The Thinking Practitioner

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📌 Sponsored by: ABMP and Books of Discovery

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🎙How does touch shape our perception, our movement, and our connection with others? In this fascinating conversation, Til Luchau welcomes movement pioneer Nita Little, a foundational figure in Contact Improvisation dance, for a deep dive into the world of touch, movement, and attention. Join them as they explore the ways that touch is a language, why attention transforms both bodywork and movement, and how embracing uncertainty can expand our understanding of presence and connection.

Their conversation also touches on the challenges of aging, the importance of imagination, and the potential of touch to expand our identity and sense of self, and offers transformative insights for bodyworkers, dancers, and anyone curious about human interaction.

🌟 Key Topics:

•The Origins of Contact Improvisation Dance (02:21) – How Nita’s work with Steve Paxton helped shape a new movement form.

•Reflexive Action & Improvisational Touch (07:13) – How instinctive movement informs our interactions.

•Touch as a Language (10:36) – Understanding touch beyond technique, and instead, as a dynamic dialogue.

•The Eternal Moment & Presence in Touch (17:23) – How touch can alter our perception of time.

•Boundaries, Social Norms, and Touch (35:09) – Expanding our understanding of what’s possible.

•Proprioception & The Mind-Body Connection (44:18) – Exploring movement beyond conscious control.

•Aging & Touch (55:39) – How embodied attention supports lifelong movement and adaptability.
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💡 Join the Conversation: How has embodied attention, dance, or improvisation influenced your practice? Share your thoughts with us!

📌 Sponsored by: ABMP and Books of Discovery

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🎙Scoliosis can offer valuable insights into working with the spine, and the same principles can be applied to anyone dealing with stiffness, back pain, postural issues, or mobility challenges.

In this deep-dive update, Whitney Lowe and Til Luchau explore the latest perspectives on scoliosis, debunk common myths, and discuss how hands-on therapy can support mobility and comfort.

Drawing from their decades of experience, Whitney and Til discuss the differences between adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and adult-onset scoliosis, the role of strength and balance training, and why spinal curvature doesn’t necessarily mean more pain. They also examine the impact of body image, surgical considerations, and how touch- and movement-based strategies can provide lasting benefits for all clients, not just those with scoliosis. 

🌟 Highlights:

•Scoliosis Overview & Common Misconceptions (02:50) – Understanding spinal curvature: causes,.

•Structural vs. Functional Scoliosis Debate (15:34) – Rethinking traditional perspectives on treatment.

•Scoliosis and Pain: The Surprising Truth (22:39) – Why people with scoliosis don’t necessarily experience more pain.

•Manual Therapy Approaches (38:20) – How bodywork can help.

•The Role of Proprioception & Movement Options (44:18) – Helping clients refine their body awareness for better function.

•Working with Clients’ Goals (45:25) – Aligning treatment strategies with what truly matters to each individual.

•Surgical Considerations & Working with Rods (51:03) – What hands-on therapists need to know about post-surgical scoliosis care.

•The Importance of Strength & Balance Training (56:55) – How conditioning and proprioceptive exercises can help manage scoliosis.

💡 Join the Conversation: What’s your experience with scoliosis and manual therapy? Share your thoughts with us!

📌 Sponsored by: ABMP and Books of Discovery

✨ Rate, review, and share! Help others discover The Thinking Practitioner podcast.

Episode image thanks to Helmut Hillenkamp, used by permission. An earlier version of their deep-dive conversation first aired as Episode 7.