Today, Victoria sits down with Yana, behavioural scientist and founder of the Body-Mind Method, for a deep conversation exploring the connection between movement, the nervous system, stress, behaviour, and what it means to become more present in our own bodies. Drawing from her background in behavioural science, neuroscience, somatic practices, and nearly a decade of research, Yana shares how movement can be used as a tool to regulate our cognitive, emotional, and physical states. She explains why the body can be a powerful gateway to the nervous system, how stress influences our behaviour, and why developing greater awareness of our internal state can give us more agency over how we respond to life. Together, Victoria and Yana explore the three protocols behind the Body-Mind Method – Focus, Adapt, and Relax, and how simple movement sequences can support focus, cognitive flexibility, relaxation, and a deeper awareness of tension held within the body. They also discuss how our relationships and environment can influence our habits, why chronic stress can make unhealthy behaviours more likely, and how uncertainty and our desire for freedom can shape the decisions we make. Yana opens up about her own journey, from growing up in Siberia and experiencing anxiety from childhood, to discovering movement, developing her methodology, and eventually finding a sense of presence and relaxation that she had never experienced before. In this conversation, you'll learn: How Movement Can Regulate Your Nervous SystemWhy Your Body Can Be a Gateway to Your MindHow to Improve Focus Through MovementWhy Cognitive Flexibility Matters in a Rapidly Changing WorldHow to Recognise and Release Hidden TensionThe Connection Between Stress, Behaviour, and Unhealthy HabitsHow Your Relationships Can Influence Your Physical ActivityWhy Body Awareness Can Increase Your Sense of AgencyHow Movement Can Help You Become More PresentThe Science Behind the Body-Mind MethodHow Dance, Martial Arts, and Somatic Practices Can Shape BehaviourWhy Movement Can Be a Powerful Tool for Self-RegulationHow Yana Overcame Years of Anxiety Through Her Own PracticeWhy Immediate Feedback Can Help Us Build Healthier HabitsThe Importance of Caring for Yourself and Staying Connected to Your BodyYana's Vision for the Future of Movement-Based Research At a time when so much of modern life happens inside our minds, this conversation is a reminder that we are not just thoughts, emotions, or ideas. Our bodies are constantly communicating with us. Learning to listen to that communication may be one of the most powerful ways to understand ourselves, regulate our states, and live with greater presence. Because sometimes, the path back to ourselves begins with simply moving.
