Keep Going With the Wows — Lou Benson on Fascia, Teaching and the Living Body

What does a practitioner understand after more than three decades of listening through their hands?Lou Benson began studying massage in 1989 and became one of the earliest educators in the Anatomy Trains Structural Integration lineage. She studied alongside Tom Myers before the Anatomy Trains book had even been published, later becoming an education director and lead instructor who taught practitioners around the world.In this conversation, Lou and I explore what it takes to truly learn the living body—not simply to memorise anatomy, but to develop perception, judgement, curiosity and a language of your own.Lou shares how her own back pain first brought her to bodywork, why teaching anatomy requires far more than delivering information, and how humour, metaphor and psychological safety can help difficult material come alive.We speak about finding your own voice without trying to become your teachers, learning to relate to another person with your whole body rather than only your hands, and why caring for yourself is essential to both the quality and longevity of your work.Lou also reflects on honest feedback, stepping away from a long teaching career, navigating the noise surrounding fascia, and learning to hold both an open mind and a critical one.This is a conversation about fascia, teaching and structural integration—but underneath it is a deeper exploration of how knowledge matures into wisdom.And why, however experienced we become, we must keep going with the wows.ABOUT CONNECTIVEConnective is a podcast for teachers, practitioners and the fascia-curious. Hosted by Alexa Nehter, it brings fascia learning and -teaching, anatomy, movement, research and embodied experience into conversation—helping us become more discerning about how we understand, experience and teach the living body.EXPLORE ALEXA’S WORKAlexa Nehter is a fascia-focused movement educator, structural integration practitioner and the creator of Helix Movement.Helix Movement is an online movement membership offering fascia-informed practices designed to develop strength, mobility, adaptability and a deeper relationship with your body.Move with Alexa at helixmovement.comWork with Alexa at alexanehter.comABOUT LOU BENSONhttps://www.thebodyworkeducationproject.com/lou-benson.htmlhttps://anatomytrainsaustralia.com/2027-summer-school/#benson