The Passive Hang

The Passive Hang - Episode 24 - Aspen Coaching - Strength Through Diversity

What’s it like to open a gym where you teach tools from the Fighting Monkey method, Ido Portal method, and more? Today on the podcast - Emma (@emma_louise_robson), Glenn (@glennrobson_) and Paul (@pault8_upsidedown) - who run Aspen Coaching (@aspencoaching) - a movement gym in Perth. 

 

Aspen’s motto is “Strength Through Diversity”. Their students, from all different backgrounds - from 16 years, to 80 years - all with different stories, contexts. The team places firm emphasis on celebrating the individual as their own journey - their’s no firm “Aspen method” which they have to go through. Rather it’s about providing the person with whatever tools the team have learnt from their backgrounds, to help that person with their own goals. There’s no pressure to commit to the handstand class, or the spinal wave class, or the particular strength class. There’s a freedom to their approach which is refreshing.

 

The other aspect of this motto is to appreciate that everybody is different and even in disagreement, you can work together on a common goal. I think this is especially important, especially in today’s culture where it can be profitable and popular to form radical viewpoints and elicit controversy. In the end - aren’t we all just trying to help people?

 

Check the space out at www.aspencoaching.com.au or @aspencoaching.

The Passive Hang - Episode 23 - Emmet Louis - Principles of Mobility

Emmet Louis (@emmetlouis) on the podcast! This one is a knowledge bomb dropper. Emmet is a coach who is renowned for his flexibility training, he runs Handstand Factory (@handstandfactory), and in a previous life, was a circus performer. 

Emmet has just launched his new platform, Modern Methods of Mobility, and I take the opportunity to delve into an overview of the methods that he is planning to present. 

When Emmet speaks it is evident there is deep experience, and deeply reflects in that experience. This is someone who is refining his craft over and over again - finding what are the underlying concepts and principles of mobility. 

I use a recent article posted on the website as a basis for the questions, I highly recommend going through that article along with this podcast episode. 

https://modernmobility.com/articles/the-modern-methods-of-mobility-system/

We also cover the topic of “becoming a great teacher - how does one get there?” - the art of coaching, being, a practice a lot of us are developing. 

The Passive Hang - Episode 22- Micha Bakker - Flexible Party Tricks

Micha Bakker (@human.mvmnt) the sun-kissed Swede! Micha is a coach who resides in Stockholm, but recently was living in Sydney. 

Like a lot of us, Micha came into this type of training from “low quality bro training… to slightly higher quality training..” to then asking himself deeper questions to move towards a pursuit of learning. Micha is someone who knows how to pay attention and observe; and this shows in his practice - one only has to go to his profile to see the range of strength he can display. 

He also strikes me as just a good human being - maybe thats why he has human in his handle. He has this “good friend” energy, whilst also being able to communicate on important topics clearly and with depth. It’s a nice approach compared to the experienced teacher, lecturer, where the energy can feel a bit more unidirectional. 

Micha shares his insights on coaching, and on gaining those movement party tricks we’re all striving for. The answer…you’ll just have to listen :)

You can get in touch with Micha via @human.mvmnt

The Passive Hang - Episode 21- Harry Williams, Holistic Movement - Handstand Mystic

Stan99 represents on the latest episode of the Passive Hang! Harry Williams (@holisticmovement), is a self titled teacher and student of handbalancing and movement who resides in Perth. Harry “cherry picks” pieces of the movement culture, and I think for a lot of people, those cherries are what we all view to be some of the tastiest. 

We cover a lot of areas in this monster episode, from what we should know in order to hand balance well, to why the tuck is such a special shape, to what it takes to become a successful online coach. Harry has a powerful way of communicating concepts and for most of it I was either listening intently or laughing. 

Harry has a commitment to being authentic and I think that’s what shines through in his online presence - with the way he writes, what he writes about and how he shares. I recently heard the phrase - “the most interesting education also serves as entertainment” - I feel Harry has perfected the art of balancing both aspects. On one hand, of course. 

To get in touch send him a message on Instagram @holisticmovement or http://www.holisticmovement.site

The Passive Hang - Episode 20 - Vik Hawksley, Anatomy in Motion - Intentional Design

Episode 20!! I’m very pleased to sit down with Vik Hawksley (@vik_hawksley), who runs Anatomy in Motion in Sydney. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Vik several times, training and learning from him. Anatomy in Motion isn’t just a gym or a studio, when you go to a class it runs like a well oiled system and feels like real physical education. 

In this chat I ask Vik about the considerations he puts into the design of his classes. He goes in depth into how he delivers movement education to the general public, and the biggest challenges we face delivering movement to a normal person. Even though Vik himself is a beast, he has an acute sense of adapting to the individual, using what works for them, rather than what may work for him. 

Vik also runs AIM Academy (@aim__academy) which is a free online support group for teachers and practitioners. I’ve been a part of it for over a year and it’s been a great way to connect with other like minded individuals. If you are interested I recommend sending him a message. 

You can get in touch with him via Instagram at @vik_hawksley or at www.anatomyinmotion.com.au

The Passive Hang - Episode 19 - Thomas Emerson, Praksis, pt 2 -Teaching and the Practitioner

First follow up episode! Received heaps of good feedback from our first episode, and Thomas and I continued our conversation via e-mail, and thought it would be a great idea to discuss some of our questions on the podcast.

 

This episode is one for all the movement practitioners out there who are also coaching, or are looking to coach.

 

The 3 questions we had leading into this were - 

1. “How do you balance consistency of work with variety? … I feel motivated to introduce new movements, new work into the mix. But I'm aware that it's important to keep consistent. Maybe as a coach, I also have to stop my impetus to "move forward" by introducing too much, too quickly?"

 

2.  "How do you approach programming, from a movement perspective? I'm familiar with strength and mobility programming principles, but when considering outside that scope, and considering putting it "altogether" - I'm relatively clueless.”

 

3. “How does one start introducing someone to a behaviour toward an "open practice - where movement practice may not be confined to a structured training session?”

 

We covered a lot of ground and went on a lot of relevant tangents. Tune in to listen. 

 

You can check out Thomas at @thomashughemerson or @praksiscanberra // www.praksis.com.au

The Passive Hang - Episode 18 - David Marion - The Animal Within

“My step-dad once told me that I’ve got a bit of animal inside me.” 

“Before going for a set of max deadlifts or squats sometimes I would slap myself on the cheek… sometimes you just need a bit of violence to get it done.”

 

No wonder he can one arm handstand. Here is a guy who can push hard. 

 

David Marion (@david.a.marion) brings the heat in this week’s episode of the Passive Hang! David is a coach who resides in Perth and coaches at @ninja.academy and @northerndistrictsgymnasticclub. He also has an obsession with handstands, like the rest of us - except he probably does them way better than any of us. 

 

So what’s David’s secret? There’s true grit in his character which shines through as we chat, and I get the feeling that this guy gets dedicated when he becomes interested in something. And he just does the thing - “it’s not rocket surgery”. 

 

I enjoy this, because now as movement culture grows there are areas where it seems like mystic arts. And I think this is natural, when the scope is so large, and it takes time for us to dedicate towards different areas of practice. But grit and discipline trumps talent over time, and together with curiosity, these qualities form a trifecta which can push you into new heights. 

 

We cover a lot about handstands in this one, and a lot of value here for people in how to approach handstand programming.

 

You can get in touch with David via Instagram at @david.a.marion.

The Passive Hang - Episode 17 - Oliver Crossley, the Yogic Physio: Breaking Dogma

Oliver Crossley (@yogicphysio), the Yogic Physio! Oliver is a yoga teacher, physiotherapist, zen meditation teacher (and more!) who resides in the Gold Coast, Australia. Oliver sits at a really interesting intersection of body and mind focused traditional practises, including involvement in the movement culture. 

 

Two things strike me about Oliver from our get together. Firstly he has a unique ability to sit with competing ideas and cultures, learn from each, and interrogate them. When hearing commentary from movement culture, yoga, physiotherapy - there appears to be a lot of clashing ideas. Yet Oliver integrates them all into his teaching - taking the best fit parts from each. I think this is harder than it sounds - as sometimes, these cultures can demand full commitment to their beliefs, traditions, methods. 

 

Secondly, he has an innate curiosity to seek better answers, and ask better questions. Oliver has a strong introspection practice which helps feed this engine; and for any practitioners out there who are looking for something beyond the physical, I think this is a really good conversation to tune in. 

 

We cover so much, from meta learning to pain science. This one’s a cracker.

 

www.yogicphysio.com

The Passive Hang - Episode 16 - Paul Twyman: Handstand 365

Paul Twyman in the house! 

How many kids does he have? How old is he? What’s in the water in Perth - why is movement culture so big there? How long does it take to get a one arm handstand?

All the answers to those questions and more… in the latest episode of the Passive Hang! Paul Twyman (pault8_upsidedown) is a coach based in Perth, and he also is one of the owners of Aspen Coaching (@aspencoaching). 

So… this guy loves to handstand. And he can handstand, to an extraordinary level. Every day you’ll see Paul performing feats of strength, skill and balance with what seems like relative ease. This is one of the key things Paul touches on during our chat - finding that place where you are not fighting yourself - and becoming comfortable. 

Easy to say, extremely difficult to embody and put into practice. A lot of handbalancers talk about this concept of grace and ease when upside down. The magic feeling of being “balanced”. Yet we all know the reality of the journey - filled with tension, unease, red faces. 

Surprisingly, Paul only started this current journey 7 years ago, in his late thirties. Paul shares his journey from his earlier functional fitness days, later to with Ido Portal, then with various hand balancing coaches including @yuval_on_hands.

Paul is the true example of hard work and consistency over time. Despite being so limited in mobility he was called "The Fridge" by Ido, you can see him now performing head to toe, middle splits, flat pancake. If he can do it, you can do it.

The Passive Hang - Episode 15 - Joachim Hilderson: Mobility Specialist

Joachim Hilderson (@hildersonjoachim), Jack Russo Method! Go on Joachim’s page, you’ll be taken back by the way he trains. There’s mobility training… and then there’s the way Joachim trains mobility. It’s… different. And that’s how Joachim describes his learning style - “I like to learn… but differently.” 

Joachim isn’t a natural to any of this. A bodybuilder for 10 years, he only started his journey into his current mode of training 4 years ago - at the age of 29. A self proclaimed non flexible person - his search for answers has had him scouring YouTube videos, taking courses, enrolling into online coaching. 

Joachim is a great example of someone who has acted without bias, trying and learning from many different methods, and taking something away from each. His ability to reflect critically on his experience and process enables him to share his knowledge effectively with his students.

So what’s the secret? How does one get mobile? Open shoulders? Middle splits? Why is the method’s logo a shoe brush? Joachim openly shares his thoughts on what may be some general principles to follow. We also cover insights for specific examples as well. 

And that’s what I loved about this chat - Joachim was just really open, easy to talk to, no attitude or secrets or anything. He’s just a guy who is loving what he is doing and now starting to share what he has learnt. And he knows a lot. Great stuff.

Check him out at @hildersonjoachim, and send him a message if you have any questions!