Today's conversation is with Russell Delman. Russell has been on a path of awareness for more than 50 years. His teaching, and his life, are an integration of Zen meditation, Feldenkrais Movement, Compassionate Communication and Focusing. He credits profound teachers, especially his wife of 52 years Linda and his daughter Liliana, as the great gifts in his life. In today’s conversation, Russell reflected on embodiment and presence as lived experience rather than something to be achieved. We expl...
Dec 25, 2025•59 min
Today's conversation is with Dr. David Vago. David is a leading neuroscientist and advisor within the mindfulness, digital health, and psychedelic research communities. He currently serves as President of the International Society for Contemplative Research and holds academic affiliations with Harvard Medical School and the University of Virginia. With training from Vanderbilt, Harvard, Weill Cornell, and the University of Utah, Dr. Vago has held key research and faculty positions, including Ass...
Nov 21, 2025•1 hr 33 min
Today’s conversation is with Aline Newton and Rebecca Carli-Mills. For nearly forty years, Aline Newton has worked with dancers, athletes, engineers, trauma survivors, and anyone seeking greater ease, resilience, and connection to their body. Drawing on decades of experience as a Rolfer and movement educator, and insights from yoga, tai chi, Pilates, craniosacral, and visceral work, her approach blends science, somatic practice, and human curiosity. Her new book, Reimagining the Body , invites r...
Oct 23, 2025•59 min
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...
Aug 27, 2025•1 hr 13 min
Today's conversation is with Michael Shea Michael is one of the preeminent educators and authors in the fields of somatic psychology, myofascial release and craniosacral therapy. He leads seminars throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. Dr. Shea received his master’s degree in Buddhist Psychology at Naropa University, and a doctorate in Somatic Psychology at The Union Institute. In 1986, he was certified as one of the first Full Instructors of CranioSacral Therapy by the Upledger Institute. Dr. ...
Aug 18, 2025•47 min
Today's Conversation is with the amazing and lovable Gil Hedley Since 1995, Gil Hedley, Ph.D., has been teaching “integral anatomy” in the dissection laboratory, via keynotes and speaking tours, online via his extensive website and membership portal, www.gilhedley.com and via his YouTube channel, "Somanaut." He is the producer of The Integral Anatomy Series, the Anatomy from A to Z Project, and The Nerve Project, as well as being the author of several books. He is based at the Institute for Anat...
Jul 29, 2025•1 hr 2 min
It was a pleasure to be Conversation today with Jussi Pellonpää Jussi is a certified Rolfer, physiotherapist, massage therapist and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner who specializes in looking at how the person’s deeply rooted “attitudes” manifest in all levels of body (-mind) functioning. And in using that understanding to guide interventions aimed at improving the client’s goals with the most precision possible. In today’s conversation, we explored how Jussi’s path bridges Rolfing®, physioth...
Jul 10, 2025•1 hr 15 min
🎧 Podcast Update: A New Chapter for Touching Into Presence Hi everyone, Andrew here with a quick update from behind the scenes. Over the next few weeks, Touching Into Presence will be transitioning from Podbean to Spotify for Podcasters. This change is all about sustainability—making sure the podcast can keep growing without unnecessary overhead. 👉 During the move, you might notice: Slight delays in episode availability A few hiccups with older episodes on some platforms If anything seems off,...
May 03, 2025•2 min
It was a pleasure to be Conversation today with Dr. Mark Olson. Mark holds an M.A. in Education and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Illinois, specializing in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuropsychology and Neuroanatomy. His research focused on memory, attention, eye movements, and aesthetic preferences. Dr. Olson is also a NARM® practitioner, aquatic therapist, former massage school director, and published author on chronic pain and trauma-informed care. He offers a variety of courses...
Apr 26, 2025•1 hr 7 min
It was a pleasure to be Conversation today with Konrad Obermeier. Konrad is a Certified Advanced Rolfer™ and Rolf Movement™ Practitioner based in Munich, Germany, where he also teaches anatomy for the Rolf Institute and offers advanced training in visceral and neurovascular work. Deeply influenced by the developmental movement of the embryo, Konrad’s approach blends structure, intuition, and a reverence for the body’s formative intelligence. He has spent over 25 years immersed in the work of Eri...
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr 8 min
Today, I'm very excited to share this talk with Jörg Ahrend-Löns. Jorg is a certified Rolfer with over three decades of experience, having trained under esteemed practitioners such as Peter Melchior and Robert Schleip. He earned his certification in 1991 under Bill Smythe and Pedro Prado and completed his Advanced Training in 2002 with Jan Sultan and Michael Salveson. With a professional background in physiotherapy since 1982, Jorg brings a deep understanding of movement and structural integrati...
Mar 10, 2025•1 hr 14 min
Today's conversation is with Alan Richardson Alan is a Certified Advanced Rolfer and Rolf Movement Practitioner with a private practice in London, UK since 1998. He is also qualified as a craniosacral therapist. Richardson is passionate about knowing other cultures and languages, having lived in Japan, Taiwan, Australia, and Brazil. He has just returned to London after practicing in the south of Brazil for one year. Find out more about Alan at http://www.rolfing-london.co.uk Today’s conversation...
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 13 min
Today's conversation is with Zohrab Ajani Zo is a Certified Rolfer and Certified Ayurvedic Wellness Consultant, combining Rolfing with traditional Ayurveda therapies and protocols. He currently has a practice on the island of Kauai. Find out more about Zo at http://AZtribe.com In today’s talk we engaged in a wide-ranging conversation covering personal experiences, professional challenges, and approaches to therapy and bodywork. We discussed balancing work and family life, the importance of conti...
Jan 20, 2025•58 min
It’s been a while since the last conversation, so I wanted to share a quick update about what’s been happening behind the scenes and what may be on the way. With significant personal life changes and a full practice now established in Boston, time has become more limited, but this podcast remains close to my heart. I discuss some upcoming changes, including a broader range of topics, potential new formats like “Colleagues’ Corner,” and even exploring respectful disagreements with guests. I also ...
Jan 13, 2025•6 min
Today's conversation is with Bonnie Gintis, DO Bonnie lives in in northern Vermont. She has taught worldwide, addressing physicians and all people interested in exploring embodiment. She retired from Osteopathic private practice in 2009 and now devotes herself to teaching, writing, and exploring new ways to foster health and wellbeing. She is the author of Engaging The Movement Of Life: Exploring Health And Embodiment Through Osteopathy And Continuum. She is a 1986 graduate of New York College o...
Sep 09, 2024•1 hr 6 min
Today's conversation is with Don St John. Dr. Don St John is a psychotherapist, Continuum Fluid Movement teacher, author of the award winning Healing the Wounds of Childhood, and the revised Healing the Wounds of Childhood and Culture . He has been immersed in the psychological, somatic, relational, and spiritual worlds for more than fifty years. Dr. St John has a unique perspective on healing and human potential, having constructed a view that includes four essential and interrelated components...
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr 7 min
Today's conversation is with Mike Williams. Since 2008 Mike has been honored to guide clients on their journey to becoming a Soma Sapien, a person living from the integrated wisdom of body, mind and spirit. Together he assists you to transform chronic pain into the doorway to the next emerging version of you. Through Pain Reprocessing Therapy, Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychology, Rolfing and decades of experience teaching and practicing diverse somatic and movement arts, your work together will he...
Jul 15, 2024•1 hr 2 min
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...
May 26, 2024•1 hr 18 min
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 ...
May 20, 2024•1 hr 5 min
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 Experien...
May 13, 2024•1 hr 13 min
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 no...
Apr 29, 2024•1 hr 42 min
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, ...
Apr 15, 2024•1 hr 7 min
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’s book Yoga Anatomy, (co-authored with Amy Matthews), sold out its first print run of 19,000 within one month of its June 2007 release, and has been ...
Apr 08, 2024•1 hr 20 min
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. The original call included four or five participants, which, while enjoyable, might not translate ...
Apr 01, 2024•1 hr 35 min
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 bri...
Mar 18, 2024•1 hr 12 min
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...
Mar 04, 2024•40 min
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 a...
Feb 26, 2024•54 min
Alright Touching Into Presence listeners, today is a different kind of show. Today will be Andrew and Nikki in a conversation about Nikki’s Closure of the show for now. We talk about how our lives have changed since Nikki first came on as co-host and why the closure seems right for now. We talk about what may be coming down the line for this show and more. It was an emotional conversation for me as I’ve really enjoyed the dynamic the two of us have had over these 3 years and there is an unknown ...
Feb 19, 2024•27 min
Today's Conversation is with Carl Rabke Carl is a Somatic Naturalist, Embodiment teacher, and a tender of soul and living culture. For the last 25 years, he has practiced and taught where the streams of somatics, soul-work, and a deep love of this living Earth meet. He is a Feldenkrais and Structural Integration practitioner, and loves to support people in returning to, and remembering our natural, inherent intelligence in movement, meditation, ritual, song, rhythm and community. He also hosts t...
Feb 05, 2024•59 min
Today's Conversation is with Jeffrey Burch. A Certified Advanced Rolfer™, Jeffrey has extensively studied and integrated into his Hands-On Therapies both Cranial Manipulation and Visceral Manipulation. He has developed groundbreaking new joint mobilization methods.Jeffrey Burch received a BA in biology from the University of Oregon in 1975, after which he trained at The Dr. Ida Rolf Institute® in Boulder, Colorado, receiving his Certification as a Rolfer in 1977.He first practiced Rolfing® Struc...
Nov 06, 2023•1 hr 8 min
