#101: Movement as Meditation - George Thompson

#101: Movement as Meditation - George Thompson

Author: FitMind: Neuroscience, Meditation & Mental Fitness Training April 16, 2025 Duration: 1:23:10

Tai Chi master and filmmaker George Thompson shares how movement became a form of meditation and a path to healing.

From training with a Taoist monk in the mountains to recovering from a knee injury using only internal awareness, George explores how mindful movement can transform our thoughts, breath, and daily lives. 

We discuss:

  • How Tai Chi helped him heal chronic pain
  • Breath and body awareness as daily meditation 
  • Taoist perspectives on the universe and emptiness
  • Internal Family Systems and labeling your inner "parts"
  • Why facing life's challenges with integrity is the real practice

 

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind

Website: www.fitmind.org

 

Show Notes

0:00 | Intro to George Thompson

9:58 | Meeting Master Gu

12:56 | Tai Chi Training

15:45 | Healing Knee Pain

20:12 | Breath Awareness Exercise

22:09 | How Taichi Transforms Thought

29:40 | Emptiness Described

34:10 | Taoist Origin Story of the Universe

38:26 | Patterns

41:55 | Daily Practices

47:58 Breathwork Practices

50:04 | Applying Daily Mindfulness

56:10 | Internal Family Systems - Labeling Parts

57:47 | Documentary Message & Inspiration

1:01:02 | Consciousness

1:10:00 | Facing Challenges

1:15:33 | Life of Service & Integrity

1:21:25 | Where to Find More on George

🎥 Watch George's documentary "The Subtle Art of Losing Yourself" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KArWcMldPM

🌿 Learn more about George's retreats and teachings: https://www.balanceispossible.com/ & https://www.taoistwellness.online/

 


What if the most impactful training you could do wasn't for your body, but for your mind? The FitMind Podcast: Mental Fitness, Neuroscience & Psychology explores that very idea, moving beyond simple self-help to examine the tangible science behind cognitive well-being. Host Liam McClintock, founder of FitMind, sits down with an eclectic mix of world-class experts-neuroscientists mapping the brain's pathways, psychologists unpacking behavioral patterns, Buddhist monks with millennia of contemplative wisdom, and elite athletes who apply mental discipline at the highest levels. Their conversations delve into practical applications of mindfulness meditation, the principles of Stoicism, emerging brain technologies, and the pursuit of sustainable productivity and happiness. This isn't just theoretical discussion; it's a deep dive into actionable strategies, grounded in research, aimed at strengthening your mental resilience. Each episode serves as a session for your cognitive toolkit, reflecting the core belief that understanding and training the mind is our most vital frontier. Tune in to this podcast for a thoughtful, evidence-based guide to building a healthier, more focused, and resilient inner life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The FitMind Podcast: Mental Fitness, Neuroscience & Psychology
Podcast Episodes
#110: Rites of Passage & the Wisdom in Collapse - Linda Thai [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:48
Rites of Passage & the Wisdom in Collapse explores how personal crisis can function as initiation, drawing on contemplative practice, psychology, and wisdom traditions to explain why avoiding discomfort often deepens suf…
#109: The Science of Letting Go - Shawn Prest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:03
The Science of Letting Go explores how meditation works in the brain, drawing on neuroscience, predictive processing, and contemplative science to explain how letting go reduces stress, softens self-related thinking, and…
#108: The Ethics of Meditation - Nicholas Van Dam, PhD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:46:28
Clinical psychologist and contemplative science researcher Dr. Nicholas Van Dam joins us to explore the ethics of meditation and what scientific research reveals about how contemplative practices actually work. He examin…
#107: The Science of Human Connection - Dr. Tania Singer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:32
Social neuroscientist Dr. Tania Singer joins us to explore the science of empathy, compassion, and the plasticity of the social brain. She breaks down why empathy and compassion are entirely different neural states, what…
#105: Freediving & Mental Mastery - Will Trubridge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:55
World champion freediver Will Trubridge explores the depths of the mind and ocean, sharing mental techniques honed through decades of extreme performance. In this episode, he explains how breathwork, mindfulness, and wha…
#104: Intelligence Beyond the Brain - Nikolay Kukushkin, PhD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:14
Can cells outside the brain learn, remember, and make decisions? In this episode, neuroscientist Dr. Nikolay Kukushkin shares groundbreaking research that shows even non-neuronal cells can recognize patterns, count, and…
#103: The Divided Brain, Attention & Meaning - Iain McGilchrist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:48:26
Dr. Iain McGilchrist, a psychiatrist, philosopher, and author, joins the FitMind Podcast to explain how the brain's two hemispheres shape our perception, attention, and consciousness. He explores how the left brain's dom…