Channel 1
What does "Channel 1" stand for?
"Channel 1" is a term my partner Stefan Hellström has used in his dog courses, and it just stuck with me. It became the motto for everything we do at our farm.
To be "on Channel 1" means to be tuned into the frequency of CLARITY and CONNECTION. In Stefan's context, dog and dog owner are on the same wavelength, the dog is in contact and ready to cooperate.
The ability to be on Channel 1, though, begins with our ability to connect to ourselves, our BODY. To be deeply at home in our own body – EMBODIED – is the pre-condition to connect with the world around us and to be clear on what we want, how we want it, and how we can get there.
"Channel 1" is a commitment to support aliveness
At the core of the "Channel 1" philosophy is a deep commitment to fostering aliveness - the free flow of life energy. We care about humans and nature and constructive co-existence. We are in service of planetary care through our work with people, animals and biodiversity projects (like the wetland Stefan has built, which you can see in the picture to the right).
It is so easy to shut ourselves off from our sensing bodies and escape into the head or the virtual spaces of phones and computers. Disconnection - from ourselves, others, nature – always goes hand in hand with disembodiment. If we cannot feel ourselves, we can't feel others, either. That's why we create experiences that restore connection and help people get clear on what they truly value most, how they want to show up in the world, and what kinds of relationships they want to cultivate - with themselves, others and the living world.
What has led me here?
I'm curious, I like learning, I like to help people (and animals ;)) and I love to move. I can't see the world through one lens only, and trying to figure out how things connect has always been one of my main drivers.
As a game designer (and Professor), I design systems. I have a keen sense for how system elements hang together (and the rules that govern those interactions) and what they produce as system outcomes. That's a very useful lens to bring to coaching. E.g. I might ask you "what game are you currently be winning at?" We always win at something - it may just not be what we want to be winning at...
For the last 17 years, I've explored the connection between physical and intangible experiences, mostly because my research was around how we can make games about the human experience. Emotions, for example, are intangible. We cannot touch them directly. To describe and understand intangible experiences, we use metaphors. Metaphors make abstract things concrete by grounding them in something physical. Metaphors shape our mind and create our reality. That's cool, because it's a two-way street. New, physical practices impact our mind and can change our inner metaphors!
MOVEMENT = METAPHOR
I had a solid Yoga practice for a while, and made a game for Xbox Kinect called "Zombie Yoga", where you do Yoga poses to fight Zombies that are metaphorical representations of Inner Fears. Yes, I know, right??
I started running to move myself out of depression when i was a post doc at MIT (it actually worked, lucky me!). Eight years ago, when I felt out of control and frustrated because the University Gods were debating about my fate, I discovered CrossFit. It kicked my ass (and tore my hands), but it also gave me a sense of agency and something concrete to DO, while others figured out if they wanted me to step into a leadership position or not. When they finally asked me, I turned them down. I had a different path to walk. Never looked back. :)