Ep 74: Rupture, Repair + Listening to Your Nervous System

This episode of the Thinking Pilates Podcast interviews Deb Dana, author of "Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection," about applying Polyvagal Theory to movement and therapeutic practices. The conversation explores the three core principles of Polyvagal Theory—hierarchy, neuroception, and co-regulation—and how they impact the teacher-student relationship, particularly in online settings. Dana emphasizes the importance of creating a safe environment by attending to the nervous system's needs, noting that only 30% of consistent attunement is necessary for secure attachment, with repair of ruptures building resilience. Listeners gain practical strategies for fostering safety and connection, such as actively seeking student feedback on what creates a safe learning environment and adapting teaching methods to individual nervous system responses.