, with the "Positive Leadership Award" from the Positive Leadership Institute. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Philosophy from the State University of New York (Purchase) and his MA and PhD in Psychology from the University of Texas-Austin. Dr. Bennett has authored/co-authored seven books, including "Raw Coping Power," "Heart-Centered Leadership," and "Your Best Self at Work," and his Google Scholar page provides links to over 30 peer-reviewed scientific studies. He was previously on the board of the Academy of Management’s “Spirituality and Religion Interest Group (MSR)” and the Board of Directors for the National Wellness Institute. He provides keynote speaking and continues to train coaches and facilitators in team (culture of health) and resilience workshops.

Continuing in the theme of our last episode, today's conversation is in a little different of a flow structure than the previous norm. Dr Joel and I just got off and running, as if we were two friends catching up. I originally had planned to talk more about him and his history but the conversation was just so smooth and in the flow that we didn’t get time for that. I am hoping to have him on again for a prequel of sorts.

In our conversation today we discussed different body therapeutic modalities, the nature of Andrew's practice, the importance of presence and mindfulness, the concept of safety in bodywork and massage, personal growth and self-awareness, and the concept of open-mindedness.

You can learn more about Dr Joel at presencequest.life and www.organizationalwellness.com

If you are enjoying and getting something out of these talks, we'd appreciate it if you would leave a positive review of the podcast and subscribe to it through the platform of your choice. When you do this it really helps other people find us, and we greatly appreciate your support.

You can find more about Andrew at andrewrosenstock.com and RolfingInBoston.com

Many thanks to Explorers Society for use of their song " All In" from their majestic album 'Spheres' Please check them out here https://open.spotify.com/album/1plT1lAPWEQ1oTRbWOiXm3?si=eAL08OJdT5-sJ6FwwZD50g

Today's conversation is with Serge Prengel

Serge Prengel is a therapist who has been exploring creative approaches to mindfulness in therapy and in everyday life. He invites you to join his explorations at ActivePause.com

Today's conversation is in a little different of a flow structure than usual. I have been wanting to try this style out for a while and will be giving it a shot here. I welcome your feedback about whether it’s working for you or not and why so.

In our conversation today Serge and I explored various topics such as mindfulness, the creative process, attunement, and the role of silence in our podcast. They stressed the importance of vulnerability, active pause, and the value of silence in connection. At the end of our talk we had a rather long pause of silence which I have edited it for your listening pleasure. You will hear us talk about the pause, you just won’t have to have a few minutes of silence to sit through.

You can learn more about Serge at ActivePause.com

If you enjoyed today's episode, we'd appreciate it if you would leave a positive review of the podcast and subscribe to it through the platform of your choice. When you do this it really helps other people find us, and we greatly appreciate your support.

You can find more about Andrew at http://andrewrosenstock.com

Many thanks to Explorers Society for use of their song " All In" from their majestic album 'Spheres' Please check them out here https://open.spotify.com/album/1plT1lAPWEQ1oTRbWOiXm3?si=eAL08OJdT5-sJ6FwwZD50g