NeuroMovement Revolution with Anat Baniel

Jill Bolte Taylor, PhD, is a Harvard trained and published neuroanatomist. In 1996, she suffered a stroke and as a result, she could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. It took eight years for her to completely recover all function. In 2008, Dr. Taylor gave the first TED talk that ever went viral. Her memoir My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey spent 63 weeks on the NY Times bestseller list and is translated in over 30 languages. Dr. Taylor has written a new book that is coming out on May 11, 2021.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Jill Bolte Taylor discuss:Jill’s new book Whole Brain Living: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life;  why Jill wrote this book, which she calls her “gift to the world”;if you want to improve your vitality, well-being, and freedom, it is ALL about differentiation;  the four characters of the brain, their purpose, and how to access them to make better choices in your life; the importance of sleep for a healthy brain;  related questions from the audience.

A Conversation with Special Guest Donna Jackson NakazawaDonna Jackson Nakazawa is an award-winning science journalist, an author of six books, and an internationally recognized speaker. Her work explores the intersection of neuroscience, immunology, human emotion, and new opportunities and ways for healing. She is the bestselling author of The Angel and the Assassin: The Tiny Brain Cell That Changed the Course of Medicine.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Donna Jackson Nakazawa discuss:the smallest cell in the brain—microglia—how it works and its function as an immune system; groundbreaking discoveries about the brain and how microglia link mental and physical health;how chronic stressors and trauma affect the brain and this microglia cell;  why safety is the number one factor for health and learning; well-regulated adults can have an enormous positive impact on children with special needs;how writing can be used as a tool to reset the nervous system (“neural re-narrating”).

A Conversation with Special Guest Linda GrahamLinda Graham, MFT, is an experienced psychotherapist and Mindful Self-Compassion teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area. Linda integrates modern neuroscience, mindfulness, and relational psychology in her international trainings. She is the author of Resilience: Powerful Practices for Bouncing Back from Disappointment, Difficulty, and Even Disaster and the award-winning Bouncing Back: Rewiring Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-Being.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Linda Graham discuss:resilience and how it can be used to deal with trauma and stress;five factors in using trauma as an opportunity for growth (post-traumatic growth);  mindfulness and compassion are the foundation for resilience;possibilities open up when upgrading the quality of the functioning of the brain;how Linda’s tools and NeuroMovement® can be used to develop resilience and create new possibilities.

A Conversation with Special Guest Linda GrahamLinda Graham, MFT, is an experienced psychotherapist and Mindful Self-Compassion teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area. Linda integrates modern neuroscience, mindfulness, and relational psychology in her international trainings. She is the author of Resilience: Powerful Practices for Bouncing Back from Disappointment, Difficulty, and Even Disaster and the award-winning Bouncing Back: Rewiring Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-Being. In this episode, Anat Baniel and Linda Graham discuss:trauma and how trauma therapy has changed;mind and body are not separate, and the body needs to be involved to heal;  how positive experiences can increase brain functioning;  the importance of mindful self-compassion and compassion for your child; how parents can use the Enthusiasm Essential to positively impact the brain of a child with special needs. 

Conversation with Special Guest Margaret PaulMargaret Paul, PhD, is a co-creator of “Inner Bonding ®, a 6-step spiritually based therapeutic modality that heals shame, and the resulting self-abandonment, that is often the root cause of anxiety, stress, depression, low self-worth, addictions and relationship problems.” Dr. Paul is a relationship expert, noted public speaker, workshop leader, educator, chaplain, consultant, author, and artist. In this episode, Anat Baniel and Margaret Paul discuss:the Inner Bonding process and how it can positively change you and your relationships with your children, your spouse, and others;what it means to be present in heart and soul, and to love yourself;  how to uncover false beliefs and overcome parenting challenges of children with special needs; the importance of learning to take responsibility for yourself;how to be open to feeling and learning in order to access higher levels of knowledge. At the end of the podcast, Margaret demonstrates the Inner Bonding process with a volunteer.  

A Conversation with Special Guest Shelly LefkoeShelly Lefkoe is a co-founder and Vice President of Lefkoe Institute, a San Francisco Bay Area firm whose mission is “to significantly improve the quality of life on the planet by having people recreate their lives and live as the unlimited possibilities they are.” Shelly has had the privilege of helping thousands of people examine and eliminate limiting beliefs, and one of her passions is working with parents.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Shelly Lefkoe discuss:the importance of acknowledging what is happening right now with your child;observing and asking yourself: what did your child conclude from your interaction?; it is okay to not know; not knowing can open up new possibilities; moving from fixing to connecting with your child;events don’t have meaning; the “meaning” you give something is in your mind; related questions from the audience.

A Conversation with Special Guest Shelly LefkoeShelly Lefkoe is a co-founder and Vice President of Lefkoe Institute, a San Francisco Bay Area firm whose mission is “to significantly improve the quality of life on the planet by having people recreate their lives and live as the unlimited possibilities they are.” Shelly has had the privilege of helping thousands of people examine and eliminate limiting beliefs, and one of her passions is working with parents.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Shelly Lefkoe discuss:the definition of a “belief” and how your behaviors reflect your beliefs;the importance of looking at behaviors you are not happy with and uncovering your beliefs;how to observe and become aware of what your child's beliefs are; a tool for examining your beliefs by looking at the “meaning” you are giving something; related questions from the audience.

Whether home schooling or sending your teen to school under the Covid-19 requirements and restrictions, there are ways to calm yourself and your teen, reduce stress and anxiety, and create inspiring and effective learning processes for the teenager.In this episode, Anat Baniel discusses:her passion for and approach in working with teenagers;the importance of being open and using the 9 Essentials to engage with teens;examples of how to create opportunities for your child’s brain to learn and evolve; how the brain is built to learn and needs to learn in order to be healthy; related questions from the audience.

Whether home schooling or sending your preteen to school under the Covid-19 requirements and restrictions, there are ways to calm yourself and your preteen, reduce stress and anxiety, and create inspiring and effective learning processes for the preteen.In this episode, Anat Baniel discusses:the challenges of learning and studying at home, for both children and adults;how to connect with your child by observing (using awareness) and asking questions;the importance of using flexibility, creativity, and the Variation Essential; how to incorporate short movement breaks during your child's online learning; related questions from the audience.

Whether home schooling or sending your child to school under the Covid-19 requirements and restrictions, there are ways to calm yourself and your child, reduce stress and anxiety, and create inspiring and effective learning processes for your young child.In this episode, Anat Baniel discusses:the heightened awareness in typically developing babies and young children;how to use the Awareness Essential with your child to potentiate the learning process;the importance of observing your child and asking questions to activate her or his awareness; how short movement lessons, like the ones in NeuroMovement® for Your Busy Life, can be a benefit to your child during online learning; related questions from the audience.

Whether home schooling or sending your child to school under the Covid-19 requirements and restrictions, there are ways to calm yourself and your child, reduce stress and anxiety, and create inspiring and effective learning processes for your preschool child.In this episode, Anat Baniel discusses:how we are born with a brain that is built to learn;that no matter what is going on, your child is learning;the importance of following the interests of your child, and not “forcing” learning by drilling; how to look for opportunities in daily life to use the 9 Essentials, like the Variation Essential; related questions from the audience. 

We Are the Medicine: Prioritizing Possibilities to Mitigate Childhood Trauma and Promote Healing and FlourishingChristina Bethell, PhD, MBA, MPH, is a professor in the Bloomberg School of Public Health University. She also serves as the founding director of the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (CAHMI). Dr. Bethell established and leads the National Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Christina Bethell discuss: the science of thriving and the human potential for flourishing;the qualitative data Christina has developed to revolutionize systems for measurement;how childhood trauma affects parents, as well as children’s development; the whole person (whole child, whole family) approach to help children and parents heal and flourish;moving from fixing to connecting with families in order to give them what they want and need;related questions from the audience.

Jill Bolte Taylor, PhD, is a Harvard trained and published neuroanatomist. In 1996, she suffered a stroke and as a result, she could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. It took eight years for her to completely recover all function. In 2008, Dr. Taylor gave the first TED talk that ever went viral: My Stroke of Insight. Her memoir My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey spent 63 weeks on the NY Times bestseller list and is translated in over 30 languages.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Jill Bolte Taylor discuss: how to live in a place of possibilities, where Jill and Anat both live;the importance of creating a safe foundation for yourself (and your family);how NeuroMovement® and the 9 Essentials wake up the brain and drive continued growth to higher levels of functioning; how Jill’s recovery process was the same as Anat Baniel’s groundbreaking work with adults and children with special needs with a variety of conditions;the brain is a learning machine, and it wants to learn and learn and learn;related questions from the audience.

Martha Herbert, PhD, MD, is a pediatric neurologist, neuroscientist, systems thinker, and writer who trained in medicine at Columbia University, Pediatrics at Cornell-New York Hospital and Neurology at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Herbert is author of The Autism Revolution and a certified Anat Baniel Method® NeuroMovement® Practitioner.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Martha Herbert discuss: why movement is so important to a human’s learning process;how NeuroMovement® and the 9 Essentials focus on, and positively impact, the process of learning;learning begins with differentiation—being able to notice differences;Documenting Hope, Martha’s research project to scientifically demonstrate that children can get better from autism, ADHD, and other chronic conditions; the amazing brain and its built-in potential to develop extraordinary intelligence;related questions from the audience.

Michael Merzenich, PhD, a world-renowned neuroscientist, is the “father” of brain plasticity science. Dr. Merzenich was awarded the 2016 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience, for his work in discovering adult brain plasticity and applying its principles to improve the human condition.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Michael Merzenich discuss: how brain plasticity can be used to improve your life at any age;the key is to wake up the brain and provide the conditions for it to learn and evolve;“miraculous” changes can happen in a relatively short period of time;how trauma can impact the brain, and the role of brain training and the 9 Essentials in healing; brain and body health are not separate—movement is cognition;related questions from the audience. 

Growing the Inner Trifecta of Calm, Contentment, and Love In these unprecedented times of the corona virus pandemic, developing inner calm, resilience, and well-being is especially important. For parents homeschooling their children, and for those with a child with special needs, these practices taught by Dr. Rick Hanson, a Master teacher, therapist, and scientist, are invaluable. In this episode, Anat Baniel and Rick Hanson discuss: why Rick participated in the documentary A Life Unbound;how we can all develop the heart of resilience (calm, contentment, love);how we can use positive neuroplasticity to create lasting change;how to create positive experiences for children with special needs, and for all children; quick tips for creating inner calm and a demonstration of a simple 3-breath practice;related questions from the audience.

Geordie Trifa is a Canadian film producer, director, and director of photography who has an extraordinary gift for storytelling. He has produced and directed countless commercials and short films shooting on nearly every continent on the globe. In this episode, Anat Baniel and Geordie Trifa discuss:how he reconnected with his childhood friend Allie to tell the story of her son Nash in the documentary film A Life Unbound; his new film Pandemic Elementary, coming out in the fall, which features the story of homeschooling and “unschooling” his children during the pandemic;how his interview with Anat led Geordie to learn much more about parenting and raising children during these unprecedented times;how parents can use the world around them to provide opportunities for learning, wherever they live;the importance of creating a sense of wonderment and enthusiasm for learning, and turning on the learning switch;  bringing movement and feeling into the learning process with the 9 Essentials.  

The Art & Science of Seeing Possibilities - An Interview with Filmmaker Geordie TrifaGeordie Trifa is a Canadian producer, director, and director of photography who has worked in the film and television industry for nearly a decade. Geordie’s feature documentary, A Life Unbound, was released in 2018. Geordie is currently in post-production for a feature documenting his personal experience as a parent seeking tools for optimizing the homeschooling of his daughters during the pandemic.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Geordie Trifa discuss:how the idea came about for the documentary film A Life Unbound; the unique way in which Geordie’s daughter learned to read;how the 9 Essentials provide a solid foundation for learning and for homeschooling;Geordie’s observations while homeschooling and "unschooling" his children during this pandemic;related questions from the audience.

How to Apply Positive Brain Change Principles for SuccessSchooling will most likely still be affected by the impact of Covid-19 in the fall. Homeschooling will either be a necessity or a choice for many families. In this episode, we address some of the challenges facing children, parents, teachers, and caregivers as education is moved to the home and online. Anat discusses:the huge challenges with schools being closed during the pandemic;a new NeuroMovement® Online at Home Coaching program developed to help children with special needs, their families, and caregivers during this time at home;learning at home, with a short demonstration of how parents can work with their children;how the special project with a school system in Canada has changed—training teachers, aides, and staff to apply the 9 Essentials;  the importance of moving from fixing to connecting with the focus on learning, not drilling or specific goals;related questions from the audience.

In this podcast, Anat interviews Richard Miller, PhD, a world-renowned spiritual teacher, author, yogic scholar, researcher, and clinical psychologist. He has worked with veterans, homeless people, women who have escaped human trafficking, people suffering from chronic depression, and others with post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Miller is the founder of iRest®, a simple and accessible form of meditation designed for modern day living, and what he calls “tools for life.” These tools empower you to skillfully meet each moment with unshakable peace and wellbeing—no matter how challenging or difficult your situation. In this episode, Anat Baniel and Richard Miller discuss:when we are under ongoing, undue stress that is inescapable, the natural response of the brain/body is to react with a trauma response or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD);  Richard’s experience with having a child born with hydrocephalus, and how he responded to his son’s challenges in life; Richard takes us through one of his exercises to connect to our innate quality of “wholeness of being,” helping us shift from our thinking mind to our body as sensation; the importance of and need for safety first, within ourselves, and within our children; we have five other needs, according to Richard, in addition to our basic needs: to be seen, to be heard, to connect with, to belong, and to feel our innate wholeness;both iRest® and NeuroMovement® offer a holistic approach to healing and well-being that embraces the unknown and opens up a world of possibilities.