Live with Gil Season 5 (20 HR/CE)

S5 E1: “Deepening Breathwork Explorations" with Natasha de Grunwald

Join Natasha for an insightful session on breathwork, focusing on releasing past beliefs and fostering community through shared experiences. Discover the importance of music in enhancing breathwork, and learn about breath awareness as a mindfulness tool. Natasha discusses the physiological effects of breath on emotional release and brain health, while also addressing the challenges of maintaining energy and boundaries in group settings. Participants will engage in a guided breathwork session, exploring their emotions and memories, with an emphasis on safety and self-care throughout the process.

• Video:  1 hour and 39 minutes
• Review:  9 questions

S5 E2: "Anatomy Re-Imagined” with Deane Juhan

Dean and Gil delve into the profound relationship between bodywork, meditation, and the significance of touch in human experience. Reflecting on his extensive 50-year career, Dean shares insights from his journey at the Esalen Institute and the transformative power of presence in bodywork, likening it to jazz. They discuss the influence of Milton Trager, the challenges of traditional scientific research, and the cultural resistance to pleasure in healing practices. The conversation highlights the importance of personal connection, self-care, and the evolving understanding of fascia in relation to consciousness, while encouraging curiosity and feedback in the healing process.

• Video:  1 hour and 48 minutes
• Review:  9 questions

S5 E3: "Movement Through A Lifetime” with Russell Maliphant"

A light-hearted discussion regarding video call aesthetics and grooming transitions into a profound exploration of Russell Maliphant’s lifelong relationship with dance. Beginning his training as the sole male in ballet and joining the Royal Ballet by age 16, Russell shares how a pivotal shoulder injury redirected his path toward yoga and an expansive variety of movement modalities. He champions sustainable embodiment, prioritizing deep sensory awareness and injury prevention to maintain the spirit of dance through every stage of life. The session further illuminates how visual arts inform choreography, the necessity of diversifying movement patterns, and the integrative, healing potential found within qigong and yogic practice.

• Video:  1 hour and 35 minutes
• Review:  7 questions

S5 E4: "Exploring Biodynamic Osteopathy" with Keelyn Wu, D.O.

Keelyn Wu, DO, joins the dialogue to illuminate the nuanced world of biodynamic craniosacral osteopathy, tracing its lineage from the fundamental philosophies of A.T. Still to contemporary clinical application. The session delves into the vital role of holistic resonance, where active listening and meditative presence facilitate a profound therapeutic connection between practitioner and patient. Dr. Wu reflects on his personal academic evolution and the collaborative spirit of his practice, emphasizing that dedicated, ongoing inquiry is essential for navigating intricate health challenges. Ultimately, he celebrates the transformative power of community and the collective wisdom born from shared exploratory experiences in the field.

• Video:  1 hour and 39 minutes
• Review:  8 questions

S5 E5: "Self Care and The MELT Method" with Sue Hitzmann

Gil and Sue Hitzmann engage in a vibrant dialogue regarding the MELT Method, an invitational approach to self-care that utilizes specialized soft rollers and balls to hydrate connective tissues and alleviate chronic tension. Sue recounts her personal evolution from navigating significant health challenges to pioneering this system, which prioritizes gentle techniques and the transformative power of compassionate self-talk. By emphasizing the vital role of fascia in holistic well-being, the method empowers practitioners to foster emotional healing and manage pain through refined sensory awareness. Supported by an expanding global network of educators, the session advocates for consistent practice as a path toward somatic discovery and profound personal transformation.

• Video:  2 hours
• Review:  10 questions

S5 E6: "A Polyvagal Approach to Connection, Change and Healing" with Stephen Porges, PhD and Karen Onderko

Gil welcomes Dr. Stephen Porges and Karen Onderko for an expansive dialogue on the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), a gentle, auditory intervention designed to foster a sense of internal security and diminish autonomic defensiveness. By exploring the profound influence of the vagus nerve on emotional regulation, the session illuminates how filtered acoustic stimulation can serve as a catalyst for healing chronic conditions and trauma. The conversation delves into the vital concepts of neuroception and interoception, advocating for a transdisciplinary synergy between scientific inquiry and clinical practice. Ultimately, the group celebrates the integrative potential of the SSP within a holistic framework, emphasizing the nervous system's inherent complexity and its foundational role in overall well-being.

• Video:  1 hour and 33 minutes
• Review:  7 questions

S5 E7: "The Bridge between Anatomy and Embryology" with Jaap van der Wal, MD, PhD

Gil welcomes Jaap van der Wal, a distinguished expert in anatomy and embryology, who recounts his transformative journey from theological aspirations to the medical field. By centering the embryo as a foundational element of human growth, he challenges conventional paradigms, advocating instead for a dynamic vision of the body as an evolving entity shaped by lived experience. The dialogue further illuminates the inherent artistry of anatomical study, the vital role of movement, and the relational nature of fascia, concluding with a community Q&A that explores the intricate threads connecting physical form to emotional expression and the sacred beginnings of life.

• Video:  1 hour and 33 minutes
• Review:  8 questions

S5 E8: "Revisiting Ligament Pain Referral Patterns” with Robert Libbey

Robert Libbey introduces his foundational text, “Ligament Pain Referral Patterns,” a resource that weaves together clinical pain science and the authentic lived experiences of patients for health professionals. The dialogue between Gil and Rob illuminates the profound synergy between ligaments, musculature, and the nervous system, advocating for compassionate communication and highly individualized care in pain management. Further inquiry explores the subtle role of hormonal shifts on pain perception, challenges common misconceptions regarding referral pathways, and celebrates the necessity of lifelong learning and curiosity within the healing arts.

• Video:  1 hour and 48 minutes
• Review:  9 questions

S5 E9: "Movement, Imagery and Anatomical Understanding" with Eric Franklin

Eric Franklin presents the Franklin Method: a student‑centred approach that blends embodied anatomy and systematic mental imagery to improve movement, strength, flexibility and pelvic health. Practical cues and metaphors (balloons, slippery bars of soap, sponge, camera‑shutter) and hands‑on drills show shoulder, hip, breathing and pelvic‑floor techniques that produce rapid, evidence‑backed gains, even when physical practice is limited. Teaching tips, research applications (rehab, dance, sport) and ways to adapt imagery for learners with limited visualization round out the session.

• Video:  1 hour and 34 minutes
• Review:  8 questions

S5 E10: “Fascia Research and Fascial Fitness” with Robert Schleip, PhD

Robert Schleip shares his evolution from the somatic worlds of Rolfing and Feldenkrais into the realm of experimental fascia science. Through his research, Robert demonstrates that while dense fascial tissues require significant force to lengthen in a cadaveric setting, the rapid changes we observe in living beings are primarily driven by neural, circulatory, and perifascial mechanisms, such as hyaluronan. He explores how myofibroblast contraction occurs slowly, and highlights fascia as a richly innervated sensory organ with deep autonomic involvement. Clinical insights emphasize that while structural remodeling takes time, symptom shifts can occur quickly by prioritizing shear, hydration, and nervous system engagement. Ultimately, he advocates for gentle, socially attuned touch, dissection-based learning, and interdisciplinary humility to support embodied regulation.

• Video:  1 hour and 53 minutes
• Review:  10 questions

S5 E11: "Honoring Homebirth, Midwifery and Women's Health" with Vicki Hedley, MA, CPM

Midwife, doula, seasoned advocate - and Gil’s sister! - Vicki Hedley joins the conversation to illuminate how the midwifery model safeguards physiologic labor through deep trust, privacy, and non‑clinical support. Exploring the significance of movement, positional variety, and delayed cord clamping, Vicki contrasts these intuitive practices with the risk‑averse nature of institutional settings. The discussion delves into the hormonal and anatomical foundations of birth, citing impressive outcomes like high VBAC success and minimal intervention rates. Through a blend of personal anecdotes and international perspectives, she calls for community‑focused policy shifts to protect independent midwifery and the sacred experience of homebirth.

• Video: 1 hour and 36 minutes
• Review: 9 questions

S5 E12: "Educating for Personal and Professional Growth" with Rachel Scott

Rachel and Gil reflect on a transformative year of rigorous physical labor and dedicated academic pursuit, exploring how these experiences have refined their capacities as educators. The session begins with a grounding three-breath exercise, leading into a discussion on the art of teaching: balancing structured preparation with the vital need for presence and emotional attunement. They share practical wisdom on holding an invitational space, utilizing "blank scheduling" to foster somatic discovery, and aligning technical expertise with the specific needs of the learner. The dialogue further illuminates personal inquiries, including Gil's profound anatomical study of the pelvis, "Sex and the Sacred Heart," alongside insights on near-death experiences and daily practices of forgiveness. By cultivating self-love and compassionate thought patterns, they illustrate a path toward teaching from a place of deep, embodied resonance.

• Video:  1 hour and 27 minutes
• Review:  7 questions