Conversations for the Moving Self

In this episode, Megan sits down with Jasmin Rothwell, yoga teacher and somatic coach based in London, for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build a life around movement and well-being.Jasmin opens up about her path from corporate recruitment to the yoga mat — from burning out building a yoga community in Manchester, to relocating to London for a fresh start and a much-needed period of reflection. She shares what it's really like to freelance in one of the world's most expensive cities, and why she recently made the decision to take on a part-time job to bring more structure and sustainability to her week, without giving up the work she loves.They get into the real barriers facing newly qualified yoga teachers in London, where high certification requirements and studio access costs can make it incredibly difficult to get started. Jasmin shares the grassroots initiative she's developing to change that — creating space for new teachers to gain real experience in a supportive environment. They also explore the deeper dynamics of teaching itself: what it means to hold space for students, the balance between containment and freedom in a class, and the mutual growth that happens on both sides of the mat.Expect honest talk about money, worth, creativity, and what it means to build a career rooted in genuine care rather than performance — and why sometimes, the most radical thing you can do is slow down.

What does it take to build a dance career on your own terms? In this episode, Megan sits down with Paloma Perez Rojas — American dancer, mentor, and founder of The Dancing Business — to trace her journey from a shy seven-year-old doing cartwheels to a working artist and entrepreneur based in Madrid, Spain.Paloma opens up about the winding road that brought her to dance: switching from visual art to movement, stretching for 90 minutes a night to catch up with her peers, nearly choosing medicine over performance, and eventually stepping away from dance entirely before social media brought her back. Her honest content about balancing a full-time job with a dance career resonated with thousands — and sparked an idea.Today, The Dancing Business is a thriving Instagram community and 12-week mentorship program helping dancers around the world build sustainable careers outside of traditional structures. Paloma also shares what it's like to balance this digital platform with an artist residency at Tejido Conectivo dance company in Madrid — and why community, not just creativity, is what keeps her going.This one is for every dancer who's ever wondered if there's a different way.

In this episode, Megan sits down with Gerard Hawley — Tai Chi practitioner, teacher, and founder of a thriving school of around 100 students — to explore a practice that is as much a philosophy as it is a physical discipline. Gerard shares how Tai Chi began as a personal tool for managing stress before growing into a deeply fulfilling teaching career spanning six years, and he takes us into the technical and spiritual layers that make Tai Chi unlike any other movement practice. At the heart of the conversation are two powerful concepts: Wu Wei — the Taoist principle of going with the flow rather than forcing — and No Mind, the idea of responding instinctively and without overthinking, whether in martial practice or everyday life.Together, Megan and Gerard unpack the balance between Tai Chi's martial roots and its meditative qualities, and why that tension is actually what makes the practice so rich. Gerard reflects on what it means to teach a discipline that asks students to move softly while remaining deeply connected — and how that same principle applies to navigating life's challenges. He also shares his vision for growing awareness of Tai Chi across the UK, collaborating with other experienced practitioners, and bringing this ancient art to more people, including those with health challenges who might not immediately see themselves as Tai Chi students.

In this episode, Megan sits down with Stephanie Mattiussi — dance scientist, educator, and head of dance science and health at London Contemporary Dance School — for a conversation that feels both personal and deeply professional. Stephanie traces her journey from early ballet and tap training through to discovering dance science at university, sharing how combining her love of movement with her curiosity for science opened up a whole new path. Recording just ten days before her due date, she also reflects openly on how her movement practice has shifted during pregnancy, bringing a refreshing honesty to what it means to listen to your body in different seasons of life.Together, Megan and Stephanie explore what a truly holistic approach to movement and health looks like — both for the students Stephanie supports and for herself. They discuss the balance between conditioning and caring for the body, the importance of treating people as humans first, and how community and connection can transform the way we relate to physical practice. Stephanie also shares her strategies for staying grounded when energy is low, reminding us that rest and boundaries are just as much a part of a healthy practice as movement itself.

In this episode, Megan sits down with Paula Nacif — massage therapist, herbalist, and naturopath — to talk about her journey from the arts world into holistic health. Paula opens up honestly about how her own movement practice took a back seat when she opened her studio, and shares her philosophy that well-being doesn't need to be restrictive or overwhelming — it can start with something as simple as a breath. She also reflects on how her background in ballet and working with dancers shaped the way she thinks about body care and longevity in physical careers.Paula walks us through her daily rhythm as a practitioner, from limiting herself to four clients a day to weaving in morning walks and quiet time with nature. She shares the story of a pilgrimage she took with her mother along the Camino de Santiago, and how that journey taught her to slow down and let go of self-limiting beliefs. At the heart of it all, Paula's message is about helping people find wholeness — in their bodies, their routines, and their lives.

If you're new here, start with this one.Conversations for the Moving Self is a podcast and community for movement and wellbeing practitioners navigating what it really means to build a sustainable life in this career. In this intro episode, host Megan shares why she created this space, what you can expect, and where she's at right now — because she's not coming to you from the other side of it. She's in it too.You're not alone in this. Welcome.

Our host, Megan Bader, jumps on a special bonus episode today to answer some of the questions she normally asks her guests as well as unpacks overcoming injury and how it can shape your journey as a movement artist, and does not have to be the end of the story.

In this episode, Megan sits down with NYC-based dancer, choreographer, educator, and producer Emily Bufferd for a wide-ranging conversation on dance education, artistic practice, and the realities of sustaining a life in the field.Together they explore the relationship between teaching and performing, the importance of practicing what we ask of our students, and how curiosity and explanation can deepen the learning process. Emily shares insights from her work with dancers of all ages, discussing the value of offering students the “why” behind movement and creating environments where dancers feel safe enough to ask questions, take risks, and explore their artistry.They also reflect on the evolving landscape of dance education - from balancing high standards with thoughtful support, to navigating the pressures of competition culture, to adapting teaching practices as our understanding of the body continues to grow. Throughout the conversation, both Megan and Emily return to a shared belief: that dance spaces should center respect, humanity, and curiosity just as much as technique.

In this episode, Megan welcomed American professional dancer and movement educator Kelly Lynch to discuss her journey in dance and her approach to teaching and recovery. Kelly shared her experiences transitioning from a classical ballet background to exploring modern dance and performance art, including her time with companies like Streb Extreme Action and her work as a health coach. They discussed the importance of curiosity, self-care, and listening to one's body in dance and movement practices. Kelly emphasized the need for dancers to challenge their instincts and make choices that align with their personal goals and well-being.The conversation also explored autonomy within structured training environments, the perception of discipline in ballet, and how teachers can balance technical rigor with emotional expression and anatomical awareness. Kelly spoke about supporting dancers through mental health challenges, cyclic hormonal changes, and injury recovery, offering practical strategies that foster resilience and longevity. Together, they reflected on balancing high-level training with genuine care, and the importance of creating adaptable, supportive spaces where dancers can thrive — both in the studio and beyond it.

In this episode, Megan sits down with Shelley Kyne, British movement and wellbeing practitioner, former professional dancer, personal trainer and Level 5 sports massage therapist, for an open and honest conversation about sustaining a life in movement.Together, they reflect on Shelley’s journey from a 15-year professional dance career into personal training and massage therapy, and how her relationship with movement has evolved as it shifted from passion to profession. They speak about returning to fast-paced environments like London, the challenges of maintaining self-care in demanding industries, and the importance of creating small, achievable rituals — like short morning movement practices — to stay connected to the body.The conversation explores the contrast between the perfectionism often ingrained in dance and the adaptability and softness found in practices like yoga, alongside a deeper look into the realities of sports massage, building trust with clients, and working holistically with performers and athletes. Shelley shares insight into balancing freelance life with motherhood, and how movement can become a powerful tool for resilience, autonomy, and emotional wellbeing — especially for children growing up in a comparison-driven world.This episode is a grounded, thoughtful reflection on self-care beyond the surface — for performers, practitioners, parents, and anyone navigating high-performance spaces while trying to stay human.

In this episode, Megan is joined by Ricardo, a professional dancer and creative working across stage, film and commercial performance, for an honest conversation about sustainability, authenticity and care within a demanding freelance dance career.Ricardo shares his journey into dance, from early training and time on the Centre of Advanced Training Programme at The Place to performing in Wicked and creating his own short dance film, Shattering Conceptions. Together, they explore what it means to stay connected to joy and self-expression in an industry that often prioritises output, speed and visibility.The conversation moves through themes of self-care and mental health, including journaling, therapy, emotional regulation and taking intentional breaks to prevent burnout. Megan and Ricardo reflect on empathy in creative work, the pressure to prioritise others, and how sustainable practices can look different across seasons of life.They also discuss navigating freelance structures — finding the right agent, managing multiple projects, and building supportive professional relationships — alongside broader reflections on the commercialization of dance and the importance of returning to its roots.Throughout the episode, Ricardo speaks candidly about vulnerability, resilience and showing up authentically, offering a reminder that longevity in dance is built not just on discipline, but on care, presence and honesty.

In this episode, Megan is joined by Alethia, a British Caribbean choreographer, performer, teacher and researcher based in the UK, for a wide-ranging conversation on sustainability, authorship and care within contemporary dance practice.Together, they reflect on their respective journeys into movement, from early training to their current work across choreography, teaching and research. The conversation moves through questions of balance — between rigor and rest, planning and intuition, holding space for others while tending to one’s own capacity — particularly within freelance life.Alethia shares candidly about navigating burnout, energy management, and how living with ME has reshaped the way they approach creation, rehearsal structures and long-term projects. Megan and Alethia also explore dancer empowerment in the studio, the value of trust and risk-taking in process, and the often unseen labour behind choreography.The episode closes with reflections on inhabiting dual identities as choreographer and performer, the grief and growth that come with changing physical capacities, and a shared call for greater accessibility and inclusivity within dance spaces and theatres.

In this episode, Megan is joined by Rose, a Dutch–Senegalese independent dance artist based in London, for a rich conversation on training, creativity, and navigating constant change as a freelance artist.Rose shares how practices such as Kalaripayattu and other movement forms have shaped her relationship to discipline, devotion, and artistic freedom, and how she balances rigorous technique with poetic expression. Together, they explore routines and solitude as anchors while touring, the dialogue between training and creativity, and how cultural exchange, risk-taking, and embodied presence continue to inform Rose’s evolving practice as a performer, choreographer, and teacher.

In this episode, our host Megan, is joined by Megan Castro, a freelance dancer originally from South Carolina and currently based in Utah. Megan shares an intimate reflection on improvisation as both a creative practice and a way of listening to the body through sharing insight into a daily movement journal practice that she began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Together they explore how the practice has evolved into a personal archive that continues to shape her relationship to dance, documentation, and self-trust. The conversation explores authenticity in movement, navigating time constraints in choreographic processes, and using improvisation as a tool for stripping away habit and expectation. They also explore the difference between letting the people involved shape the work and adhering to strict choreographic structures that may reduce individual expression.Megan discusses how sharing her personal movement journal practice on social media has informed her approach to the platform as a reflective space, and how this connects to cultivating a more sustainable relationship with the body as an artist.

In this episode, Megan is joined by dear friend Emma Poyer, a Réunionese multidisciplinary dance performer and choreographer based in the UK. Emma’s practice weaves contemporary dance, ballet, global forms, improvisation, ritual, and storytelling, drawing from her multicultural roots and a deep commitment to co-creation, collective rhythm, and embodied leadership.Together, they explore what it means to freelance sustainably while navigating constant shifts in work and location, and what Emma is learning along the way. The conversation also unpacks identity in and out of the studio, the value of leaving things open to be discovered, and reflections on teaching practice—touching on seasons of learning, unlearning, and ongoing transformation.

In this episode, Megan is joined by contemporary dance artist and choreographer JJ for a reflective conversation on queerness, care, and making work within systems that often resist softness. Beginning with a gentle catch-up, they speak about daily rituals, studio time, and the small structures that help sustain a freelance artistic life.JJ shares the ideas behind Copters and Hearses, a work that sits inside the tension between self-care and capitalism. Together, they explore how care becomes commodified, how movement and cultural practices are taken up and discarded, and how artists are asked to continually optimize themselves in the name of wellness.The conversation turns toward the studio, where JJ reflects on trust, honesty, and genuine connection in collaboration — leading without certainty, caring without performance, and creating spaces that feel both held and open. The episode closes with JJ sharing their upcoming performance at the Resolution Festival, grounding these questions in embodied, lived practice.

In this episode, Megan is joined by Irish theatre maker Kevin Keough for a thoughtful conversation on movement, sustainability, and care across an artist’s career. Speaking from a period of creative dormancy after completing a three-year project, Kevin reflects on rest as an active and necessary part of artistic practice, sharing how slowing down and engaging in quieter, hands-on projects has helped him recover from burnout.Together, they trace Kevin’s journey into theatre — from a formative early experience of live performance to training as an actor and evolving into a theatre maker and director. Kevin discusses his commitment to making theatre more accessible, questioning traditional hierarchies while also acknowledging the role of structure, leadership, and discipline in collaborative creative processes.The conversation expands into the realities of freelance artistic life: funding pressures, collaboration, emotional labor, and the often unseen movement involved in planning, administration, and sustaining a body and mind under long-term creative stress. Megan and Kevin explore how care, listening, and adaptability are essential tools for maintaining longevity and integrity in creative work.

Episode 11 Summary — Season One ReflectionIn this solo reflection episode, Megan takes a moment to pause and look back on the conversations, themes, and questions that shaped Season One of CMS. She reflects on what emerged across the ten episodes — love as a creative practice, the value of presence and listening, and the courage it takes to stay connected to why we create. Megan shares how hosting these conversations has influenced her own relationship to movement, collaboration, and artistic integrity. The episode serves as a gentle closing to Season One and an invitation to carry these reflections forward into future practice.

In Episode 10, Megan speaks with Jiwon Oh, a Korean dance and multidisciplinary artist based in London, about how love, care, and human connection shape her creative practice, from self-filming in the studio to collaborating tenderly with her grandmother. They explore how Gaga opened a new sense of freedom for both of them, shifting their relationship with movement from discipline and expectation toward curiosity, joy, and self-permission. Jiwon shares about her choreographic and creation process, touching on how working across Korean and English helps her create atmospheres rooted in feeling, and how prioritizing people over product has become central to her choreography. Together, they trace her journey into dance and the ways love — for movement, for collaborators, and for the process itself — continues to guide her artistic path.

In this episode of Conversations for the Moving Self, Megan is joined by Laura, a dance artist, teacher, and Pilates instructor whose movement journey has stretched across dance, gymnastics, football, netball, running, and more.Together they trace how those early, wide-ranging experiences have shaped the way Laura moves and teaches today — a practice now rooted in dance, Pilates, and cross-training, guided by curiosity and sustainability. She shares her transition from performer to teacher, and how her work with both children and adults with disabilities continues to shape her inclusive approach to movement spaces.Megan and Laura explore the balance between structure and creativity in teaching, the evolution of language in dance education, and how returning to familiar practices can reconnect us to joy. Laura also introduces her current “jeffing” running practice — a rhythm of running and resting that invites a kinder, more embodied relationship with endurance.Throughout, they reflect on how teaching movement can be both creative and healing — a space to meet the body, and each other, with care.

In this episode of Conversations for the Moving Self, Megan and Summer Jupp - yoga teacher, yoga teacher trainer, cycle-conscious coach, and co-founder of Arkspace Wellbeing - explore the tenderness and honesty of practicing through injury, and how slowing down can deepen self-compassion. Together, they reflect on the quiet pressure to “perform wellness,” and the relief that comes when movement becomes about care instead of perfection. They also speak about the emotional steadiness movement can offer in difficult seasons and the many valid entry points into practice, no matter someone’s age, history, or ability. Through Summer’s story, the episode touches on healing old narratives around body image and learning to inhabit the body with warmth instead of judgment. This conversation is a gentle reminder that softness, adaptation, and kindness toward ourselves are forms of strength worth honoring.

In this episode, Megan is joined by Anna, whose movement journey has carried her from ballet and hip-hop to choreography, yoga, and long-distance walking. Now based in Montreal, she weaves together life as a dancer, studio owner, and single mother of three, grounding her creative practice in daily rituals of yoga, meditation, and care.Together they trace how travel, performance, and a powerful solidarity walk across Europe reshaped her understanding of movement as both community and purpose. Their conversation drifts through the meeting place between discipline and tenderness, the conversation between yoga and dance, and the ways the body remembers what words cannot hold.The episode closes with a look into Anna’s current choreographic project — a work rooted in resistance, continuity, and the quiet courage of moving through the world with presence.https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-feed-the-remaining-families-of-gaza-today?fbclid=PAb21jcANm7zlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp4cF3YBIoEwQguZ3FnSVwk_XUCOoLTkmRLtG5lMRMfHsfiCybxWoaZ3p_dGT_aem_jmZv-JZ6AuWdtlMbXjdhWwhttps://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/action-against-hunger-canada/p2p/p2p/page/feed-the-orphans-of-north-gaz?fbclid=PAb21jcANm72RleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp1PbiZOQRA7z3qEbJfbpSNy3p4uTeciO0Ic4SnqOIUbxIoHuGPwwgqacnCnu_aem_5ZB61UcMUMUgZMAMfspG1w

In this episode, Megan speaks with Tina Afiyan Breiova, an Armenian and Czech movement director, performer, and educator, about evolving her practice toward sustainability and balance. Tina shares how her “Axis of Action” approach emerged from a need to maintain physical and mental well-being during the demands of immersive performance work. She describes shifting from large, structured practices to smaller, consistent routines grounded in mindfulness and efficiency.They explore the art of teaching and facilitation—how integrity, trust, and care form the foundation of Tina’s spaces, and how challenge can coexist with compassion. The conversation also touches on the realities of sustaining a movement practice while traveling, the importance of in-person connection, and Tina’s upcoming transition from China to London, where new creative chapters await.

In this episode, Megan and Mak reflect on the challenges of maintaining a consistent movement and well-being practice while moving frequently between locations. They discuss the balance between routine and spontaneity, and how adapting to new living and working environments can shape creative practice.The conversation expands into the dance industry—balancing technical skill with personal expression, navigating comparison, and embracing both the motivation and the pitfalls it can bring. Mak shares his teaching philosophy of blending technique with passion and emphasizes the importance of valuing simplified or modified movements as equally rich.Together, they explore how embarrassment can become a tool for growth, and how embracing both “yes” and “no” can open pathways to personal and artistic development

Ella joins Megan to share her well-being practices, from recapitulation and journaling to the power of returning to a beginner’s mindset. They trace Ella’s movement journey—from discovering salsa at 14 to dancing professionally across salsa, samba, contemporary, circus, breakdance, and yoga—and her current studies in rolfing, exploring the connection between movement and emotional release.Together, they reflect on creating spaces for growth and creativity, balancing technique with expression, and the importance of listening to the body. The conversation closes on finding harmony between structured training and personal well-being.

In this episode, Megan and Steffi dive into the adaptability required in a freelance career and how creative work shifts alongside personal needs. Steffi shares about a design project she’s working on and reflects on the ways different outlets—movement, martial arts, cross-training, and personal practice—bring balance and perspective to her freelance life.She also opens up about her strategies for navigating off periods, from keeping a visual diary to booking regular studio sessions and building a catalog of practice to draw from. Together, they explore the challenge of sustaining creative momentum and finding grounding practices amidst the unpredictability of freelance work.

In Episode 2 of Conversations for the Moving Self, I’m joined by my childhood dance best friend, Stazia Ritch. We begin by reflecting on our friendship—how it’s grown across distance and through the many chapters of life.From there, our conversation moves into the dance between teaching and personal practice: how they intertwine, support each other, and yet remain distinctly separate. We also explore how stepping more fully into being human can deepen and sustain a creative career. Along the way, we talk about finding work–life balance, the ways the body carries memory, and much more.

In this episode of Conversations for the Moving Self, I’m joined by my close friend Charmaine Hiller. Charmaine is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice weaves together movement, dance, film, photography, visual art, and poetry. Her work is rooted in curiosity about the human condition and in creating spaces where people can connect, explore, and share vulnerability through art.We reconnect over our time studying together and open up about the realities of navigating freelance movement and creative careers. Our conversation touches on what it means to prioritise wellbeing while sustaining creativity, and how connection keeps us grounded along the way.