Methodology
How the pieces fit—and why they work
1) Modern Martial Arts, Reoriented: From Fighting to Flourishing
I use modern martial-arts–inspired patterns (breath, posture, balance, timing) not to prepare you for a ring, but to teach the nervous system steadiness. We strip out contest and impact; what remains is embodied attention under mild pressure—an honest laboratory for composure, focus, and choice. Research on martial arts and “mindful movement” points to gains in self-regulation and mental health when training emphasises control over contact.
What this means for you: less bracing as default, more space between trigger and response, and strength you can carry into ordinary life.
2) Mindfulness in Action (Embodied)
My doctoral work sits here: attention trained in motion. Instead of only sitting still, we practice noticing breath, gaze, and ground while moving—so calm and clarity show up when it counts. Two lines of evidence support this:
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Slow, paced breathing (around 4.5–6.5 breaths/min) improves vagal tone/HRV and down-shifts arousal.
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Interoceptive skills (feeling internal signals) are tied to better emotion regulation. Mindfulness programs overall show moderate reductions in stress, anxiety and depression; we translate those gains into on-your-feet skills.
What this means for you: a reliable “down-shift” you can trigger, steadier attention under load, and emotional regulation that’s felt—not just understood.
3) Nature Connectedness
The Isle of Man co-teaches this work. Time in nature restores directed attention (Attention Restoration Theory) and lowers rumination; light green exercise boosts mood. Multi-study analyses suggest even short bouts of activity in nature improve mood and self-esteem, with outsized returns for small doses.
What this means for you: clearer headspace, improved mood, and a practical way to reset—walks you can replicate at home.
4) Philosophical Health & the SMILE_PH Method
We map your philosophical health (how your sense of self, belonging, purpose, possibility, body-sense, and overall meaning cohere) using Dr. Luis de Miranda’s SMILE_PH—a semi-structured, conversational method designed for precisely this. It’s a fit for in-person intensives because place and embodiment deepen the sense-making.
Early applications (e.g., with complex life changes) show promise as a humane complement to psychological care—aimed at coherence, not diagnosis.
What this means for you: a one-line purpose you believe, language for what matters, and choices that line up with your values.
5) Lived Philosophy (Coaching Philosophia)
This is philosophy you can walk with: clarifying assumptions, testing ideas against experience, and turning insight into practice. It’s not psychotherapy; it’s structured meaning-work with clear scope and ethics, drawing on established philosophical-practice bodies.
Preliminary studies of philosophical counselling modalities report feasible benefits (e.g., clearer reasoning, purpose, resilience); evidence is emerging, and we keep it within its lane.
What this means for you: cleaner thinking, better decisions, and a way to live your values under everyday pressure.
6) Micro-Rituals & Behavioural Design (Transfer & Integration)
Aha moments fade; tiny, consistent and repeatable actions don’t. We turn what you discover into micro-rituals you can do on a tired Tuesday: habit-stacking (attach a practice to something you already do), “if-then” plans for pressure moments (if X triggers, then I do Y), and simple environment tweaks that lower friction and raise follow-through. Weekly experiments keep it adaptive rather than perfectionist.
What this means for you: you don’t just understand calm and purpose—you enact them. Less white-knuckling, more automatic steadiness in everyday life.