Movers Mindset

By: Craig Constantine
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  • Summary

  • Hello, I'm Craig Constantine. In this podcast I talk with movement enthusiasts to learn who they are, what they do, and why they do it. This podcast is part of the Movers Mindset project, which I started so I could explore movement's underlying motivations, and movement's fundamental place in society. Interested?
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Exercise & Fitness Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Social Sciences
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Episodes
  • Insight with Cristina Latici

    Insight with Cristina Latici
    Feb 27 2025
    What makes a great movement coach, and how do they balance structure, intuition, and individual learning styles to help students progress? Teaching movement is as much about reading people as it is about teaching physical skills. "You have to wait— you just have to wait and see. It's not always the right time to give feedback." ~ Cristina Latici (15:22) The conversation explores the nuances of movement coaching, particularly in the context of parkour and dance. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding each student’s background and learning style, emphasizing observation over immediate correction. Cristina describes her approach, which involves assessing a student’s experience, allowing them space to explore, and offering small, precise adjustments when necessary. She reflects on the parallels between her parkour coaching and her past as a dancer, noting how both disciplines require a deep awareness of movement and the ability to convey complex physical concepts to others. "[Yoda and Luke] are having a conversation and Luke's bitching, as usual. And Yoda says something to the effect of, "we are what they grow beyond." And the point that's being made is, if you're a coach and you don't make students who are better than you, you're not a good coach." ~ Craig Constantine (22:04) Another key theme is the role of community in movement practice. Cristina discusses how the group dynamic influences training, particularly when working with long-term students versus new participants. She also highlights the challenges of coaching adults versus children, explaining how her background in special education informs her patience and adaptability in coaching. The conversation touches on the idea of "touch" as an intuitive sense developed through movement practice, illustrating how familiarity with movement can enhance both safety and creativity. Takeaways Reading the student — A good coach observes and learns about each student’s background before offering guidance. Holding back feedback — Immediate corrections aren’t always beneficial; sometimes students need space to explore movement on their own. The role of community — A strong training group can create a supportive and engaging environment that extends beyond just learning new skills. Differences in coaching adults vs. children — Adult students can be given more freedom, while children require more structured guidance. Intuition in movement — Over time, practitioners develop an unconscious sense of movement that helps them adapt in unexpected situations. Bringing past experience into coaching — Skills from other disciplines, like dance, can influence and enhance movement coaching. Frameworks for structuring sessions — Having a strong guiding structure helps coaches tailor sessions to different groups and needs. Personal growth through coaching — Teaching movement involves constant learning and adaptation, even for experienced coaches. Adapting to different skill levels — Coaches must balance providing challenges with ensuring students feel comfortable and capable. Flow and connection between movements — The ability to link movements seamlessly is a key part of high-level physical practice. Resources The Movement Creative — The parkour organization where Cristina coaches, offering outdoor movement training in New York City. Gerlev Parkour Gathering — A well-known parkour event at Gerlev Idrætshøjskole Cristina mentions as a valuable training community. Yamakasi — The original founders of parkour, mentioned in relation to training approaches. (Written with help from Chat-GPT.) --- Hello👋 I'm Craig Constantine. In the Movers Mindset podcast, I talk with movement enthusiasts to learn who they are, what they do, and why they do it. I'm interested in the nature and philosophy of movement and in exploring themes like independence, self-direction, and human excellence. My interests color each conversation and provide some structure to Movers Mindset. But since I like to take the scenic route, every conversation ends up going somewhere unique. The purpose of Movers Mindset is to create and share great conversations with movement enthusiasts. Each conversation feeds my insatiable curiosity, but I share them to turn on a light for someone else, to inspire them, or to give them their next question. I appreciate your time and attention, and I don’t take it for granted. --- Thank you! My mission is creating better conversations to spread understanding and compassion. And Movers Mindset is one of the things I do in service of my mission. Drop by https://craigconstantine.com/ for my weekly email, my other podcasts, writing and more. The Movers Mindset project grew from conversations I started having as part of my personal journey rediscovering movement. The project started late in 2015, and it was initially simply a web site that shared others’ writing. The project grew, and in 2017 I started the podcast. I’ve ...
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    47 mins
  • MiST with Iron Gump

    MiST with Iron Gump
    May 21 2024
    How can mindfulness and meditation be integrated into physical training to enhance strength, mobility, and self-awareness? Iron Gump joins Craig Constantine to share how meditative strength training bridges the gap between physical exertion and mindful awareness. "This is what you were talking about earlier. The meditative aspect. What I call it is meditative strength training (MiST). The meditative aspect is developing the awareness as you move, and then maintaining that awareness as you move. So taking very simple exercises— […] So that people feel, 'Okay, I'm not going into this super extreme odd space where I don't know what to do.'" ~ Iron Gump (13:17) Craig and Iron Gump explore the integration of mindfulness with physical training, discussing how meditative practices can enhance strength exercises. Iron Gump shares his progression from traditional Chinese martial arts in his teenage years to weight training and eventually to a blend of both disciplines. He emphasizes the significance of combining body alignment and breath work with exercises like squats and lunges, transforming them into meditative practices. This approach, which he calls "meditative strength training," helps individuals develop a deeper awareness of their movements and maintain mindfulness throughout their workouts. They also discuss the benefits of barefoot training, with Iron Gump recounting his experiences running and hiking barefoot in various terrains. He explains how this practice improves sensitivity and proprioception, leading to better reaction times and overall body awareness. Additionally, Iron Gump shares his teaching experiences with diverse groups, from elderly women in Maui to fighters in a South Philly gym. He highlights how slowing down movements and focusing on alignment can reveal hidden weaknesses and enhance overall strength and conditioning, drawing on principles from Tai Chi and other martial arts. Takeaways Exploring meditative strength training — emphasizes the combination of body alignment and breath work with exercises like squats and lunges to develop mindfulness. Importance of mindfulness in physical training — highlights how being aware of movements and maintaining that awareness enhances workout effectiveness. The role of traditional Chinese martial arts — discusses the influence of martial arts in developing physical and meditative aspects of training. Benefits of barefoot training — describes how running and hiking barefoot improve sensitivity, proprioception, and reaction times. Challenges and rewards of teaching diverse groups — shares experiences working with elderly women and fighters, adapting training methods to suit different populations. Transforming everyday exercises — illustrates how simple exercises can become meditative by incorporating alignment and breath work. Connection between slow movements and strength — explains how slowing down movements and focusing on alignment can reveal weaknesses and improve strength. Integration of martial arts principles in fitness — talks about applying Tai Chi and other martial arts concepts to modern strength and conditioning routines. Developing body awareness — emphasizes the importance of understanding body mechanics and alignment in enhancing physical training. Adapting traditional practices for modern fitness — discusses how traditional exercises can be made relevant and beneficial for contemporary fitness enthusiasts. Resources https://www.irongump.com — Iron Gump's web site with additional links and contact methods. @1IronGump — Iron Gump Instagram showcases various exercises and training methods, providing insights into meditative strength training practices. Master Keith Maza — Iron Gump's current teacher, specializing in internal arts. Royal Striking — Muay Thai gym in South Philly (Written with help from Chat-GPT.) --- Hello👋 I'm Craig Constantine. In the Movers Mindset podcast, I talk with movement enthusiasts to learn who they are, what they do, and why they do it. I'm interested in the nature and philosophy of movement and in exploring themes like independence, self-direction, and human excellence. My interests color each conversation and provide some structure to Movers Mindset. But since I like to take the scenic route, every conversation ends up going somewhere unique. The purpose of Movers Mindset is to create and share great conversations with movement enthusiasts. Each conversation feeds my insatiable curiosity, but I share them to turn on a light for someone else, to inspire them, or to give them their next question. I appreciate your time and attention, and I don’t take it for granted. --- Thank you! My mission is creating better conversations to spread understanding and compassion. And Movers Mindset is one of the things I do in service of my mission. Drop by https://craigconstantine.com/ for my weekly email, my other podcasts, writing and more. The Movers Mindset project grew from ...
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    41 mins
  • Freerunning with George McGowan

    Freerunning with George McGowan
    May 13 2024
    What motivates and shapes the mindset behind an individual's pursuit of excellence in parkour, both in terms of personal practice and contributions to the broader movement community? George McGowan discusses his journey through Parkour and his philosophical approach to movement, sharing insights on achieving perfection through relentless practice and creativity. "I think that carried over into my style, and then as I progressed it just got more… I was more critical of myself. But it's my style of training, and I want the line to be—in my eyes—perfect and if I'm happy with it, then that's all that matters. And having the clip at the end is just a bonus to me." ~ George McGowan, (04:30) Craig Constantine welcomes George McGowan, a Freerunning and Parkour enthusiast and filmmaker, to discuss his experiences and insights into the world of movement. Early in the conversation, they discuss a recent documentary featuring George, emphasizing the dedication and meticulous approach required to master Parkour moves. George elaborates on his collaboration with notable figures like Robbie Corbett and his participation in events like the USA Parkour Cup, highlighting how these experiences have fostered valuable relationships and opportunities in the Parkour community. George shares his philosophy on training and Parkour lines, explaining that achieving perfection in his movements is paramount, a sentiment reflected in his rigorous practice routine as seen in the documentary. He talks about his preference for efficient and fluid movements over showy, disconnected tricks, underscoring his focus on the aesthetics and functionality of each sequence. Additionally, George discusses the influence of his peers, particularly from his early days training in Belfast, on developing a perfectionist approach to Parkour. This mindset extends into how he visualizes and plans his movements, often laying in bed thinking about the next day's potential lines and challenges. Takeaways Exploration of Parkour documentaries — the conversation opens with a discussion about a documentary that delves into the intricacies of Parkour, focusing on the commitment and precision required to excel in the sport. Importance of collaboration and networking — highlights how relationships built through Parkour, such as with notable athletes and event participation, play a crucial role in expanding opportunities and experiences within the community. Philosophy and approach to training — emphasizes a meticulous and perfection-oriented approach to Parkour, where each movement and line is critically analyzed and practiced extensively to achieve the desired perfection. Influence of community and mentors — discusses the significant impact that local Parkour legends and peers have on a person's training ethos, particularly how early influences can shape one’s technical skills and overall approach to the sport. Visualization and mental preparation — sheds light on the mental aspect of Parkour, where visualizing movements and lines the night before training helps enhance performance and creativity. Adaptation and evolution of practice — explores how one’s style and focus in Parkour may evolve, from performing high-impact moves to prioritizing efficiency and flow in movements as one matures in the sport. Global Parkour community — touches on the desire to connect with Parkour practitioners worldwide, particularly from regions known for producing exceptionally skilled athletes, to learn and draw inspiration. The joy and personal satisfaction of Parkour — conveys that beyond technical achievement, the personal joy and satisfaction derived from mastering challenging movements are the core motivations for engaging in Parkour. Future aspirations and openness to new challenges — reflects on future goals, including the integration of other forms of movement and fitness into Parkour practice to maintain health, enjoyment, and overall well-being. Resources Meet the BOUNCIEST Freerunner on Earth — Recent documentary and training video with George McGowan, by JimmyTheGiant. Robbie Corbett — Mentioned as a collaborator in the Parkour documentary, known for his involvement in the Parkour community. USA Parkour Cup — An event where Parkour athletes compete, and where George McGowan had notable participation in 2022. World Freerunning Parkour Federation (WFPF) — An organization involved in the promotion and structuring of Parkour and Freerunning worldwide. Mentioned as having invited George to participate in a documentary. @georgepkay — George McGowan on Instagram ADAPT Qualifications — A certification program for Parkour coaching, mentioned as a credential held by George McGowan. Motus Project — YouTube search results for George and Motus Project videos. International Parkour Federation — Contains some information and links on Iran's parkour community and athletes, who George expressed a desire to train with and learn from. (Written...
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    34 mins

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