Podcast
Embodiment Matters Podcast
Hosted by Carl Rabke and Erin Geesaman Rabke · EN
Embodiment Matters is an ongoing, rich conversation about what it really means to be embodied, and why and how embodiment matters so much in our daily lives and in our world. Our guests include wise and insightful teachers from the realms of somatics, Buddhism, meditation, social justice, psychotherapy, movement arts, bodywork, martial arts, neuroscience, environmentalists, indigenous teachers, and more.
In our conversations, we explore a wide range of topics around waking up and being embodied, and offer guided practices to help return to your embodiment as a source of wisdom, guidance and intimacy with life.
Your hosts, Carl Rabke and Erin Geesaman Rabke, have been devoted to waking up and being embodied for the last 25 years. They have extensive training and practice in The Feldenkrais Method, Yoga & Yoga Therapy, Structural Integration, Embodied Life, Buddhist Meditation, Tai Chi, Focusing, Ayurveda, and more. They share a passion for sharing potent practices that support people in becoming more embodied, more mindful and aware, more rooted in liberating kindness, and more free in all ways; as well as more able to bring their unique gifts forth to benefit the world.
They live in Salt Lake City, and can be found at bodyhappy.com
66episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Embodiment and Relationships: A Conversation With Jan Dworkin, PhD
May 7, 202000:56:55Tap to summarizeFriends, I had such an inspiring and useful conversation with Jan Dworkin! I loved her unique and powerful definition of embodiment. We spoke about human relationships in so many ways - what makes a “successful relationship” (hint - not just one that lasts forever.) We spoke about relationships as ground for profound learning, and that “learners can never be losers.” Of course we spoke about quarantine and responses to the pandemic and how that can show up in so many ways in our relationships. We also explored the interesting territory of framing our differences as resources, both in intimate relationships and in the world at large. Jan spoke about the deep importance of expressing appreciation and gratitude, especially at this time when many of us are struggling. We also spoke about different flavors and impacts of guilt - and how in many ways it can be a force for positive change. I hope you love our conversation as much as I did! Her book is also fantastically insightful and practical as well as being a deeply enjoyable read that both invites deep introspection as well as laughing out loud. Highly recommended! Special thanks to our mutual friend, the gifted artist and Process Work Facilitator, Randee Levine, who brought us together for this conversation. Jan Dworkin, PhD, has more than 25 years of international, cross-cultural experience as a couples therapist and leadership coach. She is one of the founders of the Process Work Institute (PWI), a not-for-profit graduate school dedicated to research and training in process-oriented psychology. She co-created its master’s degree programs and served as its academic dean for over a decade; she continues to teach training workshops worldwide. Jan coaches leaders and teams across sectors, specializing in conflict facilitation and leadership development in creative industries. She is the author of Make Love Better: How to Own Your Story, Connect with Your Partner, and Deepen Your Relationship Practice (Belly Song Press, 2019). Jan has recently been featured as an expert advisor for her work with couples under quarantine on The Love Doctor is In and Fox2Detroit news. Based in Portland, Oregon, she lives with her husband, Jerry, and their Corgi, Mattie. To learn more about Jan’s work and her book go to www.jandworkin.com You can order her book at Powell’s in Portland https://www.powells.com/book/-9781733901109 Or on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Make-Love-Better-Relationship-Practice/dp/1733901108/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1572929540&sr=1-1 To learn more about the Process Work Institute https://www.processwork.edu/
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Embodying the Spirit of Poetry: A Conversation with Brooke Mcnamara
Feb 7, 202001:11:56Tap to summarizeWe had such a lovely and enlivening conversation with beautiful Brooke McNamara, who is a gifted poet, dance-theater artist, zen monk, teacher and mama, and whose poetry we ADORE. In this conversation, we talk about embodiment as a line between suffering and wellbeing. We explore many topics including ensoulment, the importance of creative process for its own sake, about parenting during this time of climate crisis, and so much more. And of course, we asked Brooke to read poetry from both of her books. It’s stunning! Brooke has practiced intensively in the Integral Zen lineage of Diane Musho Hamilton, Roshi (who we interviewed in season one of our podcast) and she is empowered as a Dharma Holder. Brooke has also taught at Naropa University in Yoga Studies and at the University of Colorado, Boulder in Dance. She serves as co-director of Eunice Embodiment, an organization that offers cutting edge dance-theater performances, movement education, and creative practice labs and retreats for the community. Brooke's first book, Feed Your Vow, was published in 2015. Her brand new book of poems, Bury the Seed, is a book for anyone seeking connection. It will be released in February 2020. She lives with her huge-hearted husband, two adorable, wild sons, and Bengal kitty in Boulder, CO. Of her new book, Bury the Seed, Mirabai Starr writes, “This is feminine wisdom at its most luminous – radically accessible, urgently sensual, clear as snowmelt and grounded as a grandmother oak. Goddess save us from another self-important self-help book. Brooke McNamara’s poetry is a bell: wake up; give thanks; leave nothing out.” Don’t miss this fabulous conversation! You can find out more about Brooke, purchase her books and sign up for her newsletter and more at http://www.brookemcnamara.com
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Embodiment Matters Featuring Sharon Blackie
Jan 28, 202001:05:29Tap to summarizeOh friends, this is such a rich conversation that I'm thrilled to share with you. I (Erin) had the great pleasure of speaking with award-winning writer, Dr. Sharon Blackie, whose written work and online courses I've adored over the past several years. She's the author of several books including If Women Rose Rooted, The Enchanted Life, and her latest, Foxfire Wolfskin. She's an internationally recognized teacher whose work sits at the interface of psychology, mythology, and ecology. You can find out more about Sharon's work including her new online membership program called This Mythic Life, and sign up for her enchanting newsletter and podcast at https://sharonblackie.net In this conversation we explore such rich territory including embodiment, Sharon's use of the word "bodyfulness" (as distinct from mindfulness), myth, story, becoming available to the dreaming of the Earth, restoring and restory-ing our landscapes, connecting with ancestral traditions, being in relationship with our calling (distinct from our vocation) and so much more, including Sharon's challenging her fear of flying by learning to pilot a Cessna! I also asked her to tell us a story and she reads one of my very favorites from her recent book, Foxfire Wolfskin, which left me with goosebumps and clapping loudly. I am so excited to share it with you!
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Natural Movement: A Conversation with Erwan Le Corre
Jan 10, 202001:12:50Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Carl speaks with Erwan Le Corre. Erwan is the founder of MovNat, which is a system of movement and embodied learning that helps people to grow the movement skills, physiological preparedness, and mindsets for practical, adaptable participation in the world. In our conversation we explore what Natural Movement is, and why it is so valuable in these times. We look at the challenges that arise from the lack of movement in modern life, and the benefits of reclaiming some of the ways that humans have moved for tens of thousands of years. We also talk about Erwan's new book The Practice Of Natural Movement. For more information on Erwan, Movnat, or his book, please visit Movnat.com
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The Work that Reconnects
Oct 21, 201901:12:05Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Erin speaks with three trainers of The Work That Reconnects: Mutima Imani, Molly Brown, and Constance Washburn. We explore an overview of this pioneering body of work that includes Deep Ecology, Systems Thinking, and Buddhist practices, developed by root teacher Joanna Macy. We explore the three stories of our times: Business as Usual, The Great Unravelling, and The Great Turning, and how we can choose which story we’re carrying. We explore how spirituality and activism support one another (and in fact need one another.) We talk about how this work is helping these women and the world during the challenging times we’re facing on our planet. I’m thrilled to be participating in their year-long training this year and delighted to share them and this work with you. You’ll find abundant information, resources, practices, inspiration and more at http://workthatreconnects.org
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Embodying the Wisdom of Ayurveda With Sunny Rose Healey
Oct 21, 201901:08:55Tap to summarizeIn this episode I speak with my dear friend, Sunny Rose Healey, Ayurvedic practitioner and teacher. In this episode we talk about: • a basic introduction to Ayurveda • 4 wise questions to ask to know if a particular regimen is good for you • tuning into natural rhythms in our days and through the seasons • the importance of digesting not only our food and drink, but every experience that comes our way • the importance of tending the digestive fire, “the mother fire,” and ways to do so • the essential practice of self massage with oil • self-regulation in a dis-regulated world • the essential practice: doing much more of nothing I loved this conversation so much and I know you will too. I especially love Sunny’s life-giving style. She’s not a fundamentalist but someone who understands the importance of weaving wisdom ways into a real, messy, everyday life. Sunny’s experience of holistic healing began by necessity, when she suffered from digestive disturbances, headaches, cervical cancer and physical pain, and found no answers in conventional medicine. She studied Ayurvedic medicine with several wonderful teachers, and eventually found her main teacher, Dr. Vasant Lad, and his school the Ayurvedic Institute, where she was first a grateful student, and later a faculty member.Sunny has also been a student of life, birth and medicine under the tutelage of indigenous medicine teachers, and magnificent midwives.She has a private Ayurvedic Medicine practice and herbal medicine company in Santa Fe, New Mexico where she lives with her husband and two young children. Find Sunny’s services at www.mamayurveda.com and find her herbal product company at www.mamayurvedamedicinals.com
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Nights Of Grief and Mystery with Stephen Jenkinson
Oct 2, 201901:08:41Tap to summarizeIn this episode we speak with Stephen Jenkinson. Stephen is a teacher, author, storyteller, spiritual activist, farmer and founder of the Orphan Wisdom School. He has written several books, including Die Wise: A Manifesto For Sanity and Soul, and Come of Age: The Case for Elderhood in Times of Trouble. In this conversation we speak about Stephen's Nights Of Grief and Mystery tour that is coming to our home, Salt Lake City, November 16th, and is touring through North America during the fall of 2019. If your are close to one of the spots on the tour, we encourage you to attend this extraordinary event. Stephen speaks of how he and Gregory Hoskins were being faithful to what had not yet appeared in terms of a gathering, likening Nights of Grief and Mystery more to a ritual or ceremony, where everyone attending is a participant as opposed to having an audience and performance. Stephen speaks about what it is to be a deeply claimed person, and how to be faithful to what you are born into. Stephen unpacks the words "grief" and "mystery" and their importance in these times. We deeply enjoyed speaking with Stephen, and truly value the wisdom, and the challenging questions he offers. We hope you enjoy the conversation. If you would like to hear more, we had a previous interview with Stephen on our podcast last year entitled "A Case for Elderhood." For more about Stephen's work, his school and the tour, visit http://www.orphanwisdom.com
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A Response To Our Times With Francis Weller
Oct 2, 201900:54:10Summary readyIn this, our second conversation with Francis Weller, we once again have a wonderful, deep conversation covering many soulful topics, including: Letting go of searching for an answer, and instead leaning into our own unique response to these times. We talk about the cognitive and soul dissonance of information overload. Francis describes The Five Gates of Grief (if you haven't been introduced to these yet, prepare to have your heart cracked open!) We explore what it means to create a safe container for grief and loss in your own life. Francis's shares his hope that grief will save our asses - how it is the broken heart that has the ability to remind us of what we love, and the outrageous courage of the Bodhi heart. Francis also speaks about how to take up an apprenticeship with sorrow, and how embodying joy in crazy times is an outcome of tending to our grief. What a potent conversation! We hope you enjoy it. Find more about Francis Weller at his beautiful website, https://www.francisweller.net/
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Remembering our Animal Senses and Sensuous Relationship With the Living World
Jul 19, 201901:14:50Tap to summarizeOh, what a shimmering, gorgeous, living, and enlivening conversation with one of the great embodied thinkers of our time! We loved interviewing David Abram and know you’ll enjoy this episode in which we explore, through David’s unique and gorgeous way with language, ways to be embodied and fully alive in our over-civilized world. We explore ideas about our use of language and the possibilities for “wielding our words” in ways that hold our senses open rather than shutting them down. We speak about recovering the wisdom of our animal senses; “tickling forth a way of being” in the world that is sensory, intimate and alive. David treats us to a reading from Becoming Animal, and shares the invitation to slow down and have patience even during the emergency we find ourselves in. He addresses the importance of leaving space in our lives, pulling the plug on our gadgets regularly to encounter the living world, and he speaks about why not only embodiment matters, but matter matters. We hope you enjoy being under the sensuous spell of David’s language and beautiful mind as much as we did! You can find more about him at http://wildethics.org. We highly recommend his beautiful books The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-than-Human World and Becoming Animal: An Earthly Cosmology.
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Embodying Effortless Mindfulness
Jun 20, 201901:10:28Tap to summarizeLoch Kelly, M.Div., LCSW, is an author, meditation teacher, psychotherapist, and founder of the non-profit, Open-Hearted Awareness Institute. Lochteaches in a non-sectarian human being lineage using an adult education style based in the earliest non-dual wisdom traditions, modern science and psychotherapy. He is the author of Shift Into Freedom, and most recently The Way of Effortless Mindfulness. In our conversation we explore the connection between embodiment and waking up in the world. We look at the at the distinctions between what Loch calls effortless mindfulness, and the forms of mindfulness that are more widely taught. We talk about spiritual awakening as a natural next stage of adult development, and how when we are both waking up and growing up, we are much more resourced to respond to the great challenges in the world today. Loch also guides us in a couple of powerful short glimpse practices to offer listeners the direct experience of the concepts we are exploring. We loved this conversation and hope you do too! For more information on Loch's books, teachings and retreats, you can visit lochkelly.org
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