In this episode Joanne and Paul explore the evolution of movement science, emphasising the non-linear, self-organising nature of human bodies. With a delightful blend of historical anecdotes, personal stories, and foundational research, they challenge the traditional biomechanical approach to human movement. Joanne reveals how an 18th century mechanical duck offers insights into why we’ve long thought mechanically about the human body (and we all know Joanne’s NOT a fan of this approach!), while...
Jul 17, 2024•50 min•Season 4Ep. 22
This week’s podcast with yoga teachers Calli Popham and Jessica Sullivan is all about tending - and teaching - with tenderness. We explore Calli’s distinctions of an embodied yoga approach and the value of moving away from more traditional alignment paradigms towards a more intuitive practice. And Jessica shares her personal transformative experience during her post-partum recovery, which Calli tenderly helped her through. The conversation really highlights the importance of “tending with tender...
Jul 11, 2024•50 min•Season 4Ep. 21
How honest is your cueing? In this episode Paul and Joanne talk about “honest cueing” and “honest movement”. They explain why it's essential to “cue from the heart in your own way”, in a fascinating and thought-provoking chat... From pacing around like an agitated cat, to presenting on stage (and all the in between of cueing well in class), Joanne and Paul share many open-hearted stories and passionately argue for why cueing is *such* a key to magical movement! Enjoy! ABOUT US - MYOFASCIAL MAGIC...
Jul 02, 2024•40 min•Season 4Ep. 20
In this week’s episode I interview Dinah Siman, a wonderful multi-talented teacher who practices Pilates, Yoga and Gyrotonic™, and has made her name in recent years by specialising in Menopause Pilates. Now also an author, Dinah aims to impassion movement teachers to celebrate menopause and give confidence to support students during this transformative phase. We talk about both the history and the current understanding of menopause, Dinah generously shares her own journey, and I especially love ...
Jun 28, 2024•38 min•Season 4Ep. 19
This episode is inspired by important questions we’re very often asked by movement teachers about cueing and language. So... What exactly do we all mean by the word Stretch ? Or Stabilise ? Or Strengthen ? Or Stiffen ? Is Stress always a bad thing, or can it actually be a good thing sometimes? We explore each word and its implications, as well as how we can use them wisely….or not so wisely!! Again and again, we hear these 5 ‘S words’ come up, regardless of the particular modality a teacher is u...
Jun 18, 2024•40 min•Season 4Ep. 18
In this episode Joanne talks to Wil Brown, the founder of London Movement Group. Wil is all about experiencing life via physical exploration, in action. He sees his job as “sharing what I figure out…” and has gained tens of thousands of fans following his lively and committed approach to playful movement. Joanne and Wil talk about their respective experiences and how, through exploring very different routes to movement methods and approaches, they agree entirely on such things as the importance ...
Jun 11, 2024•42 min•Season 4Ep. 17
Myofascial Magic in Action is not a method – it’s a standard available for all the different methods we teach and learn in movement. It raises the game around the difference we can make to ourselves and our clients, whatever modality we choose. Focusing particularly on Yoga and Pilates, we make the important distinction between “delicious” bespoke movement and "fast food" one-size-fits-all movement... We also share stories about the highlights and lowlights of teaching - see if you recognise you...
Jun 07, 2024•26 min•Season 4Ep. 16
It’s the 10th Anniversary of the British Fascia Symposium, so we wanted to celebrate! So this is a special conversation with Jan Trewartha, the brilliant Director of the BFS and The Fascia Hub. Listen in to hear how it all began, tales of Joanne presenting at the very first one, what's coming up in this year's Symposium in June, and the ethos behind it all. And if you'd like more info on this not-to-be-missed event for the fascia community, we've provided it all below. Hope you enjoy! THE BRITIS...
May 30, 2024•47 min•Season 4Ep. 15
In this episode Paul and Joanne respond to a question they received about the value of Neural Flossing or Spinal Flossing. The question “to floss or not to floss?” is one worth considering – and even if you disagree, this conversation might expand the questions you ask! Joanne wasn’t entirely sure what the term meant, so by asking Paul, this conversation unfolded. It isn’t intended to ruffle any feathers or diminish the work of very well-intentioned therapists, but we do challenge the notion of ...
May 24, 2024•23 min•Season 4Ep. 14
This week’s episode is Joanne's response to a request – to talk about Geometry and what it means in understanding the body. It’s a fascinating exploration. Joanne's response includes a reading from her book Yoga Fascia Anatomy and Movement. She talks about how important Geometry is to our form – and how the ancient wisdom behind Yoga and the Sanskrit language (among other languages) is much incredibly sophisticated. It is really an invitation to appreciate how complex and brilliant the body is -...
May 16, 2024•15 min•Season 4Ep. 13
Join us for an informal discussion between Paul and Joanne about the art and wonder of dissection. It can be so valuable – and practitioners can learn so much – yet there are some distinctions to understand about it. “Both of us have had the privilege of working with – indeed – learning with, John Sharkey – and we are better practitioners for having been in the Lab with him on so many occasions...” You will hear all about that in this podcast, as well as learning about many of the eye-opening, e...
May 10, 2024•29 min•Season 4Ep. 12
Competitive versus Collective – this is such an important theme in the personal and the professional field – especially in bodywork and movement therapy. Exploring these ideas can be so helpful in expanding our awareness of other modalities, and enhancing the actual work we do! In this episode Joanne Avison considers how we can sometimes be in competition with ourselves – and how it can work to give ourselves the opportunity to “collect” a broader base of information and grow with it... This the...
Apr 30, 2024•23 min•Season 4Ep. 11
The Dalai Lama is reported to have said: “the world will be saved by the Western Woman.” Cynthia Allen is the kind of woman I think of when I remember that. So in this episode, it really is my pleasure to talk to her, to share ideas with her and to listen to her speak from her vast experience and relentless focus on making a difference in the world. Cynthia has been working in wellness, healthcare management, and organizational consulting for over 35 years. In 2001, she became a Certified Felden...
Apr 23, 2024•42 min•Season 4Ep. 10
Paul and Joanne share their experience and stories about pelvic issues, how they affect so many of us, and... how misunderstood they might be! How can we “rephrase” our understanding of the mythical “ Pelvic Floor ” and discover the magic of releasing the Pelvic Foot ? This is not a made up idea, by movement instructors who didn’t like learning anatomy! Paul talks about the key science behind this structural understanding of the human body. Effectively, you have a pelvic foot – not a pelvic floo...
Apr 18, 2024•25 min•Season 4Ep. 9
In this episode Joanne interviews the brilliant Neil Theise. Joanne believes that his book “Notes on Complexity” should be on every curriculum in the world. There is something in it for every age and every living, animated being! If you love this conversation with Neil as much as we do, you can get more of him at the Feldenkrais Move Better Feel Better Summit in May 2024 , where he'll be the Keynote Speaker. The Summit is live online around the world and you can click here to join the summit and...
Apr 09, 2024•46 min•Season 4Ep. 8
Shoulders are such an expressive part of us! A shrug can replace a thousand words, right? Do you, or any of your clients, experience shoulder impingement, frozen shoulder, aching, stiffness or just limited range of motion in this amazing, if complex, “joint”? In this episode Paul and Joanne share some delightful stories about shoulders. What do you gain from training them? How can you avoid straining them? What are the many elements in Myofascial Magic that we can bring to the table (or mat or m...
Apr 02, 2024•25 min•Season 4Ep. 7
This episode covers the importance of fascia and how John Sharkey regards it as a process, rather than an object. It explains why some of us have difficulty defining fascia, or describing its paradigm-shifting significance to our colleagues and clients, friends and family. John is such a fabulous story teller and so well informed that you can literally collect the gems as we romp through this discussion covering a number of topics from surgery and dissection to crystal healing and consciousness!...
Mar 26, 2024•57 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Welcome to the second episode of our Myofascial Magic strand! I recently co-founded Myofascial Magic In Action with the esteemed Paul Thornley, with the mission of providing practitioners with client-centred micro-movement keys. And now we're bringing you our shared passion - and the answer to some of your burning questions - in the form of this special joint podcast series, releasing every couple of weeks. In this episode we talk about one of the most fundamental movements of most of our lives ...
Mar 20, 2024•27 min•Season 4Ep. 5
It's just been Mother's Day here in the UK, which inspired me to take a deep dive into "the in-between" which is a rich source of magic in my life. As a mother and a daughter, I live in the in-between of those two roles. This podcast is a bit about my personal journey with that, the in-between tissue of the fascia, and how this incredible matrix forms the in-between of us... We are all, after all, seeking the magic balance between understanding the science and spirit of this living architecture ...
Mar 14, 2024•37 min•Season 4Ep. 4
To all fascia-focused movement and manual practitioners, it’s a delight to announce the new Myofascial Magic Podcast! I recently co-founded Myofascial Magic In Action with the esteemed Paul Thornley, with the mission of providing practitioners with client-centred micro-movement keys, to optimise individual ability and make a transformative difference. And now, we want to bring you some of this game-changing information in the form of a podcast! In this first episode, Paul and I talk about all th...
Mar 07, 2024•26 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Welcome to the second episode of this new season, in which I interview the wonderful Dr Karen Kirkness! Karen is a yoga practitioner and recovering academic. Her book, Spiral Bound: Integrated Anatomy for Yoga , provides a rationale for curating movement practices that are led by the rotational constraints of the body. In this podcast (recorded in 2023 before Karen was rightfully awarded her PhD) we share our admiration for each other’s work and our fascination with spiral anatomy. If you are a ...
Feb 27, 2024•42 min•Season 4Ep. 2
I am so excited to be back this Spring with a new podcast season! We have all sorts of wonderful interviews and updates for you about fascia, myofascial magic and lots of news and events. In this week's episode I tell you all about my new book, Myofascial Magic In Action, and how it came into being. It’s quite a personal story of alchemy - turning the lead of a wound into a the gold of a gift - and it’s all true! Plus, this Spring is getting off to a great start as on 1st March 2024 I’m presenti...
Feb 22, 2024•33 min•Season 4Ep. 1
For many it’s the season for gifting, and I want to share a very special gift with you, dear Listener! John Sharkey and Mark Flannigan have just released a gold standard, peer-reviewed research paper which seeks to move us towards an interdisciplinary definition of fascia, particularly for the benefit of all fascia-focused movement and manual practitioners. It’s an incredible and important piece of work, so I couldn’t resist sharing it with you in this special episode. Every movement instructor ...
Dec 19, 2023•47 min•Season 3Ep. 43
The Sound of Music and the Magic of Alexander Technique is the theme of this podcast with Tully Hall. I am so glad you wrote to me Tully - thank you. It's an honour to spend time with you and I loved our chat. This episode inspired me and gave me the confirmation that you talked about recieving! Thank you!! This lovely conversation explores Alexander Technique and the magic of the right body work for any musician. Tully's Website: https://www.alexandertechtully.com SIGN UP TO THE JOANNE AVISON N...
Apr 18, 2023•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 42
Michelle Nayali-Bouvier has been teaching yoga and movement for 23 years. Her work centers around the merging of ancient practices with modern science, with the intention to help educate people on ways to get more in touch with their bodies. We had a wonderful conversation about all the many aspects of being human this includes!! Michelle seeks relentlessly to build and invite greater resilience, joining the dots to connect many different modalities. We met because Michelle von Straaten joined t...
Apr 11, 2023•44 min•Season 3Ep. 41
In this episode we get to hear about the beautiful experience of birthing when there is reverence and preparation for gentle empowerment of the The Mother (which is somehow defined by the Newborn). Alison is so experienced as a midwife, yoga teacher and hypnobirthing facilitator that she naturally describes how different it can be in real life to the TV sensationalised version of birth as a stressful (or even distressing) procedure. It can also be very calm, with very little intervention and aug...
Apr 04, 2023•57 min•Season 3Ep. 40
Permaculture is the fascinating world that Justin Robertshaw has made his home - along with a deep yoga practice and understanding, through experience, of Ayurveda as an applied Healing Art. This was a fascinating and fun dive into how all these elements form the mandala by which Justin makes such a difference in the world. It's really inspiring how he links so many teachings together, with YOU and your "why" as the key to joining the dots. His approach is so multidimensional, yet easy to unders...
Mar 28, 2023•50 min•Season 3Ep. 39
Jill Miller is the author and creative practitioner behind Roll Model and her newest book Body By Breath. It's a remarkable achievement! Somehow, as Jill describes in this podcast, the book makes you feel safe in your fascination and enquiry into breathing better. Which means sleeping better. Which means feeling better....it's all in there in a very comprehensive deep dive for all types of people. If you are a practitioner you can feast on the first part - before you move into the practical prac...
Mar 21, 2023•56 min•Season 3Ep. 38
"In the Museum" is a metaphor that Christine Wushke uses to teach anatomy to her yoga teachers, in the Myofascial Yoga Institute of Canada. It's a delightful way of honouring all that is classical and traditional and how it grows into the newest information on Fascia and Fasciategrity and moving the art and science of yoga forward! Christine is also a practitioner of Structural Integration so her deep appreciation of all aspects of being human, brings a special quality to her work. I hope you en...
Mar 14, 2023•59 min•Season 3Ep. 36
Tea and Treasure is about tea (and other) ceremonies that are such an essential part of our lives in so many ways. I've always had a passion for tea, for coffee and for chocolate. Not just consuming them, but having been a Chocolatier for twenty years of my life, I learned about it as a liquid crystal matrix (up to my wrists in it some days!!) which of course relates directly to fascia as a matrix. This episode isn't about that though. It's more about alchemy and the importance of tiny gestures ...
Mar 07, 2023•22 min•Season 3Ep. 35
