The Joanne Avison Podcast

In this episode, Paul and Joanne explore 5 of the most prevalent myths about back pain that you may still believe. We provide you with valuable insights and wellness tips to help you manage chronic pain and discomfort, whilst ensuring you're not inadvertently making it worse!!  There really are different options for effective prevention and recovery - when you understand how the myofascial ma...

In this episode Joanne explores the profound and intriguing connection between your body’s fascia and your emotional, energetic, and spiritual well-being. We look at how we can tap into the self-organising power of our bodies, fostering a deeper understanding of our biomotional intelligence and internal somatic register - through the fascia - if we understand a little of how Spirit animates us. Jo...

In this episode Joanne interviews Kelley McLaughlin, a highly qualified bodywork and movement practitioner (certified in John F. Barnes' Myofascial Release Therapy). The conversation delves into the concept of 'magic' in healing and fascia, highlighting the importance of intention, curiosity, and the intersection between science and mystery. They discuss their shared experiences in...

What if there were simple tools that could improve your inner world immediately - without you folding yourself into a “pretzel” or meditating for hours? In this episode, Joanne Avison interviews Jyoti Manuel, of Special Yoga, who works every day with adults and children, making a profound difference to their well-being. We explore the question: can yoga really improve mental health? Are there supe...

In this episode, we're going beyond the gym to explore the transformative power of functional movement in enhancing our daily lives and the lives of those we care for. By incorporating specific features of holistic fascia training and movement optimisation, we can experience improved movement efficiency, dynamic stability, and optimal alignment. Join Joanne and Paul as we delve into the world...

Join Joanne in this brilliant chat with Dr. Karen Kirkness as they take a fascinating journey to unlock the secrets of the embryo, that remarkable human blueprint we all share! From the earliest stages of development, the embryo’s genetic code orchestrates a complex dance of tissue dynamics, fascia insights, and biological pathways - which Karen describes so beautifully so we can all understand it...

Discover the hidden language of your body, and how it makes SUCH a huge difference to your ability to enjoy moving and being in your body - if you learn to tune into it... Fascia, as you'll discover in this week’s episode, literally signals to itself and to you 24/7 - ALL the time! If you know what you’re listening to, you can discover this hidden language of your body and learn to read its m...

If you’ve ever experienced muscle trembling during or after a workout or a class - you may have heard the idea that it’s “good for you”.   But, as Paul and Joanne discuss in this episode, it could actually be a sign that you’re overtraining, and it’s essential to recognize these warning signs to avoid injury. You can maintain optimal performance, if you understand when “more” is NOT NECESSARILY “b...

In this enlightening episode, Joanne delves into the fascinating world of myofascial release, discussing various interpretations of this powerful bodywork technique and what it means to different people. Tune in to discover how myofascial release has become a well known complementary health technique - and... what does it really mean? It has very different interpretations for different bodywork mo...

Join Dr. Karen Kirkness and Joanne Avison in this enlightening exploration of anatomy through the lens of spirals, where they delve into the fascinating intersection of holistic health and anatomical insights, as revealed in Karen’s book Spiral Bound. In this open-hearted deep dive, from 2021, Karen (now Dr. Kirkness) shared her expertise in fascia research and the principles of tensegrity medicin...

Enjoy this story (behind the story!) of Joanne Avison’s groundbreaking new book, that explores the intricate connections between our body’s anatomy and holistic wellness through understanding fascia, spirit, and movement. In this episode Joanne tells the delightful story behind how it all happened. The new book, Myofascial Magic In Action , offers therapeutic micro-movement techniques that promote...

Discover the transformative power of ancient wisdom in our modern lives through the harmonious practices of permaculture, Ayurveda, and yoga. In this enlightening conversation, Joanne and wellness consultant Justin Robertshaw explore how these holistic health systems foster balanced living, community empowerment, and environmental harmony.  Joanne and Justin discuss the intersection of yoga, Ayurv...

Joanne and Paul are back with another Myofascial Magic In Action episode! Listen in as they explain how fascia influences movement and adaptability - not just during intense exercise but also during our everyday activities. Fascia can thicken or soften and adapt to repeated stress - so whether it's weightlifting or long periods of sitting, it learns to meet the demand of “that performance”. I...

Join us on an enlightening journey as we explore the future of medicine and how energy, fascia, and intuition are shaping the landscape of healing. In this episode, Emeritus Professor Carol Davis and Joanne delve into the exciting realm of integrative healing, highlighting the wellness revolution that emphasizes functional wellness and holistic health. Discover how intuitive healing and alternativ...

We've discovered a long-lost never-heard-before interview with the brilliant Paul Thornley from 2021, and simply had to share it with you!! In it Paul shares the transformative power of combining martial arts with neuromuscular therapy, distinguishing how classical biomechanics and holistic, 21st century anatomy do - or don’t - make sense of our embodied existence. He does this in such a uniq...

In this delightful interview with John Sharkey, we cover what we need to know as movement and manual therapists about Stretching, Myofascial integrity and some key principles about Fascia. I had this chat with John last year but it was only released on my YouTube channel and not on the podcast - til now!   John Sharkey is a Clinical Anatomist and an Exercise Physiologist with a gift of storytellin...

Dr. Jean-Claude Guimberteau delves into the incredible world of fascia, providing biological insights and anatomy clarity on why being alive matters. Explore fascia functions and gain a deeper understanding of the human body in this fascinating conversation. Dr Guimberteau is famous for his videos of the Fascia Matrix IN VIVO. In vivo means “in the living body”, and in this interview Dr. Guimberte...

In this episode Joanne addresses a fascinating question about micro movement, from a Myofascial Magic in Action course participant. She unpacks why daily micro movements can lead to such significant improvements in wellbeing, explaining this phenomenon through the key concepts of challenge, courage, and care. Could it be that these small, mindful movements can serve our wellbeing as much (if not m...

In this episode Joanne and Paul explore the evolution of movement science, emphasising the non-linear, self-organising nature of human bodies. With a delightful blend of historical anecdotes, personal stories, and foundational research, they challenge the traditional biomechanical approach to human movement. Joanne reveals how an 18th century mechanical duck offers insights into why we’ve long tho...

This week’s podcast with yoga teachers Calli Popham and Jessica Sullivan is all about tending - and teaching - with tenderness. We explore Calli’s distinctions of an embodied yoga approach and the value of moving away from more traditional alignment paradigms towards a more intuitive practice. And Jessica shares her personal transformative experience during her post-partum recovery, which Calli te...

How honest is your cueing? In this episode Paul and Joanne talk about “honest cueing” and “honest movement”. They explain why it's essential to “cue from the heart in your own way”, in a fascinating and thought-provoking chat... From pacing around like an agitated cat, to presenting on stage (and all the in between of cueing well in class), Joanne and Paul share many open-hearted stories and...

In this week’s episode I interview Dinah Siman, a wonderful multi-talented teacher who practices Pilates, Yoga and Gyrotonic™, and has made her name in recent years by specialising in Menopause Pilates. Now also an author, Dinah aims to impassion movement teachers to celebrate menopause and give confidence to support students during this transformative phase. We talk about both the history and the...

This episode is inspired by important questions we’re very often asked by movement teachers about cueing and language. So... What exactly do we all mean by the word Stretch ? Or Stabilise ? Or Strengthen ? Or Stiffen ? Is Stress always a bad thing, or can it actually be a good thing sometimes? We explore each word and its implications, as well as how we can use them wisely….or not so wisely!! Agai...

In this episode Joanne talks to Wil Brown, the founder of London Movement Group. Wil is all about experiencing life via physical exploration, in action. He sees his job as “sharing what I figure out…” and has gained tens of thousands of fans following his lively and committed approach to playful movement. Joanne and Wil talk about their respective experiences and how, through exploring very differ...

Myofascial Magic in Action is not a method – it’s a standard available for all the different methods we teach and learn in movement. It raises the game around the difference we can make to ourselves and our clients, whatever modality we choose. Focusing particularly on Yoga and Pilates, we make the important distinction between “delicious”  bespoke movement and "fast food" one-size-fits-...