I developed a stammer an asthma when I was nine years old and by the time I was
was nine years old and by the time I was
was nine years old and by the time I was ten I could barely string a sentence
ten I could barely string a sentence
ten I could barely string a sentence together I was tied up in knots inside
together I was tied up in knots inside
together I was tied up in knots inside and I used a lot of energy to hide them
over the years I have developed the
over the years I have developed the capacity to be able to communicate with
capacity to be able to communicate with
capacity to be able to communicate with groups of people in meaningful and
groups of people in meaningful and
groups of people in meaningful and stirring ways so I stand here now with
stirring ways so I stand here now with
stirring ways so I stand here now with both my love of using words to
both my love of using words to
both my love of using words to communicate and the horror of stammering
communicate and the horror of stammering
communicate and the horror of stammering it’s a vulnerable choice it occurred to
it’s a vulnerable choice it occurred to
it’s a vulnerable choice it occurred to me as I prepared for this talk that
me as I prepared for this talk that
me as I prepared for this talk that maybe my stammer hadn’t formed my
maybe my stammer hadn’t formed my
maybe my stammer hadn’t formed my fascination and intrigued with the
fascination and intrigued with the
fascination and intrigued with the physical body and what it says and
physical body and what it says and
physical body and what it says and doesn’t say I’d like you to consider
doesn’t say I’d like you to consider
doesn’t say I’d like you to consider with me
with me
with me the value and importance of moving
the value and importance of moving
the value and importance of moving towards and underneath the emotional
towards and underneath the emotional
towards and underneath the emotional nuances and the subtle messages of what
nuances and the subtle messages of what
nuances and the subtle messages of what is attempting to be communicated through
is attempting to be communicated through
is attempting to be communicated through our bodies to me there is an immense
our bodies to me there is an immense
our bodies to me there is an immense untapped and unvalued wisdom right here
untapped and unvalued wisdom right here
untapped and unvalued wisdom right here in our fingertips in our elbows in our
in our fingertips in our elbows in our
in our fingertips in our elbows in our ribs in our knees wherever that
ribs in our knees wherever that
ribs in our knees wherever that knowledge is a pathway to health because
knowledge is a pathway to health because
knowledge is a pathway to health because there is a vast rich world occurring
there is a vast rich world occurring
there is a vast rich world occurring right here inside of me and inside of
right here inside of me and inside of
right here inside of me and inside of each of you I am interested very
each of you I am interested very
each of you I am interested very interested in fact in the relationship
interested in fact in the relationship
interested in fact in the relationship between this internal landscape and the
between this internal landscape and the
between this internal landscape and the health of our planet
this internal landscape and the external
this internal landscape and the external state of the world and how embodied
state of the world and how embodied
state of the world and how embodied movement that is movement with
movement that is movement with
movement that is movement with mindfulness and with presence and with
mindfulness and with presence and with
mindfulness and with presence and with conscious emotional intelligence can
conscious emotional intelligence can
conscious emotional intelligence can support not just an increased personal
support not just an increased personal
support not just an increased personal sense of well-being but also a radiant
sense of well-being but also a radiant
sense of well-being but also a radiant planet one of the huge benefits that I
planet one of the huge benefits that I
planet one of the huge benefits that I received from my speech therapy was an
received from my speech therapy was an
received from my speech therapy was an induction into the usefulness and
induction into the usefulness and
induction into the usefulness and importance of of conscious breathing so
importance of of conscious breathing so
importance of of conscious breathing so why don’t we take a moment just now to
why don’t we take a moment just now to
why don’t we take a moment just now to pause shift in your seats a little bit
pause shift in your seats a little bit
pause shift in your seats a little bit make some space for what the breath
make some space for what the breath
make some space for what the breath loves to do which is to leave and enter
loves to do which is to leave and enter
loves to do which is to leave and enter and leave and enter while you’re
and leave and enter while you’re
and leave and enter while you’re listening to me you probably have your
listening to me you probably have your
listening to me you probably have your own thoughts and feelings going on about
own thoughts and feelings going on about
own thoughts and feelings going on about what I’m saying particularly if you have
what I’m saying particularly if you have
what I’m saying particularly if you have a speech impediment or if you know
a speech impediment or if you know
a speech impediment or if you know somebody who does
pausing gives us a moment to connect and
pausing gives us a moment to connect and to digest
my stammer no longer haunts me it is
my stammer no longer haunts me it is still one of my great teachers I now
still one of my great teachers I now
still one of my great teachers I now know that when my stammer shows up it is
know that when my stammer shows up it is
know that when my stammer shows up it is a physical manifestation of something
a physical manifestation of something
a physical manifestation of something occurring underneath an indication that
occurring underneath an indication that
occurring underneath an indication that there is some emotion or anxiety that is
there is some emotion or anxiety that is
there is some emotion or anxiety that is most likely outside of my comfort zone
most likely outside of my comfort zone
most likely outside of my comfort zone and I imagine that many of you will have
and I imagine that many of you will have
and I imagine that many of you will have a similar experience to that it might
a similar experience to that it might
a similar experience to that it might manifest in a different way sometimes
manifest in a different way sometimes
manifest in a different way sometimes it’s not easy figuring out what’s going
it’s not easy figuring out what’s going
it’s not easy figuring out what’s going on knowing what’s going on is risky
on knowing what’s going on is risky
on knowing what’s going on is risky business it might require that I make
business it might require that I make
business it might require that I make some changes in my personal life in my
some changes in my personal life in my
some changes in my personal life in my lifestyle in my working situation
lifestyle in my working situation
lifestyle in my working situation staying numb or keeping myself none the
staying numb or keeping myself none the
staying numb or keeping myself none the wiser sometimes seems like the smartest
wiser sometimes seems like the smartest
wiser sometimes seems like the smartest way to go I know that when I’m having
way to go I know that when I’m having
way to go I know that when I’m having trouble speaking literally or in
trouble speaking literally or in
trouble speaking literally or in whatever way my equilibrium might be
whatever way my equilibrium might be
whatever way my equilibrium might be disturbed
disturbed
disturbed that the most efficient and effective
that the most efficient and effective
that the most efficient and effective way for me to find out what’s going on
way for me to find out what’s going on
way for me to find out what’s going on is to actually let go of words when I
is to actually let go of words when I
is to actually let go of words when I allow my attention to open to what wants
allow my attention to open to what wants
allow my attention to open to what wants to be articulated without speech rather
to be articulated without speech rather
to be articulated without speech rather with gesture with permission to expand
with gesture with permission to expand
with gesture with permission to expand that gesture into the physical space
that gesture into the physical space
that gesture into the physical space around me I know that I’m at my most
around me I know that I’m at my most
around me I know that I’m at my most honest my most congruent my most
honest my most congruent my most
honest my most congruent my most authentic when instead of trying hard
authentic when instead of trying hard
authentic when instead of trying hard not to stammer
not to stammer
not to stammer which takes so much effort I engage with
which takes so much effort I engage with
which takes so much effort I engage with it something that I’ve tried to suppress
it something that I’ve tried to suppress
it something that I’ve tried to suppress becomes almost enjoyable so much more
becomes almost enjoyable so much more
becomes almost enjoyable so much more than just my stammer is actually
than just my stammer is actually
than just my stammer is actually liberated you might wonder why do I care
liberated you might wonder why do I care
liberated you might wonder why do I care so much about this the percentage of non
so much about this the percentage of non
so much about this the percentage of non diagnosable and the untreatable
diagnosable and the untreatable
diagnosable and the untreatable illnesses is on the rise the crisis of
illnesses is on the rise the crisis of
illnesses is on the rise the crisis of physical health is accompanied by a
physical health is accompanied by a
physical health is accompanied by a surge in mental health issues especially
surge in mental health issues especially
surge in mental health issues especially amongst young people in 2009 there was a
amongst young people in 2009 there was a
amongst young people in 2009 there was a report in the British Medical Journal of
report in the British Medical Journal of
report in the British Medical Journal of a 55% possibility of significant
a 55% possibility of significant
a 55% possibility of significant psychological distress by the age of 15
psychological distress by the age of 15
psychological distress by the age of 15 for young people in Scotland and that
for young people in Scotland and that
for young people in Scotland and that was eight years ago in The Guardian
was eight years ago in The Guardian
was eight years ago in The Guardian article this year quoting data from the
article this year quoting data from the
article this year quoting data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency it
Higher Education Statistics Agency it
Higher Education Statistics Agency it was revealed that between 2009 10 and
was revealed that between 2009 10 and
was revealed that between 2009 10 and 2014 15 the number of students who left
2014 15 the number of students who left
2014 15 the number of students who left university early due to experiencing
university early due to experiencing
university early due to experiencing mental health problems increased by 210
mental health problems increased by 210
mental health problems increased by 210 percent as a mother of a 25 year old and
percent as a mother of a 25 year old and
percent as a mother of a 25 year old and a 19 year old I can assure you I care
and while our physical mental and
and while our physical mental and emotional health is suffering our planet
emotional health is suffering our planet
emotional health is suffering our planet is suffering too and I believe these two
is suffering too and I believe these two
is suffering too and I believe these two things are linked there’s an endless
things are linked there’s an endless
things are linked there’s an endless list of environmental catastrophes in
list of environmental catastrophes in
list of environmental catastrophes in the news almost every day at the moment
the news almost every day at the moment
the news almost every day at the moment I’m not here to speak about climate
I’m not here to speak about climate
I’m not here to speak about climate change from a scientific point of view
change from a scientific point of view
change from a scientific point of view that’s not my skill set I do believe
that’s not my skill set I do believe
that’s not my skill set I do believe it’s happening so what is the link well
it’s happening so what is the link well
it’s happening so what is the link well we live in a society that is left brain
we live in a society that is left brain
we live in a society that is left brain dot that is left brain dominant we’re
dot that is left brain dominant we’re
dot that is left brain dominant we’re rational thought is valued over
rational thought is valued over
rational thought is valued over intuition daily life especially in
intuition daily life especially in
intuition daily life especially in cities but with the World Wide Web
cities but with the World Wide Web
cities but with the World Wide Web actually anywhere consists of a
actually anywhere consists of a
actually anywhere consists of a bombardment of sensory stimulation from
bombardment of sensory stimulation from
bombardment of sensory stimulation from morning tonight there is ample
morning tonight there is ample
morning tonight there is ample opportunity and even encouragement to
opportunity and even encouragement to
opportunity and even encouragement to escape rather than pay attention to what
escape rather than pay attention to what
escape rather than pay attention to what is occurring on our doorsteps embodied
is occurring on our doorsteps embodied
is occurring on our doorsteps embodied movement accesses and intelligence that
movement accesses and intelligence that
movement accesses and intelligence that emerges from the right brain and in so
emerges from the right brain and in so
emerges from the right brain and in so doing contradicts the norm that has been
doing contradicts the norm that has been
doing contradicts the norm that has been allocated to us by a left brain
allocated to us by a left brain
allocated to us by a left brain orientated way of thinking and valuing
orientated way of thinking and valuing
orientated way of thinking and valuing especially true of Western civilization
especially true of Western civilization
especially true of Western civilization and I’m going to repeat that embodied
and I’m going to repeat that embodied
and I’m going to repeat that embodied movement accesses and intelligence that
movement accesses and intelligence that
movement accesses and intelligence that emerges from the right brain and in so
emerges from the right brain and in so
emerges from the right brain and in so doing contradicts the norm that has been
doing contradicts the norm that has been
doing contradicts the norm that has been allocated to us by a left brain
allocated to us by a left brain
allocated to us by a left brain orientated way of thinking and valuing
orientated way of thinking and valuing
orientated way of thinking and valuing especially true in Western civilization
our bodies are an untapped
our bodies are an untapped unutilized resource like a treasure
unutilized resource like a treasure
unutilized resource like a treasure chest of information admittedly
chest of information admittedly
chest of information admittedly sometimes it might feel like opening
sometimes it might feel like opening
sometimes it might feel like opening Pandora’s box when you go to the
Pandora’s box when you go to the
Pandora’s box when you go to the doctor’s you’re asked about your
doctor’s you’re asked about your
doctor’s you’re asked about your symptoms most commonly the prescription
symptoms most commonly the prescription
symptoms most commonly the prescription that is given is to remove the symptom
that is given is to remove the symptom
that is given is to remove the symptom rather than address the cause in my
rather than address the cause in my
rather than address the cause in my worldview the physical body is only one
worldview the physical body is only one
worldview the physical body is only one dimension that I take into account I
dimension that I take into account I
dimension that I take into account I operate from the premise that everything
operate from the premise that everything
operate from the premise that everything is connected assuming that we are
is connected assuming that we are
is connected assuming that we are multifaceted beings then the vast array
multifaceted beings then the vast array
multifaceted beings then the vast array of influences on our health are being
of influences on our health are being
of influences on our health are being massively underestimated if we can
massively underestimated if we can
massively underestimated if we can expand our consciousness to include
expand our consciousness to include
expand our consciousness to include rather than exclude then the
rather than exclude then the
rather than exclude then the possibilities for health and healing
possibilities for health and healing
possibilities for health and healing expand exponentially we live in a world
expand exponentially we live in a world
expand exponentially we live in a world that is saturated with words time and
that is saturated with words time and
that is saturated with words time and again across the planet I have people
again across the planet I have people
again across the planet I have people say to me how grateful they are on dance
say to me how grateful they are on dance
say to me how grateful they are on dance floors to have the opportunity to
floors to have the opportunity to
floors to have the opportunity to connect with themselves and with each
connect with themselves and with each
connect with themselves and with each other without words it seems like it’s a
other without words it seems like it’s a
other without words it seems like it’s a risk worth taking
pausing in the midst of the mayhem of
pausing in the midst of the mayhem of daily life opening attention to the
daily life opening attention to the
daily life opening attention to the subtle worlds within becomes a creative
subtle worlds within becomes a creative
subtle worlds within becomes a creative gateway for visible expression which
gateway for visible expression which
gateway for visible expression which contradicts cultural oppression bet you
contradicts cultural oppression bet you
contradicts cultural oppression bet you never thought of movement like that so
never thought of movement like that so
never thought of movement like that so I’m inviting you to join me now in this
I’m inviting you to join me now in this
I’m inviting you to join me now in this contradiction of cultural oppression so
contradiction of cultural oppression so
contradiction of cultural oppression so if you would take a moment if you’re
if you would take a moment if you’re
if you would take a moment if you’re holding on to anything put it down and
holding on to anything put it down and
holding on to anything put it down and just just let your eyes turn towards
just just let your eyes turn towards
just just let your eyes turn towards your hands wherever you’re sitting and
your hands wherever you’re sitting and
your hands wherever you’re sitting and if you’re watching this at home as well
if you’re watching this at home as well
if you’re watching this at home as well somewhere then just look at your hands
somewhere then just look at your hands
somewhere then just look at your hands your attention might go to the skin to
your attention might go to the skin to
your attention might go to the skin to the bones
the bones
the bones to the muscle to your nails to your
to the muscle to your nails to your
to the muscle to your nails to your knuckles you might become aware of the
knuckles you might become aware of the
knuckles you might become aware of the sensation the texture are they dry of a
sensation the texture are they dry of a
sensation the texture are they dry of a sweaty like mine
sweaty like mine
sweaty like mine what do you notice when you give your
what do you notice when you give your
what do you notice when you give your attention to your hands do they scrunch
attention to your hands do they scrunch
attention to your hands do they scrunch up do they want to stretch out like if
up do they want to stretch out like if
up do they want to stretch out like if you were to let your hands do whatever
you were to let your hands do whatever
you were to let your hands do whatever they want to do right now what would
they want to do right now what would
they want to do right now what would they do anything that they wanted to do
they do anything that they wanted to do
they do anything that they wanted to do right now that is pleasurable within
right now that is pleasurable within
right now that is pleasurable within this reamer
this reamer
this reamer [Laughter]
so as you give your attention to your
so as you give your attention to your hands just speed it up a little bit just
hands just speed it up a little bit just
hands just speed it up a little bit just make it a little bit faster add a little
make it a little bit faster add a little
make it a little bit faster add a little bit more breath oh that feels so good
bit more breath oh that feels so good
bit more breath oh that feels so good even from over here and then slow it
even from over here and then slow it
even from over here and then slow it down a little bit and now if you will
down a little bit and now if you will
down a little bit and now if you will just turn to somebody next to you they
just turn to somebody next to you they
just turn to somebody next to you they might be behind you it’s okay if it’s
might be behind you it’s okay if it’s
might be behind you it’s okay if it’s two or three people and just take a
two or three people and just take a
two or three people and just take a moment to show each other your hands and
moment to show each other your hands and
moment to show each other your hands and have a little conversation without words
have a little conversation without words
have a little conversation without words without words it’s hard to let go of the
without words it’s hard to let go of the
without words it’s hard to let go of the words I notice says the dance teacher in
words I notice says the dance teacher in
words I notice says the dance teacher in me what do your hands want to say how do
me what do your hands want to say how do
me what do your hands want to say how do they want to touch what did they have to
they want to touch what did they have to
they want to touch what did they have to communicate without words and then
communicate without words and then
communicate without words and then return your attention back to your own
return your attention back to your own
return your attention back to your own hands
hands
hands thanking whoever that you were just
thanking whoever that you were just
thanking whoever that you were just playing with and then can you return
playing with and then can you return
playing with and then can you return your attention back to me please
your attention back to me please
your attention back to me please and I’m wondering if you can feel a
and I’m wondering if you can feel a
and I’m wondering if you can feel a shift in the room there’s a bit more
shift in the room there’s a bit more
shift in the room there’s a bit more joyfulness a bit more ease it seems to
joyfulness a bit more ease it seems to
joyfulness a bit more ease it seems to me utilizing the power of our bodies as
me utilizing the power of our bodies as
me utilizing the power of our bodies as an instrument for expression can result
an instrument for expression can result
an instrument for expression can result in us feeling more empowered it becomes
in us feeling more empowered it becomes
in us feeling more empowered it becomes more obvious what choices support health
more obvious what choices support health
more obvious what choices support health and invariably a healthier me
and invariably a healthier me
and invariably a healthier me equates with a healthier us and a
equates with a healthier us and a
equates with a healthier us and a healthier us is a healthier earth when I
healthier us is a healthier earth when I
healthier us is a healthier earth when I honor the wisdom of my body an
honor the wisdom of my body an
honor the wisdom of my body an inherently feminine choice as far as I’m
inherently feminine choice as far as I’m
inherently feminine choice as far as I’m concerned regardless of gender I’m
concerned regardless of gender I’m
concerned regardless of gender I’m choosing to respect my internal value
choosing to respect my internal value
choosing to respect my internal value system distinct from my inherited value
system distinct from my inherited value
system distinct from my inherited value systems all those that have been pushed
systems all those that have been pushed
systems all those that have been pushed upon me for example by the media as a
upon me for example by the media as a
upon me for example by the media as a woman each time I choose to listen to my
woman each time I choose to listen to my
woman each time I choose to listen to my body and say yes to the freely available
body and say yes to the freely available
body and say yes to the freely available internal wisdom and innate knowledge of
internal wisdom and innate knowledge of
internal wisdom and innate knowledge of how to stay well I’m taking a stand not
how to stay well I’m taking a stand not
how to stay well I’m taking a stand not just for my well-being not just for my
just for my well-being not just for my
just for my well-being not just for my physical mental and emotional health but
physical mental and emotional health but
physical mental and emotional health but for the planet as well to me there is no
for the planet as well to me there is no
for the planet as well to me there is no separation
separation
separation we can choose to identify I know what
we can choose to identify I know what
we can choose to identify I know what it’s like to feel parched I’m sure you
it’s like to feel parched I’m sure you
it’s like to feel parched I’m sure you know what it’s like to feel ripped apart
know what it’s like to feel ripped apart
know what it’s like to feel ripped apart to be flooded with thoughts with
to be flooded with thoughts with
to be flooded with thoughts with feelings with sensations when I consider
feelings with sensations when I consider
feelings with sensations when I consider my body’s needs when we consider our
my body’s needs when we consider our
my body’s needs when we consider our body’s needs we are implicitly attuned
body’s needs we are implicitly attuned
body’s needs we are implicitly attuned to the earth when I take the time to
to the earth when I take the time to
to the earth when I take the time to connect engage and Express I risk
connect engage and Express I risk
connect engage and Express I risk caring
caring
caring and in caring I liberate myself from the
and in caring I liberate myself from the
and in caring I liberate myself from the self-imposed niceties that I swallowed
self-imposed niceties that I swallowed
self-imposed niceties that I swallowed as a child all the societal pressures
as a child all the societal pressures
as a child all the societal pressures that I’ve grown up with we have agency
that I’ve grown up with we have agency
that I’ve grown up with we have agency over our bodies
over our bodies
over our bodies however shy however awkward
however shy however awkward
however shy however awkward however bold or juiced up this is free
however bold or juiced up this is free
however bold or juiced up this is free speech thank you
speech thank you
speech thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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