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In this episode of the Productivity Smarts podcast, Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Karden Rabin, co-author of The Secret Language of the Body. Karden takes us on his journey from massage therapist to exploring the psychological factors behind chronic pain. He introduces powerful somatic practices like the "view-breath" and "cross-crawl" to manage stress and improve productivity. The conversation delves into the science of how physical movement can regulate emotions, enhance cognitive function, and reset our day, especially during stressful times. Gerald shares his personal experience using movement as a tool for boosting brain function, from simple actions like drinking water to doing cross-crawls. Together, they emphasize the importance of body awareness and motor rhythm in managing stress and maintaining a balanced, healthy life.
Ready to take control of your stress and improve your productivity? Tune in to this episode and begin your journey toward greater well-being today!
What We Discuss
[00:02:01] - Introduction to Karden Rabin
[00:08:09] - Discovery of healing back pain
[00:09:24] - Psychological correlates of pain
[00:12:53] - Signs and impact of an unregulated nervous system
[00:17:45] - Connection between mind and body
[00:21:17] - Amygdala hijack concept
[00:23:32] - Kinesiology and movement
[00:26:35] - The view-breath technique
[00:27:47] - Feeling body energy
[00:28:59] - Cross-crawl movement
[00:29:32] - The power of cross-crawls
[00:30:08] - Emotional and cognitive regulation
[00:31:10] - Physical vs. verbal processing
[00:33:38] - Book recommendations and resources
[00:36:21] - Closing remarks
Notable Quotes
[00:08:09] "Are you an overachiever? Are you type A? Are you a perfectionist? Do you put everyone's needs before your own? Do you repress most of your feelings? It started with a personality diagnosis, and I'd never seen anything like that before." — Karden Rabin
[00:14:15] "Most people learn skills to become more efficient and get more done, but they don't use the benefits of that efficiency to seize back time for themselves. They just use the time to demand more output from themselves, and they are 1000% complicit in their own exploitation." — Karden Rabin
[00:21:11] "Regulation gives you the ability to really think clearly and focus on what matters. All of our functional MRI measurements show that under stress or trauma, your higher executive functions start to shut down, and your old lizard survival brain turns on." — Karden Rabin
[00:26:35] "When you physically stimulate a nerve, you create electrical activity in that nerve, and it sends good messages." — Karden Rabin
Our Guest
Karden Rabin is a co-author of The Secret Language of the Body, a guide to connecting with one's body and mind. In collaboration with Jennifer Mann, Karden explores how habitual patterns in response to stress can lead to mental and physical health issues. The book invites readers to experience their body, sensations, and emotions more consciously, offering science-based insights and practical techniques for healing and self-care. Karden's work emphasizes nurturing a balanced relationship with the organism we inhabit, moving beyond mere survival.
Karden Rabin
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