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PlayGrounding

Our mental health systems are broken. The work of getting well can make us feel worse than we did when we started. PlayGrounding is about finding the courage to seek the help we need and the hope to keep going when it feels like nothing is working and no one is listening.
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PlayGrounding
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Now displaying: Category: mental health
May 27, 2021

Exercise is an important part of a healthy life, but how we do it is important. Jenn Hicks has been teaching Nia through a body/fat positivity and Health At Every Size lens ever since recovering from her eating disorder and exercise addiction. The practice draws from martial arts, dance arts, and healing arts, empowering people of all shapes and sizes by connecting the body, mind, emotions and spirit. 

Mar 17, 2021

Dementia is seen as one of the most horrible things that can happen to a person – a “loss of self” or “living death.” Susan Massad and Mary Fridley are part of a coalition working to challenge that way of looking at dementia, known as “the tragedy narrative.” They created a workshop called The Joy of Dementia Workshop (You’ve Got To Be Kidding!). Using improvisation and social therapeutics, they teach how we can reframe what memories are and who we are as human beings, even if we can’t access them.

Mar 4, 2021

Spirituality and religion are linked to positive physical and mental health outcomes, but at times, unhealthy teachings can cause more problems than they solve. On this episode, Gary Ware interviews Kara, the host of PlayGrounding. Through her work toward interfaith ordination, she’s begun the process of uncovering her own story of religious trauma, sexual assault, and finding her way back to a healthy spiritual life. None of it would have been possible without rediscovering the power of play as an adult.

Dec 9, 2020

If you’ve ever believed you couldn’t share your own story or let your voice be heard until you “fix” yourself, then you need to hear what Jessica has to say. Jessica Brustad, Co-Founder of Playful Mind Project, has worked with individuals struggling with mental health issues like anxiety, OCD and Postpartum Mood Disorders and has helped companies like Google and Microsoft improve their cultures through her original style and mindfulness programs.

Dec 1, 2020

Meet the co-founders of the recently launched Playful Mind Project, play experts Jessica Brustad and Rona Lewis. The focus of their launch is on one of the hardest hit demographics during the Covid-19 pandemic – working moms. Jessica and Rona are not therapists, but their work is informed by therapeutic exercises like cognitive behavioral therapy. They specialize in stress relief through Purposeful and Attuned Play using fun and interactive games and exercises to help alleviate stress and overwhelm. Their customized sessions include anything from improv, breathwork, Laughter Yoga, wordplay, exercise and meditation—all depending on the client’s needs at that moment.

Nov 22, 2020

This week you’re going to meet Charlette (Charly) Ford, a seasoned entertainer, executive producer and curator of the You’s A Fool Improv and Variety Show in Atlanta, GA. Charly is an Improv Acting Coach and bold event host, she brings charisma, comedy, and culture to her students and audiences alike. She’s one of the most playful people you'll ever met! When Charly’s around, it’s nearly impossible not to smile. She’s not the type to tiptoe around, and she teaches people of all ages to step into their confidence and learn to trust themselves.

Nov 5, 2020

Play can be an empowering spiritual experience, regardless of what you practice, or what religious or spiritual subculture you belong to. And no one has been better, over the years, at helping us understand that play has an important role in healing from trauma and helping us deal with shame than healer, speaker, author, and poet, Vince Gowmon.

Jul 30, 2020

According to Andrew Walsh’s daughter, he is “A librarian who teaches grown-ups how to play”, which is far more important than any “real” job description. He is founding editor of the Journal of Play in Adulthood and is a core member of the Playful Learning Association. Hear about his research into how adults play and about his newest book, a compilation called Forgotten Lancashire Folk and Fairy Tales, coming out in September of 2020. You'll also hear from Stacey Newman Weldon of Adventure Wednesdays about how we can ease into adventure by starting small.

Jul 9, 2020

Meet Cathy Salit and Fernanda Liberali, founders of The Global Play Brigade, a volunteer community of play and performance activists, improvisers, clowns, musicians, educators and therapists who have come together in response to the global pandemic and the distressing, inequitable state of our world. 

May 16, 2020

The whole world is going through a trauma right now. And your part is no smaller than anyone else's. It's vital right now to find the courage to face our emotions and find ways to enjoy life. Even if it takes baby steps to get there.

Feb 28, 2019

The very idea that play is important is a hard sell - especially for stressed-out grownups with responsibilities and long to-do lists. But if we don’t cut ourselves some slack, we’re setting ourselves up for a fall.

Feb 14, 2019

When I’m burned out, the last word I want to hear is adventure. But thanks to Stacey Newman Weldon of Adventure Wednesdays, I learned that adventures don’t have to be over-complicated vacations. Adventures can start small, stimulate our creativity, keep our minds sharp and our hearts full.

Feb 7, 2019

In a mental health crisis, play is a vitally important part of our healing process. So why can it be so hard to give ourselves permission actually do it? Join Kara for an exploration of the things that get in the way of play and our pursuit of joy.

Dec 1, 2017

In this episode, I (Kara Fortier, you know, the host) will talk about how I finally became an adult who plays. A playful mindset came so easily to us as children, but we adults build up lots of roadblocks keeping us from it. Incorporating play has been a process. It wasn’t as easy as just deciding to “do” play. I’ve spent some time reflecting on the stages I went through that finally got me here.

I can now say that not only do I understand how important play is, I’m experiencing the power of play firsthand. It’s already started changing the way I think and approach big life decisions. For instance, the recent career decision I’ve made about the future of PlayGrounding. These six steps are the stages I observed in myself and have helped me put context around what I’m learning from the PlayGrounding interviews so far. I hope you enjoy this episode and rest assured - we’re going back to interviews next week and most importantly… disaster has been averted. PlayGrouding is back and sticking around for a long, long time.

Aug 17, 2017

It might seem counterintuitive to have a conversation about play and grief. We often associate play with frivolity, silliness and escape. But what we learn from this conversation with Sabrina Must is that a playful approach to life can take us deeper and more in touch with who we really are, even in periods of deep grief and loss.

Sabrina’s book, Must Girls Love, is her memoir on the suicide death of her sister. This episode goes deep and for some, it might touch on aspects of life and grief you’d rather not think about. But if you’ve experienced devastating loss, as Sabrina has, you might find this a refreshingly honest conversation. If you haven’t, there’s something in it for you as well. It’s a window into the hearts and minds of our friends who we might be called upon to hold space for and comfort in times of sorrow.

Sabrina Must is an author, blogger and speaker who unapologetically shares about her life to inspire you to share your story, live more honestly, and have more fun! Joys and struggles, it's all here. And she holds true to this throughout our conversation.

We hope you enjoy it!

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