Join us for this conversation with the brilliant Professor Darrell Evans, diving deep (in plain language) into the fascinating world of anatomy, embryology, biological development and the interconnectedness of connective tissues. What does that really mean? Professor Evans shares his brilliant and unconventional career journey, insights from his academic roles, his innovative teaching methods, and his perspectives on anatomical variability. (What makes us all the same is that we are all unique!!...
Jan 03, 2025•59 min•Season 4Ep. 43
For many it’s the season for gifting, and I want to share a very special gift with you, dear Listener! Last year John Sharkey and Mark Flannigan released a gold standard, peer-reviewed research paper which seeks to move us towards an interdisciplinary definition o f fascia , particularly for the benefit of all fascia-focused movement and manual practitioners. It’s an incredible and important piece of work, and so many of you loved hearing about it when I originally released this (in fact it quic...
Dec 27, 2024•46 min•Season 4Ep. 42
Join Joanne and Paul in this engaging conversation, we delve into the crucial topic of RECOVERY for ‘weekend warriors’ - those of us who push the physical limits during our weekends off or find time for only short concentrated stints of activities, whether it’s marathon training, football, sports, HIIT or intense biking…whatever we do at high intensity. Full recovery is often overlooked as unnecessary. It can be under-appreciated - it’s actually ESSENTIAL. We discuss the science of myofascial re...
Dec 20, 2024•24 min•Season 4Ep. 41
In this episode Joanne talks with the brilliant Alexander Technique practitioner Tully Hall. The conversation delves deep into the principles and benefits of the Alexander Technique, emphasizing its gentle approach to enhancing sensory awareness and self-regulation. We touch upon the importance of integrating body, mind, and spirit in healing practices and explore the benefits of using sound and vibration in therapeutic contexts. Tully shares a profound personal experience of healing from a trau...
Dec 13, 2024•55 min•Season 4Ep. 40
In this episode, Paul and Joanne explore 5 of the most prevalent myths about back pain that you may still believe. We provide you with valuable insights and wellness tips to help you manage chronic pain and discomfort, whilst ensuring you're not inadvertently making it worse!! There really are different options for effective prevention and recovery - when you understand how the myofascial matrix works. From fascia research to intelligent movement, join us as we discuss the importance of self-awa...
Dec 06, 2024•22 min•Season 4Ep. 39
In this episode Joanne explores the profound and intriguing connection between your body’s fascia and your emotional, energetic, and spiritual well-being. We look at how we can tap into the self-organising power of our bodies, fostering a deeper understanding of our biomotional intelligence and internal somatic register - through the fascia - if we understand a little of how Spirit animates us. Join me on a journey of discovery, exploring the intricate relationships between fascia, energy, aware...
Nov 29, 2024•20 min•Season 4Ep. 38
In this episode Joanne interviews Kelley McLaughlin, a highly qualified bodywork and movement practitioner (certified in John F. Barnes' Myofascial Release Therapy). The conversation delves into the concept of 'magic' in healing and fascia, highlighting the importance of intention, curiosity, and the intersection between science and mystery. They discuss their shared experiences in the scientific field, including a significant moment at Ohio State University, where interdisciplinary collaboratio...
Nov 22, 2024•46 min•Season 4Ep. 37
What if there were simple tools that could improve your inner world immediately - without you folding yourself into a “pretzel” or meditating for hours? In this episode, Joanne Avison interviews Jyoti Manuel, of Special Yoga, who works every day with adults and children, making a profound difference to their well-being. We explore the question: can yoga really improve mental health? Are there super simple, easy things we can do to make a difference to our daily stress on every level - without do...
Nov 15, 2024•30 min•Season 4Ep. 36
In this episode, we're going beyond the gym to explore the transformative power of functional movement in enhancing our daily lives and the lives of those we care for. By incorporating specific features of holistic fascia training and movement optimisation, we can experience improved movement efficiency, dynamic stability, and optimal alignment. Join Joanne and Paul as we delve into the world of fascial performance, integrative health, and holistic self-care. SIGN UP TO THE JOANNE AVISON NEWSLET...
Nov 08, 2024•25 min•Season 4Ep. 35
Join Joanne in this brilliant chat with Dr. Karen Kirkness as they take a fascinating journey to unlock the secrets of the embryo, that remarkable human blueprint we all share! From the earliest stages of development, the embryo’s genetic code orchestrates a complex dance of tissue dynamics, fascia insights, and biological pathways - which Karen describes so beautifully so we can all understand it! Join us to explore the magic and the mystery, the science and the curiosity that inspires us all a...
Nov 01, 2024•41 min•Season 4Ep. 34
Discover the hidden language of your body, and how it makes SUCH a huge difference to your ability to enjoy moving and being in your body - if you learn to tune into it... Fascia, as you'll discover in this week’s episode, literally signals to itself and to you 24/7 - ALL the time! If you know what you’re listening to, you can discover this hidden language of your body and learn to read its messages. It’s much more than a complex network of connective tissue. It holds secrets to optimal wellness...
Oct 25, 2024•24 min•Season 4Ep. 33
If you’ve ever experienced muscle trembling during or after a workout or a class - you may have heard the idea that it’s “good for you”. But, as Paul and Joanne discuss in this episode, it could actually be a sign that you’re overtraining, and it’s essential to recognize these warning signs to avoid injury. You can maintain optimal performance, if you understand when “more” is NOT NECESSARILY “better”. In this episode, we’ll delve into some research in exercise science and explore the connection...
Oct 17, 2024•21 min•Season 4Ep. 32
In this enlightening episode, Joanne delves into the fascinating world of myofascial release, discussing various interpretations of this powerful bodywork technique and what it means to different people. Tune in to discover how myofascial release has become a well known complementary health technique - and... what does it really mean? It has very different interpretations for different bodywork modalities... So this episode will expand your understanding and provide a wider - and perhaps more he...
Oct 10, 2024•31 min•Season 4Ep. 31
Join Dr. Karen Kirkness and Joanne Avison in this enlightening exploration of anatomy through the lens of spirals, where they delve into the fascinating intersection of holistic health and anatomical insights, as revealed in Karen’s book Spiral Bound. In this open-hearted deep dive, from 2021, Karen (now Dr. Kirkness) shared her expertise in fascia research and the principles of tensegrity medicine. It highlights the importance of body mapping, for structural integrity and deeper understanding a...
Oct 03, 2024•40 min•Season 4Ep. 31
Enjoy this story (behind the story!) of Joanne Avison’s groundbreaking new book, that explores the intricate connections between our body’s anatomy and holistic wellness through understanding fascia, spirit, and movement. In this episode Joanne tells the delightful story behind how it all happened. The new book, Myofascial Magic In Action , offers therapeutic micro-movement techniques that promote holistic health and wellness. In the book you'll discover how to incorporate anatomy awareness and ...
Sep 26, 2024•16 min•Season 4Ep. 30
Discover the transformative power of ancient wisdom in our modern lives through the harmonious practices of permaculture, Ayurveda, and yoga. In this enlightening conversation, Joanne and wellness consultant Justin Robertshaw explore how these holistic health systems foster balanced living, community empowerment, and environmental harmony. Joanne and Justin discuss the intersection of yoga, Ayurveda and permaculture, highlighting how these practices can support sustainable living in ways that ho...
Sep 19, 2024•48 min•Season 4Ep. 29
Joanne and Paul are back with another Myofascial Magic In Action episode! Listen in as they explain how fascia influences movement and adaptability - not just during intense exercise but also during our everyday activities. Fascia can thicken or soften and adapt to repeated stress - so whether it's weightlifting or long periods of sitting, it learns to meet the demand of “that performance”. It is constantly seeking a balance between performance and recovery . That really is key to long-term heal...
Sep 13, 2024•39 min•Season 4Ep. 28
Join us on an enlightening journey as we explore the future of medicine and how energy, fascia, and intuition are shaping the landscape of healing. In this episode, Emeritus Professor Carol Davis and Joanne delve into the exciting realm of integrative healing, highlighting the wellness revolution that emphasizes functional wellness and holistic health. Discover how intuitive healing and alternative medicine are becoming essential components in therapeutic and medical approaches, bridging the gap...
Sep 05, 2024•54 min•Season 4Ep. 27
We've discovered a long-lost never-heard-before interview with the brilliant Paul Thornley from 2021, and simply had to share it with you!! In it Paul shares the transformative power of combining martial arts with neuromuscular therapy, distinguishing how classical biomechanics and holistic, 21st century anatomy do - or don’t - make sense of our embodied existence. He does this in such a unique way that it inspires all of us to ask new questions to truly improve our overall wellness. Before Myof...
Aug 30, 2024•51 min•Season 4Ep. 26
In this delightful interview with John Sharkey, we cover what we need to know as movement and manual therapists about Stretching, Myofascial integrity and some key principles about Fascia. I had this chat with John last year but it was only released on my YouTube channel and not on the podcast - til now! John Sharkey is a Clinical Anatomist and an Exercise Physiologist with a gift of storytelling in a way that makes sense - in practical application - of the keys to good manual therapy and moveme...
Aug 09, 2024•38 min•Season 4Ep. 25
Dr. Jean-Claude Guimberteau delves into the incredible world of fascia, providing biological insights and anatomy clarity on why being alive matters. Explore fascia functions and gain a deeper understanding of the human body in this fascinating conversation. Dr Guimberteau is famous for his videos of the Fascia Matrix IN VIVO. In vivo means “in the living body”, and in this interview Dr. Guimberteau points out that we make different conclusions when we learn in these different ways - and it matt...
Aug 03, 2024•58 min•Season 4Ep. 24
In this episode Joanne addresses a fascinating question about micro movement, from a Myofascial Magic in Action course participant. She unpacks why daily micro movements can lead to such significant improvements in wellbeing, explaining this phenomenon through the key concepts of challenge, courage, and care. Could it be that these small, mindful movements can serve our wellbeing as much (if not more than) the grand physical achievements we might strive to achieve? Is this the missing link in un...
Jul 24, 2024•24 min•Season 4Ep. 23
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
