Naomi Honey

Naomi Honey and Melissa Way: Women’s experience, societal impact, and unsolicited advice →

Published October 23, 2019  ·  All posts on Oct 23  ·  

Naomi Honey and Melissa Way: Women’s experience, societal impact, and unsolicited advice

What can be done to better understand and improve the experience of women in parkour?

Naomi Honey and Melissa Way discuss the importance of women’s experience in parkour, what that means, and how society impacts it. They dig into the unicorn syndrome, the polarization of genders, and how community leaders can help get more women involved. Naomi and Melissa tackle why women’s only events are important, how to create a welcoming environment, and their experiences with unsolicited advice.

I really remember when I was younger, I always thought my arms weren’t skinny like some people’s— oh, it just sounds so ridiculous, but I remember I had that in my head as a benchmark. And then suddenly when I was doing parkour, and when I got my first pull up, it was so exciting. And then suddenly I had a new measure of, oh my God, who cares what they look like? Look what they can do!

~ Naomi Honey (15:00)

The conversation focuses on the experience of women in parkour, emphasizing the unique challenges they face, from differences in physical progression to societal expectations around physical ability. There is discussion around how women’s-only events create supportive spaces that counteract feelings of intimidation or isolation, helping women find community and confidence.

Another key theme is the mindset shift from focusing on aesthetics to valuing functional strength and ability, which parkour uniquely encourages. This change contrasts with societal pressures around appearance, which often disproportionately affect women. The issue of unsolicited advice is also explored, highlighting how it can be well-intentioned but often carries different implications for women, sometimes reinforcing negative stereotypes rather than offering helpful insight.

(more…)

Naomi Honey: Dance, coaching, and self talk →

Published September 4, 2019  ·  All posts on Sep 4  ·  

Naomi Honey: Dance, coaching, and self talk

How does engaging in movement practices like Forró and parkour contribute to personal growth, emotional development, and professional coaching?

Naomi Honey shares her experiences learning the Brazilian dance of Forró, and how it relates to her other movement practices. She unpacks her work as a life coach; what that means, how it works, and why she loves it so much. Naomi wraps up by discussing her thoughts on her current interests, the idea of success, and self talk.

[It’s] amazing. I’m the cheerleader while they’re doing it, and while it’s difficult. And I’m the cheerleader when there’s success. And then—one of my absolute favorite moments—coaching is designed to end at some point.

~ Naomi Honey (11:45)

Naomi Honey discusses how her experiences with Brazilian dance and parkour have shaped her personal and professional life. She highlights the contrast between the individual nature of parkour and the partner-based dynamics of Forró, a Brazilian dance she has been practicing for over a year. Naomi shares how these practices have enhanced her ability to listen to her body and respond intuitively, revealing unexpected emotional blocks and new ways of engaging with others.

Her work as a life coach focuses on helping people recognize and overcome personal obstacles, drawing from her movement experiences. Naomi explains how self-talk plays a critical role in both movement and life coaching, recounting workshops where participants verbalize negative inner dialogues to foster awareness and shift perspectives. She also emphasizes the importance of celebrating effort over results, demonstrating how encouragement and playful experimentation foster growth and confidence in movement and beyond.

(more…)