Overview

Combing cutting edge science and educational philosophy, The Wisdom of the Body offers practical, effective advice for anyone interested in how humans learn and think. With compelling arguments in favor of an embodied approach to school, Shonstrom illuminates the power of learning through physical, sensory experiences, and challenges traditional approaches in education by offering dynamic, ground-breaking examples of how an embodied pedagogy could revolutionize learning.

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9781475840643

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In modern times, the biggest barrier to our well-being is the artificial wall we've erected between body and mind. Tear down the wall. Your own body is the ultimate frontier begging to be explored. This book is your guide.--Richard Manning, author of If It Sounds Good It Is Good: Seeking Subversion, Transcendence and Solace in America's Music The Wisdom of the Body is a profound exploration of the gifts of love, wisdom, creativity, and aliveness that we experience when we plant ourselves in the universe, in this body, in this being right here.--Tara Brach Ph. D., author of Radical Acceptance and Radical Compassion Exploring embodied cognition with humorous, compelling insight, Shonstrom explains how we learn. Moving through philosophy, theories of neuroscience, and urgent concerns of accelerating social anxieties, Shonstrom demonstrates how important mindfulness and physical activity remain to any rendering of educational process. Race, gender, social circumstance, and questions of learning disparities wind their way through this entirely accessible offering. Essential for educators and everyone who wonders, How do we feel? --Thomas F. DeFrantz, Professor, Duke University and author of Dancing Revelations: Alvin Ailey's Embodiment of African American Culture We usually think of the mind-body connection in relation to physical and mental health. In this intelligent and often witty book Shonstrom makes a compelling case for a mind-body approach to education. Using engaging anecdotes, research data, and wisdom from sources as diverse as the Buddha, Dr. Seuss, and Anthony Bourdain, Shonstrom convinced me that even after a lifetime as a student, physician, and teacher I might understand how we learn in an entirely new, embodied way.--Suzanne Koven M.D, MFA, Writer in Residence, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA Shonstrom asks the important question of how learning became so disembodied and provides a readable account of the biological and philosophical basis for the re-emergence of somatic learning. This highly readable book shows how we got away from learning by doing and how we can, and must, get back to it.--Mary Ann Brehm, author of Creative Dance and Learning: Making the Kinesthetic Link Erik Shonstrom meticulously traces the philosophical and scientific evolution of how we view 'self' from the body/mind dualism of Cartesian thought to today's more holistic view of interoceptive awareness -- that is one's ability to receive, access, and assess inner body sensations and internal body states or signals. It helps that Shonstrom has a delightful sense of humor to help one go through this history. It is also interesting to note that one of the ways Shonstrom finds most helpful to increase one's interoceptive abilities is through diligent mindfulness meditation.--Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Happiness

Erik Shonstrom meticulously traces the philosophical and scientific evolution of how we view 'self' from the body/mind dualism of Cartesian thought to today's more holistic view of interoceptive awareness -- that is one's ability to receive, access, and assess inner body sensations and internal body states or signals. It helps that Shonstrom has a delightful sense of humor to help one go through this history. It is also interesting to note that one of the ways Shonstrom finds most helpful to increase one's interoceptive abilities is through diligent mindfulness meditation.--Sharon Salzberg, author of ""Lovingkindness"" and ""Real Happiness"" Exploring embodied cognition with humorous, compelling insight, Shonstrom explains how we learn. Moving through philosophy, theories of neuroscience, and urgent concerns of accelerating social anxieties, Shonstrom demonstrates how important mindfulness and physical activity remain to any rendering of educational process. Race, gender, social circumstance, and questions of learning disparities wind their way through this entirely accessible offering. Essential for educators and everyone who wonders, ""How do we feel?""--Thomas F. DeFrantz, Professor, Duke University and author of ""Dancing Revelations: Alvin Ailey's Embodiment of African American Culture"" In modern times, the biggest barrier to our well-being is the artificial wall we've erected between body and mind. Tear down the wall. Your own body is the ultimate frontier begging to be explored. This book is your guide.--Richard Manning, author of ""If It Sounds Good It Is Good: Seeking Subversion, Transcendence and Solace in America's Music"" Shonstrom asks the important question of how learning became so disembodied and provides a readable account of the biological and philosophical basis for the re-emergence of somatic learning. This highly readable book shows how we got away from learning by doing and how we can, and must, get back to it.--Mary Ann Brehm, author of ""Creative Dance and Learning: Making the Kinesthetic Link"" The Wisdom of the Body is a profound exploration of the gifts of love, wisdom, creativity, and aliveness that we experience when we plant ourselves in the universe, in this body, in this being right here.--Tara Brach Ph. D., author of ""Radical Acceptance"" and ""Radical Compassion"" We usually think of the mind-body connection in relation to physical and mental health. In this intelligent and often witty book Shonstrom makes a compelling case for a mind-body approach to education. Using engaging anecdotes, research data, and wisdom from sources as diverse as the Buddha, Dr. Seuss, and Anthony Bourdain, Shonstrom convinced me that even after a lifetime as a student, physician, and teacher I might understand how we learn in an entirely new, embodied way.--Suzanne Koven M.D, MFA, Writer in Residence, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

In modern times, the biggest barrier to our well-being is the artificial wall we've erected between body and mind. Tear down the wall. Your own body is the ultimate frontier begging to be explored. This book is your guide.--Richard Manning, author of If It Sounds Good It Is Good: Seeking Subversion, Transcendence and Solace in America's Music The Wisdom of the Body is a profound exploration of the gifts of love, wisdom, creativity, and aliveness that we experience when we plant ourselves in the universe, in this body, in this being right here.--Tara Brach Ph. D., author of Radical Acceptance and Radical Compassion

Author Information

Erik Shonstrom is the author of Wild Curiosity and The Indoor Epidemic, and has written for The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Los Angeles Review of Books, and Education Week. Erik received his MFA in writing from Bennington College, and teaches at Champlain College in Vermont, where he lives with his family.

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