Perspective with Jamie Holmes

Jamie Holmes joins Craig to discuss life’s admin tasks, her journey through holistic healing from melanoma, and insights into the world of circus arts and personal fitness showcasing her multifaceted life and philosophies.

I think it was three months from when I had my first, initial consult with my surgeon, and he said, “okay I can get you in. It’s going to be a bit harder because you’re doing both hips at once, but I can get you in within three months.” And that was horrid to me! I was like, “I have to live three more months like this!?” It wasn’t just that it hurt a little bit when I walked— I couldn’t move— I could not move— I was having weird panic attacks all the time, because if I dropped something and had to bend over, it was— I’m a bit of a tough cookie, but that? That broke me pretty hard.”

~ Jamie Holmes, 35:15

Not your average bears, Craig and Jamie begin in left field discussing ways of managing life’s “admin” tasks. Jamie professes integrating everything into her daily flow, rather than reserving them for a single day. Her approach, she explains, allows her to work at a high speed, avoiding the buildup of dreaded tasks. Her method emphasizes efficiency and the mental ease that comes from staying ahead of administrative duties, reflecting a deeper understanding of personal productivity and time management.

The conversation shifts into Jamie’s profound journey through holistic healing after a melanoma diagnosis. Rejecting traditional treatment paths, Jamie opts for a holistic approach, guided by her conviction in the body’s healing capabilities and her passion for health and fitness. This segment of the discussion not only highlights her resilience but also serves as an inspiring testament to the power of our minds and bodies.

Jamie also shares insights into the world of circus arts and her studio, The Circus Fix, illuminating the challenges and rewards of managing a fitness and arts studio. Her narrative encompasses the delicate balance of artistic passion with the pragmatism of business management, underscoring the significance of adaptability and understanding in leadership roles.

Takeaways

Efficiency in daily tasks—integrating administrative duties into everyday life can enhance productivity and reduce stress.

Holistic healing approaches—exploring non-traditional methods for dealing with serious health issues, such as melanoma, can lead to personal insights and unexpected journeys.

The importance of movement—engaging in physical activities, whether through circus arts or other forms of exercise, is vital for mental and physical health.

Adapting to individual needs—understanding and accommodating the unique ways people process and work can lead to better management and teamwork.

The value of outdoor activities—spending time in nature, particularly in activities like walking on the beach, can serve as a form of meditation and rejuvenation.

Facing life-changing decisions—confronting severe health challenges with courage and openness to unconventional treatments can inspire others.

The challenge of balancing—managing a small business, especially in the arts, requires juggling creative passion with the practicalities of administration and leadership.

The role of community—creating spaces for learning and growth, such as a circus studio, contributes to the well-being and development of both instructors and students.

Personal transformation through adversity—overcoming physical and mental hurdles can lead to profound personal growth and a deeper understanding of one’s capacities and resilience.

Resources

The Circus Fix — Jamie Holmes’ circus studio, offering classes in aerial arts and other circus disciplines.

https://jamieholmes.com — Jamie’s web site with all her professional details.

Carrots, Coffee, and Cancer — Jamie’s book recounting her approach to overcoming melanoma, emphasizing diet, lifestyle, and alternative treatments.

Instagram@jamie7holmes and @thecircusfixto

Surrounded by Idiots — by Thomas Erikson as briefly mentioned in this episode as a resource in relation to understanding team dynamics.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

Perspective – with Giles D’Souza

Giles D’Souza shares his journey from navigating the bustling streets of Mumbai to finding tranquility in movement, as he and Craig Constantine unravel the essence of living fully in the moment amidst the chaos of modern life.

You can take this time for yourself. You can take this time for your clients— take this time for this— and anything above that is it’s fine. Just let it go.

~ Giles D’Souza, 3:15

Giles D’Souza and Craig Constantine navigate the relationships between work, personal growth, and the concept of living fully in the moment. Giles shares his transformative experience of returning from a long journey overseas, which provided him with a fresh perspective on balancing work and personal life. He emphasizes the direct correlation between work and income, especially as a self-employed individual, and how stepping away allowed him to reassess and prioritize his time and activities upon returning. This segment of the discussion highlights the importance of finding equilibrium between professional commitments and personal well-being, suggesting that a deliberate pause can lead to a more fulfilling and intentional way of living.

The conversation also gets into the philosophical, exploring concepts of consciousness, the significance of the present moment, and the universal human experience of navigating life’s fleeting nature. Giles reflects on the practice of mindfulness and the art of letting go, sharing personal anecdotes that underscore the power of focusing on the present to alleviate the burdens of past grievances and future anxieties. This part of the conversation considers the impact of external environments on well-being, with Giles discussing the challenges of living in Mumbai, a city with significant pollution, and how it has influenced his desire for a life closer to nature. Through these discussions, the conversation weaves together themes of personal development, environmental awareness, and the pursuit of simplicity and clarity in a complex world.

Takeaways

The importance of balance — discussing the challenge of managing work and personal life, especially when self-employed, and the value of taking breaks to reassess one’s priorities.

The power of mindfulness — exploring how being present and letting go of past and future worries can significantly improve mental well-being and perspective on life.

Environmental impact on lifestyle — sharing personal experiences of how living in a polluted city can influence one’s health and happiness, and the longing for a life closer to nature.

The significance of the present moment — emphasizing that every second is precious and should be lived fully, whether it’s through work, leisure, or simply being.

The transformative effect of travel — reflecting on how travel can expand one’s perspective, not by ticking off checklist items but by deeply experiencing and immersing oneself in different cultures and environments.

The philosophical exploration of consciousness — delving into the nature of consciousness, the miracle of waking life, and the profound impact of considering our place in the universe.

The aspiration for a sustainable and peaceful living environment — dreaming of a life in the mountains, self-sufficient and in harmony with nature, highlighting the desire for simplicity and tranquility away from urban chaos.

Resources
@one.meal.monster — Giles D’Souza on Instagram

DarkSky International — The conversation touches upon the importance of the night sky

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

Perspectives – with Jeremy Fein

Jeremy Fein, a coach who embraces the power of conversation, joins Craig to talk about the complexities of podcasting and coaching, revealing his journey from creating a successful podcast to purposefully pausing it to refocus.

[Coaching sessions are] much better when they’re not recorded, right? They’re better for the client, which is what matters. And so podcasting felt like a way that I could maybe bridge a gap between the actual work that I do, and— let’s call it content creation. You go to write a caption on Instagram, and it’s just so divorced from the work that I’m doing on a regular basis with clients. That’s why I started [the podcast].

~ Jeremy Fein, 4:28

Jeremy Fein discusses his experiences with podcasting and coaching. He reflects on why he started his podcast, “Nothing Makes Perfect,” acknowledging the abundance of podcasts and his desire to create something meaningful rather than just adding to the noise. Jeremy also delves into his decision to pause his podcast after 25 episodes, a choice driven by a need to reassess and focus on aspects of the podcast he enjoyed and could amplify.

He also talks about the intrinsic connection between his identity and coaching, emphasizing how coaching has become an integral part of who he is. Jeremy’s approach to coaching is deeply rooted in conversation, listening, and idea exploration, rather than traditional fitness instruction. This approach underscores his commitment to personalization in coaching, catering to individual client needs while maintaining a structured yet flexible coaching framework.

Takeaways

Starting a podcast with awareness — discusses the over-saturation of podcasts and the importance of adding value rather than just contributing to the noise.

Pausing a successful podcast — reflects on the decision to take a break, focusing on reassessment and personal growth.

Personal identity and coaching — highlights how coaching has become a part of the speaker’s identity, shaping both professional and personal life.

Adapting to clients’ needs in coaching — emphasizes the importance of personalization in coaching, catering to individual client needs.

Content creation in the digital age — explores the challenges of creating authentic content that resonates with the audience and the creator’s values.

Resources

@jeremyfein Jeremy Fein on Instagram. Message him there for conversations or inquiries about his coaching or podcasting experiences.

Fein Movement Jeremy’s web site with coaching information and additional ways to reach him.

Nothing Makes Perfect Jeremy’s podcast.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

Two perspectives

Everything is fun, until one’s expectations are crushed. I thought I was getting the convenience of online shopping for things that were previously literally unavailable; Instead, the local stores closed and I’ve lost the convenience of local purchasing. I thought I was getting expanded communication via email; Instead, I’ve been overrun by people taking advantage of the ease of access. In 1989 I was excited by what we could all do with the Internet. So excited, that in 1994 I quit a funded research position and dropped out of graduate school.

Today’s internet is largely shaped by a dialog between two ideas. One position considers personal data as a form of property, the opposing position considers personal data as an extension of the self. The latter grants inalienable rights because a person’s dignity – traditionally manifested in our bodies or certain rights of expression and privacy – cannot be negotiated, bought, or sold.

~ David Schmudde from, https://schmud.de/posts/2022-12-05-different-internet.html

There’s nothing wrong with the Internet. There’s nothing wrong with people. There’s nothing wrong with government. The problem is in everyone’s failure to think things through. “Can” and “should” are very different animals. Until a plurality of people think things through—until a plurality of people stop delivering themselves into the power of ideas they do not know they have accepted—there will be nothing new under the sun.

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Perspective and awareness

The thing about status dynamics, though, is that they aren’t in one spot. There isn’t a whole world that is being fully and accurately perceived, except for one blank space that’s being glossed over.

~ Duncan Sabien from, https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/7Pq9KwZhG6vejmYpo/the-metaphor-you-want-is-color-blindness-not-blind-spot

This is an interesting unpacking of some metaphors. If one has a blind spot in vision, simply shifting your gaze or moving slightly, will reveal what one is not seeing. This is a key way in which the “blind spot” metaphor is inaccurate and insufficient for systemic differences (in people, culture, society, etc.). The metaphor of red-green color blindness carries more utility because it points out that the things, or the distinctions, which one can’t see are everywhere; they are not literally in one stationary location (the problem is not simply under this X on this map), and no matter what one does—gaze shifting, moving around, thinking a great deal—those invisible thing are not going to appear.

The only way I’ve found to get through such problem is to engage with others whose literal and conceptual perspectives differ from my own. I’ll sum that up as: Discovery.

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Perspective

Age. Age brings perspective in the fine clarity one gets at midnight, on the tracks, looking into the lights of an oncoming train. It dawns on you rather quickly: There’s only so much time left. Only so many star-filled nights, snowfalls… brisk fall afternoons, rainy midsummer days. So how you conduct yourself and do your work matters. How you treat your friends, your family, your lover. On good days, a blessing falls over you. It wraps its arms around you and you’re free and deeply in and of this world. That’s your reward: Being here.

~ Bruce Springsteen

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It’s really hard to see from another’s perspective

In such a simple situation, I placed a message in what I thought was the best position: The door knocker.

~ Steven Pressfield from, https://stevenpressfield.com/2014/10/stick-it-to-the-doorknob/

It used to be that when someone asked me to look at something, or for feedback, I took it very seriously. Not “gravely” serious, but appropriately serious. I allocated what I felt would be sufficient time to give the task my undivided attention. I gave the whatever-it-was a deep thinking-through and tried to melt my mind into all the nooks and crannies(*).

No more!

Why? Because what do I desperately want when I ask someone for feedback? I want their fresh perspective.

I’ve already thought about it six ways to Sunday—I don’t even know what that means. I’ve a reason for every minuscule feature, every character, every color, … I don’t want you to ask me what sort of feedback I want… I don’t want you to get a pencil and pad out to write an outline… I don’t want you to think about what would be he best feedback to make the thing better… And these days I’m figuring that’s what everyone else wants too.

Just my first reaction. If I’m on my game, maybe my first few reactions; bonus points if I can muster a few positives and negatives. But either way, just *pow*, no holds barred. RFN (right now). As Pressfield said, hang the note right on the doorknob: “Your baby is ugly.” “That’s the most elegant Rube-Goldberg device I’ve ever seen.”

And then maybe ask a question or three once I’ve done the hard work of doing what I was asked.

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* Anyone else always associate that phrase with butter and Thomas’s English muffins?

The interviews from my perspective

(Part 1 of 4 in series, The interviews from my perspective)

This ongoing series of posts will contain my memories and thoughts from the interviews which I have been doing for the Movers Mindset podcast.

You can—obviously—listen to each interview. But in this series I want to share things about the interviews. I realized that I have begun to tell stories about the interviews, and people are fascinated by those stories as much as by the interviews themselves.

And so I want to share snapshots—imagery and ideas conveyed through storytelling—from the interviews. The podcast is about, among other things, sharing stories and for every interview I have at least one great story I want to tell.

Stories from before the interviews, or after. Or the people in the room you didn’t hear, or beautiful spaces I get to visit, or the time of day, the light, the vibe, the orgin-story of how I first met the guest, how they affected my life or my journey, …

I’m already 27 stories behind and even the most cursory romp down memory lane has brought countless stories to mind.

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Voices with Leticia Latino van Splunteren

Leticia Latino van Splunteren joins Craig Constantine to explore the relentless pursuit of podcasting excellence and the art of staying true to one’s essence.

The one thing people have always told me— […] I connect people. My friends, even from high school and elementary school when I go back home, […] I’m the one planning, making everybody see each other. I’ve always been that person.

~ Leticia Latino 10:05

Leticia Latino and Craig discuss the essence and challenges of podcasting. Leticia shares her journey of producing over 250 episodes of her podcast “Back2Basics,” highlighting the dedication and passion required to maintain such a consistent output. She emphasizes the importance of creating a sustainable podcasting routine that aligns with one’s lifestyle and commitments.

I think a lot of people get discouraged by seeing, sometimes the numbers and the statistics, and I don’t look at them. I don’t look at them because I look at the map of where it has been downloaded. And when I see it has been on every single continent [that’s] encouraging and empowering for me because I’ve reached a place that I will have never dreamt about reaching.

~ Leticia Latino 35:20

Their discussion shows how podcasting, while a solitary endeavor at times, blossoms into a fulfilling venture through connections made and stories shared, showcasing the intrinsic value and joy derived from engaging deeply with guests and audiences alike.

The conversation also explores guest engagement and the sometimes meticulous process behind selecting and interacting with guests. Leticia offers insights into her approach to guest outreach, and how she tries to ensure a balance between introducing new voices and maintaining a steady flow of content. She discusses the strategic use of solo episodes as a method to keep the podcast alive during guest droughts, inadvertently discovering the audience’s appreciation for her personal insights.

Finally, the conversation touches on the impact of the global pandemic on podcasting dynamics. Leticia notes a shift towards introspection among podcasters and listeners alike, suggesting a deeper engagement with content that resonates on a personal level, even today as the world again accelerates post-pandemic.

Takeaways

Podcasting as a passion project—discusses the deep commitment and joy derived from creating content that connects with people on a personal level.

The importance of a sustainable routine—highlights the need for podcasters to develop a manageable and consistent process for producing episodes to avoid burnout.

Guest engagement strategies—explores methods for maintaining a steady flow of interesting guests and ensuring the podcast remains dynamic and engaging.

Solo episodes as a strategic tool—mentions how solo episodes can serve as a valuable asset to keep the podcast going and provide personal insights when guests are scarce.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic—reflects on how the pandemic has influenced podcasters and listeners, fostering introspection and a deeper connection with content.

The role of consistency in podcasting—emphasizes the significance of releasing episodes regularly to build and maintain an audience.

Content over perfection—advises podcasters to focus on delivering content consistently rather than getting caught up in the pursuit of perfection.

The global reach of podcasting—celebrates the ability of podcasts to connect with listeners worldwide, bringing diverse perspectives and stories to a global audience.

The value of process and preparation—underscores the necessity of having a clear process for recording, editing, and publishing podcast episodes to facilitate creativity and efficiency.

Resources

Back2Basics — Leticia Latino’s podcast, focusing on reconnecting with the essence of one’s personal and professional life. The show explores what makes people tick, featuring conversations with diverse guests.

https://www.leticialatino.com/ — Her web site with much more information, including her blog and media links.

Women In Business — The book Leticia Latino collaborated on, mentioned in this episode.

Akimbo Podcasting Course — The original course and platform no longer exist. But the material from the course was expanded and updated by one of the course’s coaches to become, The Podcasting Workshop

PodMatch — Mentioned by Leticia Latino as a platform designed to match podcast hosts with potential guests, facilitating easier content creation and guest sourcing for podcasters.

Show Your Work and The Practice — Two books Craig wishes he’d read at the start of his podcasting journey: Austin Kleon’s Show Your Work!, a book encouraging creators to share their process, not just their products, and Seth Godin’s The Practice, a book that dives into the process of doing creative work, emphasizing the importance of showing up, doing the work, and shipping it out.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

Open + Curious

Open + Curious — You talk with others every day, but how often do you intentionally practice the art of conversation? Open + Curious is about discovering what better means for your conversations.

There are countless traditions which describe the idea of speaking reality into being. Open + Curious is my perspective on how to do that. How can our thoughts shape our words and communication? And how can our communication shape our lives through our experience of conversation? — See more at Open + Curious.

Happiness – with Matt Phelan

Matt Phelan joins Craig Constantine to explain how he manages to measure happiness without making it a pointless metric and to reveal the profound impact of podcasting on personal connections in the world of employee happiness research.

For 10 years I ran a marketing agency, I know how the world works and getting big names on your podcast is really good […] But then I have to remind myself: The whole point of the podcast, for me, was the discovery of really interesting people […]

~ Matt Phelan, 10:05

Matt Phelan and Craig Constantine lean into podcasting, happiness measurement, and the authenticity of dialogues. Their conversation evolves into a reflection on personal and professional paths, transcending the mechanics of podcasting to highlight the emotional bonds it can create.

Matt shares his experience with his podcast, “Happiness and Humans,” stressing the critical view that happiness shouldn’t be reduced to a quantifiable metric, as it risks losing its essence. He reflects on his decade-long journey, concluding that failing to align himself with the natural energy flow resulted in significant time lost on unfruitful endeavors. This insight shapes a broader conversation about the importance of surrendering to the flow, influencing his life philosophy and his approach to the podcast.

Further, Matt explains his decision to spotlight insightful, yet possibly overlooked, stories and research over pursuing notable figures, thereby staying true to his podcast’s aim to uncover novel perspectives on employee happiness and well-being.

Takeaways

The importance of authenticity in podcasting — focusing on meaningful conversations rather than chasing high-profile guests enhances the value of the content.

The futility of rigid metrics for happiness — emphasizing that once happiness becomes a target, it loses its significance as a genuine metric.

Following the natural flow — a decade-long reflection revealed the inefficiency of going against the natural current, underscoring the importance of energy alignment in personal and professional endeavors.

Highlighting lesser-known research — choosing to feature insightful stories and research from individuals who may not be widely recognized can uncover unique perspectives on topics like employee happiness.

Emotional connections through podcasting — conversations that dive into personal feelings and experiences can create stronger, more meaningful connections with the audience.

Challenging conventional success metrics in podcasting — success can be more authentically measured by the impact on individuals and the personal connections formed, rather than just viewership or listener counts.

The transformative power of self-reflection — reviewing past actions and decisions, such as the allocation of time and energy, can lead to more effective and fulfilling future endeavors.

Resources

Happiness and Humans — Matt Phelan’s podcast exploring themes around happiness in the workplace, featuring insights from various professionals and researchers.

The Happiness Index — Matt’s book, discussed in this episode.

The Happiness Index — A platform and company founded by Matt and his partners, offering tools and services to measure employee engagement and happiness.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewphelan/ — Matt on LinkedIn

Freedom to Be Happy — Matt’s first, self-published book based on insights and data gathered from measuring employee happiness in over a hundred countries.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

Awareness – with Anna Bezuglova

Anna Bezuglova transforms the mundane into sacred practice, challenging our perceptions of daily life and movement with insights from her unique journey and teaching philosophy.

“The dialogue of sacredness of deep meaning is something that is often connected to daily things. It’s not only the physical practice that I treat in such a way but also just daily moments and living life. Being present to it all the time— and it doesn’t matter whether I’m doing an official session of practice, or I’m driving a car, or I’m talking to my husband, or I’m teaching a class, or I’m just walking down the road. I think this mindset shifts something in the way you do things day to day.” ~ Anna Bezuglova, 3:00

In a deeply reflective conversation, Anna describes how she treats daily practices as sacred, a wisdom imparted by her Zen teacher. She shares her journey of recognizing the sacredness in her routines, initially performing practices that outwardly seemed sacred to others but later realizing their intrinsic value to herself. Anna emphasizes the importance of being present in every moment, whether it’s in a structured practice session or the simple acts of daily living, highlighting how this mindset transforms the mundane into something deeply meaningful.

Anna’s reflections extend into the lessons learned from her father, a martial arts teacher and a Buddhist, who, despite never directly teaching her martial arts, deeply influenced her perspective on life and practice. She recounts growing up in the challenging times of the 1990s in Russia, drawing resilience and a unique outlook from her parents’ examples. This background informs her teaching philosophy, where she advocates for a holistic approach to movement that intertwines physical, cognitive, and emotional aspects.

Anna argues for the significance of continuous change, consistency, and awareness in practice, underlining how these elements contribute to a fulfilling and transformative journey. Through her narrative, she challenges listeners to see movement not just as physical exercise, but as a comprehensive method to engage with life, fostering change, and personal growth.

Takeaways

The sacredness of daily practice — a reflection on how integrating conscious intention into routine activities transforms them into meaningful practices.

The influence of upbringing — discussing how parental examples, especially in the face of adversity, shape resilience and perspectives on life and practice.

The concept of change in practice — emphasizing that constant evolution and adaptation in one’s practice mirrors the dynamic nature of life itself.

The importance of awareness — highlighting how paying attention to the body’s movement and presence in space can significantly improve one’s practice and overall well-being.

The role of a teacher — the necessity of embodying the principles one teaches, as coherence between words and actions fosters trust and facilitates learning.

The power of coordination — explaining how developing coordination through movement practices can enhance the ability to adapt and succeed in various aspects of life.

The commitment to long-term learning — advocating for the importance of dedication and persistence in practice to experience genuine transformation.

Resources

Having a Practice — Anna’s blog post mentioned by Craig.

The Bamboo Body — Anna Bezuglova’s movement school in Barcelona based on Ido Portal teachings.

@anna.bamboo — on Instagram

The Bamboo Body — on YouTube

Feldenkrais Method — A movement pedagogy designed to improve body awareness and enhance movement efficiency through gentle exercises and mindful practice. The method was developed by Moshé Feldenkrais and is used worldwide to assist in rehabilitation and promote physical and mental well-being.

Ido Portal Method — A holistic approach to movement culture pioneered by Ido Portal, focusing on developing strength, mobility, and the physical and mental aspects of movement practice. It encourages exploration of various disciplines, from martial arts to dance.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

It never gets easier

Very early in my rediscovery of movement, someone said: What was once your workout, will one day be your warmup. It’s both motivating (simply do what you can, today, and the changes will come) and inspiring (it implies that the people far ahead, at one time, were here, where I am today). I can now see in hindsight that it is an expansive perspective: One will expand their capabilities as one expands one’s practice to bigger and better things.

Years later I realised that the answer to this question is: everything. There can be more articulation of the toes; rotation can be made more extreme; even that ineffable quality of artistry can be developed. It’s often thought that the greater your prowess, the easier your performance becomes. However, as I progressed upward through the ranks of the ballet world, I saw that this wasn’t the case.

~ Barbara Gail Montero from, https://aeon.co/essays/the-true-expert-does-not-perform-in-a-state-of-effortless-flow

Years into my rediscovery of movement, I realized it was truly a mastery practice. Something which can be done, forever, just for the process.

And just now, it’s occurred to me that this is also true: What was once my warmup, will always contain enough challenge to also be my workout.

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Rasa – with Andrew Suseno

Andrew Suseno joins Craig to describe how Moving Rasa transforms trauma into collective healing and empowerment through movement, redefining personal boundaries and identity in profound ways.

Andrew Suseno describes the transformative work of Moving Rasa, a continuation from his earlier focus on Parcon Resilience. Andrew and Craig begin with an introduction to two upcoming retreats designed for Asian American Pacific Islanders and BIPOC communities, emphasizing rest, recuperation, and abolition. These retreats aim to support community organizers by reconnecting them with their bodies and helping restore their life rhythms. The events serve as a platform for individuals from marginalized communities to engage in healing practices, fostering a sense of empowerment and collective well-being.

Rasa means taste in Indonesian, and it also means discernment of feeling with the heart. It isn’t just about what our relationship to food is, but it’s what our relationship to anything is— whether it’s a picture on the wall, a book that we read, a friend, a value that we might have. And just like we might have a sensory understanding of what something tastes like, we have a sensory understanding of our rasa for anything. And that sensory understanding can be moved into and explored and improvised with and moved with others.

~ Andrew Suseno, 5:25

Andrew elucidates the concept of “Rasa,” explaining its multifaceted meanings that encompass taste, discernment of feeling with the heart, and essence in various languages, including Indonesian and Sanskrit. This concept underpins the ethos of Moving Rasa, encouraging participants to explore and connect with their essence through movement improvisation.

The conversation further explores the transformative potential of acknowledging and moving through trauma in community settings. Through the lens of Moving Rasa, Andrew shares insights into creating spaces where individuals can engage in self-discovery and collective healing. The dialogue highlights the importance of patience, love, and community in navigating personal and collective liberation journeys, offering a nuanced perspective on time, self-love, and the construction of communal identities.

What if we started with ourselves? What if we forgave ourselves for punishing ourselves? What does that open up in our relationships with others, with ourselves, with objects, with ideas? What movements are possible there? …both literally—physically—movements, but also what movements are possible in the world? …what you can create?

~ Andrew Suseno, 31:01

Takeaways

The concept of Rasa — a multifaceted term signifying taste, discernment of feeling, and essence, guiding participants towards connecting with their cultural and personal essence.

Community healing and empowerment — Moving Rasa retreats aimed at Asian American Pacific Islanders and BIPOC, focusing on creating spaces for individuals to restore rhythms and engage with their bodies in a healing manner.

Creating brave spaces — as a method to support trauma recovery and collective healing.

The importance of collective identity — a way of sharing burdens and expanding the definition of identities within community spaces, fostering self-determination and expansive identity construction.

Abolition as a personal and collective journey — introduced as a theme for contemplation and practice, encouraging self-forgiveness and the cessation of self-punishment to unlock new possibilities in relationships and movements.

The role of patience, love, and community — as foundational elements in the practice, with a call to reevaluate our relationship with time, cultivate self-love through community support, and actively engage in co-creating a shared future.

Resources

The specific, upcoming events mentioned in this episode are: Feb 16 — AAPI Emergent Retreat and Feb 23 — BIPOC Emergent Retreat

Moving Rasa Testimonials — Testimonials page, for the several testimonials discussed.

https://movingrasa.com/ — Moving Rasa is an improvisational movement form and contemplative practice that may be practiced anywhere. Movers connect their inner world to their outer movement AND how it is organized in relation to others, objects, and the environment. In particular, movers are supported to connect to their Rasa.

https://movingrasa.com/engage — Upcoming Moving Rasa events.

@moving.rasa — on Instagram

Andrew Suseno: Ancestors, Parcon Resilience, and Rasicism — Andrew’s previous appearance on the Movers Mindset podcast.

Gotong-royong — An Indonesian philosophy mentioned as influencing the Moving Rasa process, emphasizing collective burden-sharing and expansive, self-determined identity construction.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)