Join Ailey Jolie and Andrea Juhan, psychotherapist, embodiment teacher, and co-founder of Open Floor International, on this expansive episode of In This Body. Together, they explore the healing potential of movement, not as performance, but as presence. Andrea shares her journey from Esalen bodyworker to somatic psychotherapist, weaving a life devoted to understanding how the body stores story, spirit, and self. The conversation traces the lineage of movement-based therapies, the relational field of embodiment, and the wild intelligence of the body as teacher. Andrea invites us to consider what it means to feel and deal—with fewer defenses and more receptivity. This is a dialogue for anyone craving a deeper relationship with their body, their longing, and their own unfolding truth.

‍

In this episode:

• 02:05 – Understanding Being in Your Body
• 03:32 – The Journey of Movement and Psychology
• 06:07 – Dance Movement Therapy: A Healing Approach
• 09:51 – Movement as Healing vs. Performance
• 11:50 – Collective Stories in the Body
• 15:46 – Gabrielle Roth and the Five Rhythms
• 27:32 – Exploring the Relational Body
• 31:43 – The Essence of Open Floor Movement
• 35:11 – Spirituality and Movement
• 41:42 – Evolution of Embodiment Practices

‍

In This Body is a podcast dedicated to providing thoughtful dialogue to demystify the unseen influence of the unconscious in your life. Through consciously curated conversations with leading experts from across the globe, we’ll uncover the silent stories woven into the fabric of our lives, unlocking the door to genuine change and deeper authenticity. Everything your mind has not processed lives inside your body. Everything your mind has not processed will rule your life until it is revealed. Repeating patterns isn’t fate. You are not destined to live the same life as your parents or keep dating the same type of people. In This Body will support you to bring more awareness to the wisdom that is within your very own skin.

In this conversation with Sam Stern, Andrea shares her experiences from those formative years at Esalen — how the dynamic and expressive environment fostered her deep interest in the embodied movement practices that would define her career. She reflects on the support of pivotal figures like Janet Lederman, Dick Price, Chris Price, Dean Juhan, Gabrielle Roth, her father, Dr. Jack Rosenberg, and the Esalen massage crew of the 1980's. We also get into catharsis, trauma, holotropic breathwork, Open Seats, the original encounter groups, the genesis of Open Floor, and much more.

‍

Join us as we delve into a thoughtful discussion on the healing powers of movement and the continuous journey of self-discovery.