Gil Hedley: Life-Lessons from Cadavers, Somatic Intelligence and Why Fascia Matters

Feb 17

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What can a cadaver reveal about the living?

In this episode of the Align Podcast, Gil Hedley, Ph.D. shares his mind-boggling insights from a lifetime of navigating what he calls the "inner space." We discuss how the body of the deceased leaves tracks that lead us to a deeper understanding of life and how the living should exist. We also talk about body shaming and ways to overcome it, why you should deromanticize pain, how external pressures can distort your tissue organization, and how to finally release yourself from that feeling of being a victim of your surroundings and emotions.

Besides being a prominent expert in human dissection, Gil Hedley, Ph.D., is also an author, teacher, and a nationally certified Rolfer and massage therapist.

What we discuss:

0:00 - Introduction to Gil Hedley

4:20 - Developing a non-emotional relationship to pain

9:50 - Why Movement means Mobility & Motility

16:40 - Cultural & religious roots of body shaming + ways to overcome it

23:00 - Should you feel guilty about seeking rest & pleasure?

34:30 - Life lessons from cadavers

41:20 - What's the "fuzz" & why do we need more differential movement?

50:30 - How tissues bind together & cause inflammation

54:00 - Piezoelectricity & how external pressures disrupt our inner space

57:50 - "You can't expect to get a different result from the same thoughts, emotions, or behaviors."

1:00:05 - How to detach yourself from a victim identity