NeuroMovement Revolution with Anat Baniel

Jill Bolte Taylor, PhD, is a Harvard trained and published neuroanatomist. In 1996, she suffered a stroke and as a result, she could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. It took eight years for her to completely recover all function. In 2008, Dr. Taylor gave the first TED talk that ever went viral. Her memoir My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey spent 63 weeks on the NY Times bestseller list and is translated in over 30 languages. Dr. Taylor has written a new book that is coming out on May 11, 2021.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Jill Bolte Taylor discuss:Jill’s new book Whole Brain Living: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life;  why Jill wrote this book, which she calls her “gift to the world”;if you want to improve your vitality, well-being, and freedom, it is ALL about differentiation;  the four characters of the brain, their purpose, and how to access them to make better choices in your life; the importance of sleep for a healthy brain;  related questions from the audience.

A Conversation with Special Guest Donna Jackson NakazawaDonna Jackson Nakazawa is an award-winning science journalist, an author of six books, and an internationally recognized speaker. Her work explores the intersection of neuroscience, immunology, human emotion, and new opportunities and ways for healing. She is the bestselling author of The Angel and the Assassin: The Tiny Brain Cell That Changed the Course of Medicine.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Donna Jackson Nakazawa discuss:the smallest cell in the brain—microglia—how it works and its function as an immune system; groundbreaking discoveries about the brain and how microglia link mental and physical health;how chronic stressors and trauma affect the brain and this microglia cell; why safety is the number one factor for health and learning; well-regulated adults can have an enormous positive impact on children with special needs;how writing can be used as a tool to reset the nervous system (“neural re-narrating”).

A Conversation with Special Guest Linda GrahamLinda Graham, MFT, is an experienced psychotherapist and Mindful Self-Compassion teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area. Linda integrates modern neuroscience, mindfulness, and relational psychology in her international trainings. She is the author of Resilience: Powerful Practices for Bouncing Back from Disappointment, Difficulty, and Even Disaster and the award-winning Bouncing Back: Rewiring Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-Being.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Linda Graham discuss:resilience and how it can be used to deal with trauma and stress;five factors in using trauma as an opportunity for growth (post-traumatic growth); mindfulness and compassion are the foundation for resilience;possibilities open up when upgrading the quality of the functioning of the brain;how Linda’s tools and NeuroMovement® can be used to develop resilience and create new possibilities.

A Conversation with Special Guest Linda GrahamLinda Graham, MFT, is an experienced psychotherapist and Mindful Self-Compassion teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area. Linda integrates modern neuroscience, mindfulness, and relational psychology in her international trainings. She is the author of Resilience: Powerful Practices for Bouncing Back from Disappointment, Difficulty, and Even Disaster and the award-winning Bouncing Back: Rewiring Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-Being. In this episode, Anat Baniel and Linda Graham discuss:trauma and how trauma therapy has changed;mind and body are not separate, and the body needs to be involved to heal; how positive experiences can increase brain functioning; the importance of mindful self-compassion and compassion for your child; how parents can use the Enthusiasm Essential to positively impact the brain of a child with special needs.

Conversation with Special Guest Margaret PaulMargaret Paul, PhD, is a co-creator of “Inner Bonding ®, a 6-step spiritually based therapeutic modality that heals shame, and the resulting self-abandonment, that is often the root cause of anxiety, stress, depression, low self-worth, addictions and relationship problems.” Dr. Paul is a relationship expert, noted public speaker, workshop leader, educator, chaplain, consultant, author, and artist. In this episode, Anat Baniel and Margaret Paul discuss:the Inner Bonding process and how it can positively change you and your relationships with your children, your spouse, and others;what it means to be present in heart and soul, and to love yourself; how to uncover false beliefs and overcome parenting challenges of children with special needs; the importance of learning to take responsibility for yourself;how to be open to feeling and learning in order to access higher levels of knowledge. At the end of the podcast, Margaret demonstrates the Inner Bonding process with a volunteer.

A Conversation with Special Guest Shelly LefkoeShelly Lefkoe is a co-founder and Vice President of Lefkoe Institute, a San Francisco Bay Area firm whose mission is “to significantly improve the quality of life on the planet by having people recreate their lives and live as the unlimited possibilities they are.” Shelly has had the privilege of helping thousands of people examine and eliminate limiting beliefs, and one of her passions is working with parents.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Shelly Lefkoe discuss:the importance of acknowledging what is happening right now with your child;observing and asking yourself: what did your child conclude from your interaction?; it is okay to not know; not knowing can open up new possibilities; moving from fixing to connecting with your child;events don’t have meaning; the “meaning” you give something is in your mind; related questions from the audience.

A Conversation with Special Guest Shelly LefkoeShelly Lefkoe is a co-founder and Vice President of Lefkoe Institute, a San Francisco Bay Area firm whose mission is “to significantly improve the quality of life on the planet by having people recreate their lives and live as the unlimited possibilities they are.” Shelly has had the privilege of helping thousands of people examine and eliminate limiting beliefs, and one of her passions is working with parents.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Shelly Lefkoe discuss:the definition of a “belief” and how your behaviors reflect your beliefs;the importance of looking at behaviors you are not happy with and uncovering your beliefs;how to observe and become aware of what your child's beliefs are; a tool for examining your beliefs by looking at the “meaning” you are giving something; related questions from the audience.

Whether home schooling or sending your teen to school under the Covid-19 requirements and restrictions, there are ways to calm yourself and your teen, reduce stress and anxiety, and create inspiring and effective learning processes for the teenager.In this episode, Anat Baniel discusses:her passion for and approach in working with teenagers;the importance of being open and using the 9 Essentials to engage with teens;examples of how to create opportunities for your child’s brain to learn and evolve; how the brain is built to learn and needs to learn in order to be healthy; related questions from the audience.

Whether home schooling or sending your preteen to school under the Covid-19 requirements and restrictions, there are ways to calm yourself and your preteen, reduce stress and anxiety, and create inspiring and effective learning processes for the preteen.In this episode, Anat Baniel discusses:the challenges of learning and studying at home, for both children and adults;how to connect with your child by observing (using awareness) and asking questions;the importance of using flexibility, creativity, and the Variation Essential; how to incorporate short movement breaks during your child's online learning; related questions from the audience.

Whether home schooling or sending your child to school under the Covid-19 requirements and restrictions, there are ways to calm yourself and your child, reduce stress and anxiety, and create inspiring and effective learning processes for your young child.In this episode, Anat Baniel discusses:the heightened awareness in typically developing babies and young children;how to use the Awareness Essential with your child to potentiate the learning process;the importance of observing your child and asking questions to activate her or his awareness; how short movement lessons, like the ones in NeuroMovement® for Your Busy Life, can be a benefit to your child during online learning; related questions from the audience.

Whether home schooling or sending your child to school under the Covid-19 requirements and restrictions, there are ways to calm yourself and your child, reduce stress and anxiety, and create inspiring and effective learning processes for your preschool child.In this episode, Anat Baniel discusses:how we are born with a brain that is built to learn;that no matter what is going on, your child is learning;the importance of following the interests of your child, and not “forcing” learning by drilling; how to look for opportunities in daily life to use the 9 Essentials, like the Variation Essential; related questions from the audience.

We Are the Medicine: Prioritizing Possibilities to Mitigate Childhood Trauma and Promote Healing and FlourishingChristina Bethell, PhD, MBA, MPH, is a professor in the Bloomberg School of Public Health University. She also serves as the founding director of the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (CAHMI). Dr. Bethell established and leads the National Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Christina Bethell discuss: the science of thriving and the human potential for flourishing;the qualitative data Christina has developed to revolutionize systems for measurement;how childhood trauma affects parents, as well as children’s development; the whole person (whole child, whole family) approach to help children and parents heal and flourish;moving from fixing to connecting with families in order to give them what they want and need;related questions from the audience.

Jill Bolte Taylor, PhD, is a Harvard trained and published neuroanatomist. In 1996, she suffered a stroke and as a result, she could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. It took eight years for her to completely recover all function. In 2008, Dr. Taylor gave the first TED talk that ever went viral: My Stroke of Insight. Her memoir My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey spent 63 weeks on the NY Times bestseller list and is translated in over 30 languages.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Jill Bolte Taylor discuss: how to live in a place of possibilities, where Jill and Anat both live;the importance of creating a safe foundation for yourself (and your family);how NeuroMovement® and the 9 Essentials wake up the brain and drive continued growth to higher levels of functioning; how Jill’s recovery process was the same as Anat Baniel’s groundbreaking work with adults and children with special needs with a variety of conditions;the brain is a learning machine, and it wants to learn and learn and learn;related questions from the audience.

Martha Herbert, PhD, MD, is a pediatric neurologist, neuroscientist, systems thinker, and writer who trained in medicine at Columbia University, Pediatrics at Cornell-New York Hospital and Neurology at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Herbert is author of The Autism Revolution and a certified Anat Baniel Method® NeuroMovement® Practitioner.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Martha Herbert discuss: why movement is so important to a human’s learning process;how NeuroMovement® and the 9 Essentials focus on, and positively impact, the process of learning;learning begins with differentiation—being able to notice differences;Documenting Hope, Martha’s research project to scientifically demonstrate that children can get better from autism, ADHD, and other chronic conditions; the amazing brain and its built-in potential to develop extraordinary intelligence;related questions from the audience.

Michael Merzenich, PhD, a world-renowned neuroscientist, is the “father” of brain plasticity science. Dr. Merzenich was awarded the 2016 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience, for his work in discovering adult brain plasticity and applying its principles to improve the human condition.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Michael Merzenich discuss: how brain plasticity can be used to improve your life at any age;the key is to wake up the brain and provide the conditions for it to learn and evolve;“miraculous” changes can happen in a relatively short period of time;how trauma can impact the brain, and the role of brain training and the 9 Essentials in healing; brain and body health are not separate—movement is cognition;related questions from the audience.

Growing the Inner Trifecta of Calm, Contentment, and Love In these unprecedented times of the corona virus pandemic, developing inner calm, resilience, and well-being is especially important. For parents homeschooling their children, and for those with a child with special needs, these practices taught by Dr. Rick Hanson, a Master teacher, therapist, and scientist, are invaluable. In this episode, Anat Baniel and Rick Hanson discuss: why Rick participated in the documentary A Life Unbound;how we can all develop the heart of resilience (calm, contentment, love);how we can use positive neuroplasticity to create lasting change;how to create positive experiences for children with special needs, and for all children; quick tips for creating inner calm and a demonstration of a simple 3-breath practice;related questions from the audience.

Geordie Trifa is a Canadian film producer, director, and director of photography who has an extraordinary gift for storytelling. He has produced and directed countless commercials and short films shooting on nearly every continent on the globe. In this episode, Anat Baniel and Geordie Trifa discuss:how he reconnected with his childhood friend Allie to tell the story of her son Nash in the documentary film A Life Unbound; his new film Pandemic Elementary, coming out in the fall, which features the story of homeschooling and “unschooling” his children during the pandemic;how his interview with Anat led Geordie to learn much more about parenting and raising children during these unprecedented times;how parents can use the world around them to provide opportunities for learning, wherever they live;the importance of creating a sense of wonderment and enthusiasm for learning, and turning on the learning switch; bringing movement and feeling into the learning process with the 9 Essentials.

The Art & Science of Seeing Possibilities - An Interview with Filmmaker Geordie TrifaGeordie Trifa is a Canadian producer, director, and director of photography who has worked in the film and television industry for nearly a decade. Geordie’s feature documentary, A Life Unbound, was released in 2018. Geordie is currently in post-production for a feature documenting his personal experience as a parent seeking tools for optimizing the homeschooling of his daughters during the pandemic.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Geordie Trifa discuss:how the idea came about for the documentary film A Life Unbound; the unique way in which Geordie’s daughter learned to read;how the 9 Essentials provide a solid foundation for learning and for homeschooling;Geordie’s observations while homeschooling and "unschooling" his children during this pandemic;related questions from the audience.

How to Apply Positive Brain Change Principles for SuccessSchooling will most likely still be affected by the impact of Covid-19 in the fall. Homeschooling will either be a necessity or a choice for many families. In this episode, we address some of the challenges facing children, parents, teachers, and caregivers as education is moved to the home and online. Anat discusses:the huge challenges with schools being closed during the pandemic;a new NeuroMovement® Online at Home Coaching program developed to help children with special needs, their families, and caregivers during this time at home;learning at home, with a short demonstration of how parents can work with their children;how the special project with a school system in Canada has changed—training teachers, aides, and staff to apply the 9 Essentials; the importance of moving from fixing to connecting with the focus on learning, not drilling or specific goals;related questions from the audience.

In this podcast, Anat interviews Richard Miller, PhD, a world-renowned spiritual teacher, author, yogic scholar, researcher, and clinical psychologist. He has worked with veterans, homeless people, women who have escaped human trafficking, people suffering from chronic depression, and others with post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Miller is the founder of iRest®, a simple and accessible form of meditation designed for modern day living, and what he calls “tools for life.” These tools empower you to skillfully meet each moment with unshakable peace and wellbeing—no matter how challenging or difficult your situation. In this episode, Anat Baniel and Richard Miller discuss:when we are under ongoing, undue stress that is inescapable, the natural response of the brain/body is to react with a trauma response or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Richard’s experience with having a child born with hydrocephalus, and how he responded to his son’s challenges in life; Richard takes us through one of his exercises to connect to our innate quality of “wholeness of being,” helping us shift from our thinking mind to our body as sensation; the importance of and need for safety first, within ourselves, and within our children; we have five other needs, according to Richard, in addition to our basic needs: to be seen, to be heard, to connect with, to belong, and to feel our innate wholeness;both iRest® and NeuroMovement® offer a holistic approach to healing and well-being that embraces the unknown and opens up a world of possibilities.

The Holidays can be a wonderful time of the year when you get to spend time with family. At the same time, they can also be stressful for many people. Learn how you can use the 9 Essentials, NeuroMovement® video lessons, and other tools to relieve your stress and enhance your well-being over the Holiday season.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp discuss:how to use movement and the Essentials to prevent atrophy when a broken limb is in a cast; autism signs to look for in your grandchildren when autism spectrum disorder is prevalent in your family;the importance of becoming aware of the expectations you have for the Holidays; why doing two or three NeuroMovement video lessons a week can help you feel better; how to address and deal with emotional pain that may come up over the Holidays; related questions from the audience.

In this podcast, Anat interviews Linda Graham, MFT, a mindfulness teacher and world-renowned resilience expert. Linda teaches that resilience is a foundational practice for coping with the inevitable ups and downs in life. She teaches tools to develop a resilience mindset that can be used to cope with disappointments, difficulties, and even disasters.Parenting can be demanding and having a child with special needs makes it even more so. In this interview, we focus on why and how Linda’s approach works in providing new ways for parents and others to respond to pressures and tragedies.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Linda Graham discuss:the direct outcome of learning how to cultivate positive emotions is resilience; a tool that Linda teaches is “Awareness and Acceptance” – becoming aware of what you are feeling and having compassion for yourself at the same time;another tool is “Change Every ‘Should’ to a ‘Could’” – 'should' sets you up for failure; 'could' opens you up to the possibilities and the larger perspective;how you perceive yourself, how you talk to yourself, and how you judge or support yourself is key to how resilient your brain is going to be in coping with the situation;people learn to be resilient by coping with adversity, and by finding meaning in the tragedy; pre-submitted questions from the audience.

When taking care of our children, especially if a child has special needs, our focus turns fully on our child. Parents often need to be told of the importance of taking care of themselves. This is easier said than done. In this episode, we will explore the why and the how of taking care of yourself.In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp discuss:a certain amount of stress is good for optimal health; however acute, ongoing stress can adversely affect your brain and your ability to function; the first step is to recognize when you are stressed and then to set up small moments of time that you can relieve the stress by doing something you want to do (take a bath, get alone time, sleep, etc.);how NeuroMovement® lessons can be used to reduce stress, change your perspective, and generate feelings of well-being—the lessons are very regenerating for your brain;how to use the 9 Essentials, especially Flexible Goals, to reduce your stress and to connect with your child; other options for reducing stress that work well with this NeuroMovement® approach;related questions from the audience.

Michael Merzenich, PhD, a world-renowned neuroscientist, is the “father” of brain plasticity science. Dr. Merzenich was awarded the 2016 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience, for his work in discovering adult brain plasticity and applying its principles to improve the human condition. In this podcast, Anat interviews Dr. Merzenich, who has been a big supporter of NeuroMovement® and the 9 Essentials. He states: “Anat Baniel has developed powerful, practical strategies for improving your abilities and building a better, stronger brain supported by the neuroscience of brain plasticity.”In this episode, Anat Baniel and Michael Merzenich discuss:the brain is built for change, and every person should take advantage of this fact;dramatic changes can occur across time, even with the most damaged brains, if you use effective strategies for positive brain change;Dr. Merzenich’s research and interventions for children who have been traumatized in early life, and the development of brain training programs for kids;the importance of starting with where a person is at—with what she or he CAN do—and then move forward from there;the power of Slow and Enthusiasm Essentials and why they are potent tools for learning and positive brain change;pre-submitted questions from the audience.

In this episode, we focus on adults and how this Method can help you overcome pain and limitation. Discover what is possible when your brain is provided with the conditions and information it needs to heal and thrive.In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp address:questions regarding how NeuroMovement® can help painful spasticity, painful injuries, pain from Lyme disease, stroke recovery, vision loss, and other kinds of trauma; examples of how to use movement and the 9 Essentials to communicate with the brain in order to create new possibilities for healing and recovery; how this Method helps people develop a sense of safety, well-being, and vitality for life, which can be beneficial to people suffering from PTSD;the importance of getting private lessons from certified Practitioners to overcome significant challenges and injuries; specific NeuroMovement® video programs that you can use for stroke recovery and for overcoming limitations from other conditions.

It’s an exciting time for children, parents, and teachers as the new school year begins. In this episode, we answer questions from parents and teachers, and discuss how the 9 Essentials can be applied in the classroom to help promote learning for all children.In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp address:their recent experience working with a school system in Canada—a special project to train teachers, aides, and staff to apply the 9 Essentials in the classroom; what teachers teach and what children learn are two independent processes—recognizing this leads to a revolution in the way we think about and approach teaching and academia; the importance of using the 9 Essentials to create new possibilities and learning, NOT as a way to get an immediate outcome or to try to “make” a child learn a specific skill;“If he could, he would; if she could, she would.” The best way to facilitate learning and progress is to start where children are at, using the Essentials to connect with them and to provide the best conditions for learning;specific tips and examples of how to use the Essentials to move from fixing to connecting, and to provide learning opportunities for children on the autism spectrum, children with cerebral palsy, and children with other special needs.

The 9 Essentials of Anat Baniel Method® NeuroMovement® offer you and your child powerful, concrete ways to tap into the brain’s enormous potential. Discover how to easily implement the Essentials in daily life, and overcome limitations and reach higher levels of physical, emotional, and cognitive performance. In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp address:questions about the 9 Essentials, and how to use the Essentials with children on the autism spectrum and children with other special needs;how NeuroMovement and the 9 Essentials have helped children (and adults) with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and how to create the conditions for them to be successful; the best approach for helping children with mobility issues at school—encourage teachers to read Anat's book Kids Beyond Limits and use the 9 Essentials;when you use the 9 Essentials while you are sitting, the act of sitting becomes much more dynamic and healthier—sitting is not like smoking;ABM NeuroMovement Practitioners can often help your child overcome challenges, and they can also make suggestions on how to use the 9 Essentials with your child.

Awaring—the action of generating Awareness—is to be knowledgeable about what you are doing, sensing, thinking, and experiencing at any given moment. When you are aware, you are fully alive and present. Your brain is working at its highest level, noticing subtle nuances of what is going on around and within you, revealing options and potentials, greatly accelerating learning. In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp discuss: Awareness is an action that can be practiced and developed in yourself and in your child; Awareness is the “glue of learning;” it can significantly shorten the process of change and progression; Awaring calls upon us to use our brains at a higher level quality of functioning; practical tips and examples of how to use the Awareness Essential with children with special needs; children are often aware, and using all of the Essentials will generate more awareness and new learning and possibilities; related questions from the audience.

Einstein said: “Imagination is everything. It is the preview to life’s coming attractions.” Through imagination, your brain figures out new possibilities before actually having to perform. Your dreams give you a unique life path to follow and guide your brain to continue growing and developing. Imagination and Dreams give you and your child the ability to create something that has never been there before, transcending your limitations.In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp discuss: how to practice and apply Imagination & Dreams intentionally, and the power of this Essential to move you and your child beyond current limitations; practical tips and examples of how to use Imagination & Dreams with children with special needs; the brain is a quantum information system, and there is either a change or no change (not small or big change); how to connect with your child where she or he is at using the Essentials, and allow for spontaneous outcomes;A Life Unbound, a documentary about this Method, is being shown online (check out our upcoming screenings);related questions from the audience.

The brain is either in a learning mode—the Learning Switch is on—or not. Repetition, drills, and everyday stresses all tend to turn the Learning Switch off. The same happens when a child has special challenges, or a person has suffered trauma or injury. For the brain to properly do its job, the Learning Switch needs to be on. Once on, at any age, life becomes a wonderful new adventure, filled with movement, creativity, and new possibilities.In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp discuss:how Anat discovered the Learning Switch, and how this Essential can help any child, or adult, become a more potent and powerful learner; practical tips and examples of how to use the Learning Switch with children with special needs; the importance of giving children the space to experience themselves and their own learning; recognizing when you are in a learning mode or not, and discovering how to turn on your own Learning Switch;A Life Unbound, a documentary about this Method, is being shown online (check out our upcoming screenings);related questions from the audience.

The 9 Essentials of NeuroMovement® offer you powerful, concrete ways to wake up the brain and tap into its enormous potential. Start applying the Essentials in your child’s and your life to experience the incredible power of the brain to change for the better. In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp address:questions about the first 6 Essentials—movement with attention, slow, variation, subtlety, enthusiasm, and flexible goals;whether or not to use orthotics: consider why AFO’s are being used and how the AFO’s are designed; the best approach for helping children with special needs learn how to balance and stand;how to interest a blind child in new activities by using sound, touch, and the Essentials;getting private lessons for your child from a certified ABM NeuroMovement Practitioner can often help with difficult challenges.

Freeing yourself from the compulsion to achieve a goal in a certain way and at a certain time keeps you open-minded. You are available to recognize opportunities you may have never noticed had you been fixed on a too rigidly set course. There is no way to know in advance the path that will lead you to achieving your goal. In this episode, we explore how to use Flexible Goals in your and your child’s life.In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp discuss:the purpose of the 9 Essentials is to create conditions where the brain can do its job better, and how you carry out your goals will affect your and your child’s learning; “If he could, he would; if she could, she would.” Asking a child or an adult to do something that she or he cannot do grooves in experiences (and patterns) of failure in the brain; the Flexible Goals Essential offers opportunities for you to find creative ways to begin where your child is at and with what your child can already do;instead of focusing on the performance of a specific skill, focus on the brain and ask yourself: What can I do now to get my child’s brain to do its job even better?;practical tips and examples of how to use Flexible Goals with children with special needs;related questions from the audience.

Parents at times find it challenging, and perhaps confusing, how to be with their young one and what leadership with their child means. Does it mean discipline? “consequences”? punishment? “bribery”? It is that much more challenging when a child has special needs. In this podcast, Anat Baniel interviews Randy Roberts, a world-class strategist and educator whose specialty is leadership. Randy has been working for 35 years as a transformational coach with top leaders and their teams. Her biggest passion is parents. Randy sees parents as heroes, especially parents of a child with special needs. Randy has transformed the lives of many clients and helped both the child and the whole family benefit in remarkable ways.In this episode, Anat Baniel and Randy Roberts discuss:parenting as leadership, and what this means for parents of children with special needs;parents of children with special needs often stay in survival mode, seeing their only role as caregiver;how Randy helps parents to see the possibilities and the potential future for their child with special needs;how to find creative solutions for challenges with your child, along with tangible examples;one of the greatest gifts that parents can give their children is to take care of themselves; your children don’t want you to sacrifice your life for them—they want you to be happy and well!

The 9 Essentials of NeuroMovement® offer you powerful, concrete ways to tap into the brain’s enormous potential. With the 9 Essentials, you can overcome pain and limitation and experience breakthroughs in your child’s physical, emotional, and cognitive abilities. We want all of you to discover the incredible power of your and your child’s brain to change through the Essentials. In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp address:questions from the audience about the first 4 Essentials—movement with attention, slow, variation, subtlety—and also enthusiasm, the 5th Essential;the need for parents to get support to help them move past their fears and concerns, so that they can find internal delight in the small changes they see in their child with special needs;success is the most important place to start—start where children are at so that they can succeed;it’s important to observe, not interpret, because we do not know how far children with special needs will progress;never set a limit on how much a child can learn; the brain can grow and evolve at any age—be open to the lifelong process of learning;practical tips and examples of how to use the Essentials with children with special needs.

Enthusiasm is a skill you can develop. It is a choice to appreciate and take delight in the small things. It amplifies what is important and grooves in new learning in your brain. When hearing the word “enthusiasm,” it often evokes the idea of excitement, happiness, or externally expressed feelings. Today, we explore the relationship between the adult’s Enthusiasm (an internal response, different from external excitement), and awakening powerful neuroplasticity in the child’s brain, leading to transformational breakthroughs.In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp discuss:the purpose of the 9 Essentials is to create conditions where the brain can do its job better, and Enthusiasm is a powerful way to make it easier for the brain to perceive differences the Enthusiasm Essential develops your ability to internally amplify what you observe and to appreciate the smallest of changes in your child; it is recognition of the “miraculous”Enthusiasm is not about clapping, praise, or loud excitement—these kinds of external responses may actually inhibit the brain in the learning process practical tips and examples of how to use Enthusiasm with children with special needshow to practice the Enthusiasm Essential yourself and with your child in daily liferelated questions from the audience

We’ve been receiving many questions regarding our September 2019 Practitioner Training Program. The training is a remarkable process that provides trainees with a new profession or powerful tools to enhance their performance in their current profession, as well as positive personal transformations many have longed for. Discover the possibilities: www.anatbanieltraining.com.In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp discuss:the Practitioner Training Program consists of 10 segments, completed in approximately 14 months (6 segments are in person and 4 segments are online)people from many backgrounds and with a variety of experience have completed the training no specific educational requirements are needed in order to apply to the programafter completion of this program, graduates can complete certification programs in three focus areas: children with special needs, vitality and anti-aging, and high performers A Life Unbound, a new documentary, is another way to learn more about this Methodrelated questions from the audience

We’ve all heard the expressions “no pain, no gain” and “try harder,” expecting these ways to provide us with the desired outcomes. As counterintuitive as it may seem, the reduction of force and of intensity is what the brain needs to get new information to help us, and the child with special needs, change for the better in powerful ways. In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp discuss:the focus of NeuroMovement is to upgrade the ability of the brain to do its own job well, and the 9 Essentials can provide the conditions to help make this happenhow Subtlety, the reduction of force or intensity, can enhance the brain’s ability to perceive differences and receive new information for learningpractical tips on how to use Subtlety and other Essentials with children with special needshow to use the Essentials and to observe what happens with your child—and be open to the possibilities!related questions from the audience

As children grow and develop, they continually “figure out” how to do things, becoming more and more independent. For a child with special needs, this learning process is interrupted. How can you help your child and also recognize when you are doing too much, or helping too often?In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp discuss:how to give children with special needs the space and time to do what they canallowing children to do it on their own with limited assistance will allow them to know what they CAN do, and will allow YOU to observe what they are able to do without helppractical tips and examples on how to provide your child with opportunities for learningthe importance of using small experiences to help children with special needs to discover their own powerrelated questions from the audience

Variation is at the heart of learning. Call it play, mistakes, or exploration. Introduce Variation into what you do, and your brain will create new possibilities in your movements, feelings, thoughts, and action. Discover how Variation can help your child’s brain become a powerful learning brain, creating new solutions to overcome challenges.In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp discuss:variations, intentional or unintentional, flood the brain with new information how Variation can help the brain’s ability to perceive differencespractical tips and examples on how to use Variation with children with special needsthe importance of starting where your child is at and engaging your child in playusing Variation in daily living can be FUN for you and your child!related questions from the audience

In the last 20 years in the US, the number of options that parents have in choosing how to help their child has grown dramatically. However, it often leaves parents wondering which of the interventions to provide their child. And how many should the child be exposed to at any given time? By what criteria can parents judge and decide? In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp discuss:the learning process and how optimal learning occurs in small units of timethe need for rest after learning in order to fully integrate what has been learnedrecommended criteria for deciding which interventions to use with your childtrue learning is pleasurable; we are built to enjoy learning!related questions from the audience

Fast, we can only do what we already know. This is how the brain works. To learn and master new skills and overcome limitation, the first thing to do is slow way down. Slow actually gets the brain’s attention and stimulates the formation of rich new neural patterns.In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp discuss:the tools for waking up the brain – the 9 Essentials of NeuroMovement®the perception of differences is the source of information for the brainthe Slow Essential and how it helps the brain to improve its ability to perceive differenceshow to use Slow with children with cerebral palsy, genetic disorders, and other special needsrelated questions from the audience

Movement is Life. The brain needs movement to grow and form. However, for successful learning and development, movement alone is not enough. Movement done without attention to the feeling of self only further grooves in existing patterns. With attention to what you feel as you move, billions of new connections are created that usher in remarkable transformations.In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp discuss:the tools for waking up the brain – the 9 Essentials of NeuroMovement®research that shows movement with attention creates new connections in the brainthe potential for everyone to have a stronger, better brain with NeuroMovementways to potentiate your brain and your child’s brain to grow and changehow to use Movement with Attention with children with autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, brain injury, and other special needsrelated questions from the audience

Martha Herbert, MD, PhD, is a pediatric neurologist committed to making a real difference in the lives of children with special needs. When writing her book The Autism Revolution, she interviewed Anat Baniel, and discovered the transformational outcomes that Anat’s clients were getting with NeuroMovement®. Martha saw a unique opportunity to bring together all her knowledge and skills, and she joined Anat’s training program!In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Martha Herbert discuss:their commitment to improving outcomes for children with special needs, and all of their clientshow the brain of a child with special needs can be awakened using the power of human connectionthe amazing capacities of the brain to grow and evolve, when provided with the right conditionsthe personal and professional outcomes that Martha experienced with the practitioner training programhow NeuroMovement® and the 9 Essentials can help to make the impossible possible

We now know the enormous importance of the brain in everything we do. The good news is that the brain is “plastic,” meaning that the brain changes in response to its experiences. The challenge is how we can take advantage of the brain’s ability to learn and heal, and move the child with special needs past his or her limitations (and adults, too). In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp discuss:how Anat discovered that movement is the way to communicate with the brainthe fundamental job of the brain and how it grows and evolveshow NeuroMovement® helps the brain to get stronger and better at its jobthe source of information for the brain and the conditions required for learning learning through perception of differences and the process of differentiation related questions from the audienceView some of the slides discussed in this episode here and learn more about differentiation.

It took Jill Bolte Taylor eight years to fully recover from her stroke. That was before she met Anat Baniel and discovered NeuroMovement® and the 9 Essentials. Jill states: “Anat applies the exact same principles when helping people overcome limitation that I used to recover my brain and body from stroke. She understands that for any meaningful change to happen in the way we think, move, and use our body, the change has to happen in the brain.”In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Jill Bolte Taylor discuss: Jill’s experience of having a stroke and what it was like to learn skills she had lostthe importance of connection in recovery and learning (from “fixing” to connecting)the need for sleep and safety in the healing and learning processhow stroke recovery is similar to working with children with special needswhy Jill supports NeuroMovement and how it can help a variety of conditions

The most normal and common response to a child having a challenge or limitation is to try and “fix” the child. However, the human being cannot be “fixed.” It is through learning and the brain creating new possibilities, that the child can move from his or her impossible to the possible.In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp discuss:the ways in which adults try to “fix” children with special needswhat it looks like when you are trying to “fix” and how to choose differentlythe brain is an information system, requiring a different approach what it looks like to “connect” with your child and how connection affects the brainrelated questions from the audience

When a child has special needs, those surrounding and caring for the child are laser focused on trying to help him or her get past their limitations, understandably so. However, have you ever asked yourself: “What is it like to be the child with special needs?” Exploring this question can be transformative for the child, the parent, the caregiver, and the professional.In this podcast, Anat Baniel and Neil Sharp discuss: their experiences using NeuroMovement® with children with special needs and their families how children feel and respond to interventions that are meant to help them what the brain of the child with special needs learns from its experiencescreating the conditions necessary for the brain of most any child to learn and grow with NeuroMovementrelated questions from the audience