Ep 271 - Be Strong! Cultivate Your Body, Mind, and Movement with Aaron Alexander

·1 hr 4 min·5 clips

What is the consequence of assuming the 'jumbo shrimp' posture of our culture over time?

The episode opens with host Brian Callen humorously introducing guest Aaron Alexander, a movement specialist noted for his physique. Alexander recounts observing Callen's movement at Erewhon market. The conversation shifts to how different cultures, like the Dayak people of Indonesia, evolve movement patterns suited to their environment, contrasting with modern sedentary postures. They reference Robert Sapolsky's 'Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers' and Iain McGilchrist's 'The Master and His Emissary' to discuss left-brain dominance in contemporary life. Alexander explains how activities like hiking or snowboarding integrate creative expression with movement, enhancing idea generation. Callen shares his son's imaginative play as an example. They delve into stress management, citing Jocko Willink's 'good' mindset and the concept of opening up versus closing down under pressure. The discussion touches on societal hypersensitivity, with Callen critiquing both political sides for similar psychological patterns. References include Sebastian Junger's 'Tribe' on reduced suicides during war and Victor Frankl's 'Man's Search for Meaning' on purpose. A key moment involves UFC champion Rashad Evans' post-victory depression, linking to the loss of struggle. Callen describes personal satisfaction from improving at tennis, emphasizing small achievements. Alexander connects facial muscle fitness to empathy, citing Botox and pencil-holding studies. He details how modern 'jumbo shrimp' posture has cumulative psychological effects, akin to assuming depression. Alexander reveals his teenage bodybuilding as armor against home insecurity due to his father's crack addiction. He advocates foundational movements like squatting, lunging, and hanging, warning against exacerbating broken patterns. The episode concludes with Alexander promoting his Align Therapy website and a five-day challenge, while Callen and Maats emphasize applying movement fundamentals to learning and vocabulary.

As heard by us

A loose, lively conversation turns tensegrity, posture, and a young spine into a memorable reason to examine movement.

Movement specialist Aaron Alexander gives this Mixed Mental Arts episode a clear physical center, with the discussion circling movement, decompression, and the body's connected structure.

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Why you'd press play

You want to rethink the way a body sits and moves?

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