Taking Responsibility & Finding Freedom: The Embodied Life with Russell Delman

This inspirational episode promises insights into living a more present, aware, and connected life. Russell Delman, co-developer of The Embodied Life – a transformative approach to human potential, joins us to reveal how to reclaim your personal power by taking responsibility for your internal state, rather than blaming emotional imbalances on other people and the world at large. Russell presents the critical role of embodiment in informing both our healing process and spiritual development, proposing a seismic shift from Western psychology’s focus on individuality to recognizing our profound interconnectedness with everything around us. We examine the evolution of spiritual practices as vehicles for genuine healing and Russell’s personal story, highlighting his integration of Zen meditation, Gestalt therapy, yoga and the Feldenkrais method. Russell shares a fascinating overview of Moshé Feldenkrais’s life with highlights including engineering, unarmed combat, Judo, the genius of the brain and even nuclear secrets during World War II. He also explains how we are subtly informed by a culture of dissatisfaction, and how certain methods of learning lead to implicit self-acceptance for who we are. We discuss how emotions have both a story and a sensation and how crucial it is to become aware of the various layers of our emotional experiences in healing. Finally, we tackle the art of mastering authentic communication – a necessity for meaningful interactions in our increasingly complex world. Russell offers insights on how to navigate challenging conversations with grace, using presence and self-awareness as tools for understanding. This episode isn’t just a conversation; it’s an invitation to a more intentional and connected way of being.

Russell’s exploration of body/mind perspectives and human potential began while studying psychology at university, sparking a lifelong commitment to awareness. He deepened his understanding through workshops at the Esalen Institute, traveling in the jungles of South America and trainings in Zen meditation and yoga. He has extensively studied Gestalt therapy under Dr. Robert Hall and trained in the Feldenkrais Method with founder Moshé Feldenkrais. His relationship and study with Eugene Gendlin, the founder of the Focusing technique, was also of great significance. Russell was one of the first teachers chosen to lead Feldenkrais Professional Training Programs – he has taught in over 50 international programs, helping to train over 2500 Feldenkrais teachers internationally. Central to Russell’s life are his nearly 50 years of marriage with Linda, co-developer of The Embodied Life, and their journey as parents to their daughter, Liliana.


theembodiedlife.org