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In this episode of Restorative Talks on how to live your best life, Micah sits down with Noel Ford, CEO of Versus, a mobile, dry sensor EEG headset system. Noel is also a consultant at Tailored Intentions, which is an opportunity for her to expand how she helps people. In the show they talk about how the Versus mobile EEG system uses principles of neuroscience to help the user’s brain learn new skills. They cover many other topics on Neurofeedback, building awareness, healthy choices and more. Show Notes Versus She started as a research assistant and worked her way to leading the company as CEO Micah says “if you're not testing you are guessing” Versus is built to be an out of the box assessment Neurofeedback The concept of neurofeedback is measuring brain activity The Versus uses a process called operant conditioning, the concept of what you get rewarded for you will be more likely to continue It simultaneously will notify the person through sound, of the state that their brain is in The Versus EEG headset down-regulates brain activity “The more that you practice, and the more instant feedback you have about how you're doing in that practice, the sooner you're going to see the effects of that practice” - Noel The Headset Micah says he likes the Versus device based simply on where the sensors are placed The headset has 19 channel QEEGs, 19 placements on the scalp They looked at the protocols that they recommend to clients based on what they were finding in sessions They took that info and reduced the sensor sites down to 5 main sensors, making the device easy to use from home “The stories that you tell yourself throughout the day, really truly matter” - Noel Our thoughts impact our physiology A device like the Versus headset is a great way to build awareness Food Choices Eat the things that are going to make your body feel good Cheeses in general are inflammatory foods, so yes, they may make you feel inflamed Links Tailored Intentions Website Versus Website About Noel Ford In Noel’s “day job” she gets to lead a company that is trying to bring the power of the brain to people everywhere (getversus.com). As if that was fun enough, she also helps people through traditional neurofeedback and biofeedback at SCNM (scnm.edu). She supports the development of her field by working with students/professionals seeking mentorship for certification with BCIA (bcia.org). She believes in the power of education and the use of physiological measurement to enhance people’s lives. This past year, her friends and colleagues Dan and Pam Williams gave her an amazing opportunity: a formal way to help more, more quickly through health coaching. She can now reach way more people than she could in a clinic alone and results happen fast, so client motivation stays high! Compliance is the number one challenge for any intervention (pharmaceuticals, behavior modification, cognitive approaches, etc...). Noel is a huge advocate of mindfulness and Motivational Interviewing style of communication. She has always believed that everyone has a story, everyone has their own challenges and ambitions. This is what drew her to psychology. Health coaching is an amazing opportunity to both listen and actively help people.

In this episode of Restorative Talks on how to live your best life, Micah sits down with Pierre Bouchard. In the show they talk about how to embody self and self actualization. Pierre and Micah discuss different exercises on practicing awareness, how to self actualize, paying attention to feelings that arise in our moments of reaction, and where our reactions stem from. Show Notes Reactions “What we don't know about ourselves ends up running our lives” - Pierre We have to look at the places in our lives that are causing a reaction in us Most of our reactions are caused by an emotional and nervous system signature that are set up within us since we were 4 years old There are so many ways of healing our own psyche and nervous systems There is acting out (reacting toward a partner) and acting in (saying hateful things about yourself to yourself) The tightness in your stomach that you might feel arise when something triggers you, can act as a road back to childhood trauma, or whatever is at the root of the problem Awareness We are trained and conditioned to think of ourselves as a brain being carried around Pierre asks listeners to bring awareness away from your head and your eyes, and bringing your sight to your feet Most of the time, our sense of awareness goes forward Pierre says try the exercise of bringing awareness to the backside of you, back of your head, maybe your seat, behind you Whatever we focus on we get more of In these practices we are learning a stance of productivity The absence of sensation is a sensation There are some people that don't sense anything when other people may Micah says to be gentle with yourself when ‘numbing the thaw’ “Every moment you spend mindfully attending to a sensation, you are helping to neurally map it” - Pierre Final Thoughts As we start to tune in more into what is unfolding in our lives, we find out so much about what is good for us Links Website About Pierre Bouchard Pierre loves helping people live freer more passionate lives. He brings a love of attachment, interpersonal neurobiology, somatics and trauma theory to a deep study in Buddhist psychology and consciousness exploration through psychedelic psychotherapy. His work is grounded in a sense of humor, humility, and curiosity for the profundity and oddness of existence.

In this episode of Restorative Talks on how to live your best life, Micah sits down with Jeremy Jensen, speaker, entrepreneur and  mountain sports athlete. In the show, they talk about the  science of flow, lifestyle design, and action/adventure sports. Jeremy is the creator behind the Adventurepreneur Playbook Podcast, the Flow Performance Lab, and Outwild, a community resource for those looking to develop an adventure lifestyle. Show Notes Flow When Jeremy talks about flow, he tends to get into flow Feel your best, perform your best The model of flow triggers is helpful “The experience of flow is different for everyone, and the activities that get people into flow is different for everyone, but the biological triggers for flow are the same” - Jeremy The grey zone is where we are feeling overwhelmed and busy and not getting anything done Routine The precursors to flow are things like focus and having a good well being, such as sleep, exercise and nutrition, breathing and breathwork, etc Having these all dialed in can help a person get into flow state easily Micah and Jeremy both agree that flow is open source, it can work with walking your dog or taking out a slack-line to learn to master, it can work for everyone in any activity Process of Flow Struggle phase is the first phase Things like unpredictability and risk, all require a bit of struggle If you want to go for a run, you have to get off the couch, get your shoes on, get out the door, etc The second stage is the release, the brain is priming itself to start pumping itself to pump a cocktail of chemicals that allow for flow to happen Then, you hit the flow state itself The last stage is coming out of flow, the recovery phase You can't be in a flow state forever, you have to come out and recover The adjustments you can make are minimizing the struggle, and speeding up the recovery phase Tasks “Anything that takes less than 2 minutes to start, just do it” - Jeremy on the 2 minute rule You'll build the momentum to want to keep doing it, or you'll finish the task When you move from task to task you have something called ‘task residue’ If you think of a new task while in one, don't switch tasks, just write it down and get rid of the cognitive load Final thoughts Optimization can look like ‘I need to be performing optimally at every moment’, but Jeremy says follow the things that make you feel most alive because that's what life is all about Focus on the things that count Links Jeremy Jensen Website About Jeremy Jensen Jeremy Jensen is an entrepreneur, speaker, and mountain sports athlete - passionate about helping people lead authentic and intentional lives, rich with experiences that make them feel alive! His interests lie at the intersection of flow science, lifestyle design, and action/adventure sports. He is the creator of the Adventurepreneur Podcast, where he shares the stories of problem solvers, change makers, athletes, and outside the box thinkers - who have built their passion for adventure, travel, and the outdoors into businesses, projects, or fulfilling lifestyles. Jeremy is also the co-founder of Outwild, a community and event series that brings together outdoor and adventure-minded individuals to share ideas, optimize their lifestyles, create businesses, build meaningful connections, and play hard outside. His main priorities are to always be growing, helping other people, building and maintaining meaningful relationships, experiencing new things, and chasing flow states. Jeremy holds an MBA and MA in Social Entrepreneurship from the American University, a BA in Spanish from the University of Utah, and is a certified flow lecturer/coach - studying under the world’s foremost authority and thought leader on flow and optimal performance - Steven Kotler.

In this episode of Restorative Talks on how to live your best life, Micah sits down with Sam Peterson and Jeffrey Haughland, Co-Founders of Invictus Project. In the show they talk about the Invictus Project, a mission to empower veterans to live more fulfilled lives by treating the root causes of traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Show Notes About They both received traumatic blasts while serving terms as bomb technicians in Afghanistan When they got back they were told to get used to their new normal Their symptoms kept getting worse and they were only given more pills, which led them to become suicidal They started researching neurochemistry and neurobiology to find the root cause of their problems Their goal is to make these treatments the standard of care “The biggest problem in mental health is that nobody is examining the organ they treat prior to treating, they rely solely on patient reporting” - Jeffrey Self-Testing They used their own treatments and therapy model on themselves first They did Ketamine infusion therapy right at the start They used TBI Therapy They mention Wavi Med, a company that made a device they used to scan the brain They then used hyperbaric oxygen therapy They also used a nasal, stem cell platelet rich plasma and insulin regimen Jeff was tested before the stem cell treatment, and then tested again a month after Voltage output in the brain was increased by 30% Clarity, focus, emotional regulation were all improved What they are really trying to do is to bring quality of life to their patients Invictus Mission They are looking to have a giant health and wellness facility with Invictus in the back Healthy eating cafe, sensory deprivation float tanks, yoga facility The goal is to bring people in the door who have broken brains, fix their brains on a cellular level, get them back to a healthy baseline, and input them directly into programmatic lifestyle modifications and a community of people that are trying to create better versions of themselves Support They are always accepting donations 7 states have already approved hyperbaric use for veterans They recommend that if anyone is feeling suicidal, to check out the Ketamine Wellness Center in Littleton, CO Ketamine is the best method for treating suicidal ideation “We are truly a product out of our environment, and we can modify our environment. Our environment does not have to dictate how we feel” - Jeffrey Final Thoughts For anyone in that deep dark hole, there is hope, you're not alone “There is a light at the end of the tunnel, you just have to be willing to run toward it” - Sam Don't give up, never surrender Links Invictus Project About Sam Peterson Sam is a former US Army Bomb Technician who has served multiple tours in Afghanistan. He and Jeffery Haughland founded the Invictus Project in order to bring access to more effective care to patients suffering from mental illness. About Jeffrey Haughland Jeffrey is a former US Army Bomb Technician who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan and sustained multiple injuries in the line of duty. Jeff’s drive to help others suffering from traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress comes from his experiences as a patient.

In this episode, Micah sits down with Dr. Eryn Scott of Mountain River Naturopathic Clinic. In the show, they cover the foundational pillars of health, herbalism and more. Show Notes About Dr. Eryn Scott Eryn has a background from Bastyr in Seattle She lived in Seattle for school specifically She completed her undergraduate degree in Anthropology and worked for an herbalist She was a nanny and preschool teacher Both of her passions for naturopathy and kids came together and led her to pursue her Doctorate at Bastyr Foundations of Health Naturopathic doctors look at the person as a whole, they look at strengths and weaknesses Common things they look at are sleep patterns, diet and nutrition, the relationship to self, and relationship to community Sleep With sleep, the issues are either falling asleep and/or staying asleep Sleep patterns start with routine Its best to shut off the electronics, blue light inhibits melatonin production, the chemical cue that helps make our bodies tired Cortisol helps us wake up, melatonin helps us sleep Cortisol is the hormone that follows the sun Melatonin is opposite, it rises with the moon and falls with the rising of the sun Micah mentions that people justify not sleeping enough Eryn says that the pattern of sleep depends on age Babies will typically wake up every two hours of feeding, while the postpartum mother will need much more, but the advice for that mom is to stay in bed or relaxed while feeding Nutrition and Diet “I'm a big believer in that what we put into our bodies influences how our body functions, how we feel during the day, our energy levels, our digestion and more.” - Eryn If you can get kids to have fun in the kitchen with fruits and vegetables, they are more inclined to eat it Shop for a rainbow of whole foods, avoiding pre-packaged food Good foods helps our biochemistry in our body to perform functionally Avoiding meat and dairy (inflammatory foods) will help your performance But the key is to not beat yourself up if you eat a poor meal once and awhile Binge eating isn't talked about a lot, but it's common We binge, and then we feel guilt, and then we eat more to self-soothe Food matters both physically and psychologically What matters just as much as the food itself is our relationship to food Parents are the role model, they need to have the healthy foods available There are some kids that won't even tolerate a green food on their plate It's about starting small, maybe putting a bowl of broccoli on the table, but away from the child and not even mentioning it Eryn says she is a big proponent of gardens and getting children engaged in the process Microorganisms are new territory and how they impact our health, so eating variety of nutrient rich vegetables help with our overall health Eating bitter foods stimulates our intestines to help with digestion Chamomile is a common help for constipation Stress Being busy and stressed is really taxing on our nervous system Anxiety is important in helping us in danger, but in our society, we don't have many life threatening dangers, yet we still have anxiety, and herbs can help us with that Oatstraw, lemon balm, peppermint are all great herbs to help ease the nervous system Eryn mentions the Apothecary in Frisco, CO on main street that has pre-made tinctures But she mentions really looking at the person as a whole and all the weaknesses to make a well rounded tincture For those who are really stressed, Eryn likes to use a 5 senses exercise Look around the room (eyes), take in smells, touch things, etc. really get the mind on a new path of thought We have been using plant medicine for thousands of years, and it's still ingrained in us, we just have to take time to slow down and tap into the practice Final thoughts Be kind, be gentle Links Website About Dr. Eryn Scott Dr. Eryn Scott, ND is a naturopathic doctor committed to serving the diverse health needs of individuals, children and their families. She obtained her doctorate in naturopathic medicine from Bastyr University in Seattle, a four-year accredited integrative medical program and one of the nation’s leading naturopathic medical institutions. She then completed a two-year accredited residency at a pediatric and family medicine practice located outside of Seattle. There she collaborated with naturopathic doctors, midwives & lactation consultants, psychiatric nurse practitioners, acupuncturists and integrative mental health specialists in a primary care setting.

In this episode, Micah sits down with Joe Howdyshell, coach of Summit Endurance Academy. In the show, they talk about human peak performance, and creating habits and processes around values. Show Notes Habits Time is a crutch Most people waste a lot of time The average facebook user is on there for 2 hours a day Get the phone out of your bedroom, it should not be the first thing you waste time on in the morning Start habits that are less daunting Instead of starting with an hour run a day, start with 15 minutes a day We have 50,000 conscious choices to make a day “If we want to make the hard choice, we have to use willpower. Habits are choices we don't have to make anymore. We have to pick the kale over the donut so many times, that it no longer requires will power.” -Joe It's a lot easier to build on a habit than to create a new one Exercise  Exercise is damage, it's the breakdown of tissue and depletion of energy stores The body says “I don't want that to damage me” and so it gets stronger, that's how exercise works Joe says his job with athletes is helping them to be very mindful of their self talk, not being super hard on themselves when they did something wrong, and recognizing the things done right An athlete that doesn't know how to take a day break from exercise, is going to have a really hard time becoming ‘faster’ because speed requires heavy on some days and full ‘down’ days “The amount of training has more to do with where you are right now than where you want to be” - Joe 1 out of 100 people will make money being an athlete, so the question is, why do we do it? Is it about dominance? Health? Joe thinks it should be about bettering ourselves It's all about creating the correct self awareness You have to do it for the right reasons Values Joe says he likes to take athlete's 20 values, and narrow it down to 10, then to 5, then to 3 It's hard to put one value over another because they are all values, they are all good Sometimes we don't see our own faults like other people can see It's all about being extremely clear with our reflection and perception of ourselves Micah says he asks himself, “am I being consumptive or productive?” Screen Time It can be really bad for some people and really great for others For some, it's a distraction, for grandma, whose family lives all over the country, may use facebook as her only means to keep in touch with her family For a lot of people, it ends up being a distraction  Final Thoughts “Try it” - Joe He sees more people not meeting their goals because they didn't even start Links Website Email - joe@summitenduranceacademy.com Instagram About Joe Howdyshell Joe Howdyshell grew up in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming competing in cross country running, cross country skiing, and track. College found him at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he represented the Army Black Knights in cross country running, indoor track, and nordic skiing. It was here that he found his love for coaching. After leaving West Point to pursue athletic opportunities, he attended the University of Wyoming and graduated with an MS in Exercise Physiology in 2009. A professional coach since 2006, Joe founded the Summit Endurance Academy in 2013 to facilitate athletic achievement in the Colorado High Country. Joe currently lives in Breckenridge, CO, coaches full time, and enjoys crushing mountain races in jorts.

In this episode, Micah sits down with biomechanics specialist and Co-founder of Rad Roller, Mike Mallory. In the show, they talk about Rad Roller and proper recovery techniques. Show Notes Roller History Mike used to work in the clinical environment Foam rollers and tools are over 30 years old, and patients have been using them since the 1800’s The revival of the foam roller happened about 15 years ago based on technology and knowledge of the body’s anatomy Proper Recovery Stretching, rolling and recovering is important We live in a culture of bigger, faster, stronger Less is more at Rad Roller When you look at how tissues slide and glide over each other, what they are doing, and how the nervous system responds, they are all important aspects when looking at properly rolling “There is a difference between functional and optimal” - Mike “We should be the experts of our own body.” - Mike People always ask Mike 'what's the best option, what does science say?' and Mike answers 'we have to find what’s best for you.' Micah says he leans far in not using metrics when he trains, and listens to his body somatically, and other times he is strictly on the quantitative side, it's all about finding that balance Rad Roller Rad Roller offers online mobility courses Mike says that for someone who has no prior knowledge or experience, they would be able to understand 75% of the material Its for everyday people as well as coaches and trainers What the rollers do, is work with the nervous system to signal change and healing to happen The rollers promote movement of fluid, but they are also tactical and physically change the shape of your body Recovery Sleep is a passive form of recovery Even just doing housework, if you're not an extreme athlete, rolling can help There is the neurological window, an opening to make change If you roll out your leg, it's not making just physical change, its changing the nervous system The number one stage that most people skip in a workout, is the recovery stage When we become stressed, sometimes it takes a quick 20 minute bike ride to let go of everything and focus at the task at hand more efficiently Micah says that stress is not a bad thing, but we have to be mindful of when it's helpful and when its harmful Links Website Instagram About Mike Mallory and Rad Roller Developed by biomechanics authority Mike Mallory and professional triathlete Dan McIntosh, the RAD Roller comes from a place of true purpose. Simply put, our two founders saw a void, and they filled it. Thoughtfully too. Until the creation of the RAD Roller, no massage tool could create such remarkable muscular mobilization without putting damaging and painful pressure on the bones in the neck and back. This patent-pending design soon expanded to include three different densities, and before long, its success spurred the invention of an entire series of RAD mobility products. RAD is, quite literally, inspired by human movement, and people of all walks of life now use our tools to create relief in nearly every muscle of the body.

In this episode, Micah sits down with Dr. Elliot Smith. In the show, they cover topics including neurotransmitter, chiropractic, gut and mental health. Show Notes Neurotransmitters Neurotransmitters are any chemical that the body creates to talk with other parts of the body Anxiety and depression may be linked to gut health Science is so young in gut health The things we don't know far exceed the things that we do know We've had access to this technology in spiritual healing modalities, and now we can do it on a computer In the 1900’s, after people would get adjusted, they would be told to sit and relax for 2 hours Imagine if we had people rest for 2 hours after therapy and biofeedback and chiropractic assistance today? Chiropractic and Neurotransmitters The first step for everyone is awareness The first step is to find that the brain chemistry is off Dr. Elliot starts with gaba, getting people out of fight or flight, and then reprogramming When you work on the trauma piece, you reach a deeper healing When people get into that parasympathetic response, he says he focuses on breathing with them He finds out what relaxes them, whether that's intense yoga, exercise, etc. Dr. Elliot suggests eating healthy all the time, not just dieting The goal is teaching people what it feels like to be calm, some people just have no idea what that looks like under constant stress and anxiety Its helping people understand a relaxed state and recognize it and have awareness with it Prebiotics Chicory root is where a lot of pre-biotics come from It starts with understanding what prebiotics are and where they come from Eat sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, etc Fermentation does produce some alcohol content A lot of people don't realize that large amounts of vitamin C and magnesium cause diarrhea Its hard in this day and age, everyone thinks that supplements are great, but it differs from person to person Just because one supplement is good for person A, doesnt mean its good for person B Final thoughts 5htp can help, but it is not good to take with an SSRI, or antidepressant Serotonin Syndrome is really bad It's important to focus on the mind-body-spirit as a whole aspect for health Proper diet and nutrition, healthy stress relief, and balance all lead to ultimate health Links Website About Dr. Elliot Smith After graduating Life University in 2000, Dr. Elliott Smith practiced in Vail, CO for three years, gaining extensive experience with sports injuries. He then moved to Denver to start a successful practice, where he worked for 13 years. Dr. Elliott is excited to move his practice back to the mountains in Frisco, CO and bring his experience, skills and knowledge to serve and educate Summit County. Dr. Elliott has a broad scope of training in diagnostic technologies, chiropractic, acupuncture, laser, orthotics, and clinical nutrition to be able to treat the physical, mental, and chemical aspects of a patient’s health challenges. His main goals are to find the underlying cause of your problem and tailor an individual treatment plan.

In this episode of Restorative Talks, Micah sits down with Dr. Dale Schusterman. They talk about a breathing exercise that balances the hemispheres in your brain and balancing the body through frequency. Show Notes Frequency Dr. June Wieder, a chiropractor in California did a lot of research on using tuning forks on the spine She found 12 frequencies, and each frequency resonates with 2 vertebrae “Frequency is medicine” - Dr. Dale Looking at heart frequency, brain frequency, gut behavior, it's all so aligned Tuning forks are readily available for people to try at home Dr. Dale says that when he muscle tests people, you could bring up trauma from 9 years ago Everyone needs to get reset from time to time, a good massage helps, the neuro-field is great Breathing Technique Alternate Nostril Breathing Use the thumb for the right nostril, and the ring/middle finger to cover the left nostril You breathe back and forth, holding one nostril (left) and breathing in, and then exhaling out of the left nostril while  holding the other (right) Then you rotate that pattern It balances the heart to the brain, it's a good way of centering and calming Holotropic breathwork can arise emotions very quickly Guides and sitters are recommended for Holotropic breathwork Healing When asking the body what is wrong, you have to be specific to produce healing People are a lot more open to suggestion when they aren't in pain Parasympathetic Protocol Dr. Dale uses it for chilling people out or helping people sleep Flow has a lot to do with the parasympathetic system ‘Rest and Digest’ is very parasympathetic A lot of people are in a loop of not knowing an answer of when they will feel safe again, and using the parasympathetic protocol is super helpful “When you start bringing balance in the body, then it frees the mind” - Dr. Dale Final Thoughts International College of Applied Kinesiology P-DTR (proprioceptive deep tendon reflex) A neurological way of balancing the body About Dr. Dale Schusterman Dr. Dale Schusterman graduated from the International College of Applied Kinesiology and runs his own private chiropractic practice. He is the Author of Sign Language of the Soul, A Handbook for Healing. He is a lecturer at Capital University of Integrative Medicine, International College of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK), and has held workshops in Germany, Italy, Canada, Spain, Austria, and the United States.

In today’s episode of Restorative Talks, Micah sits down with Dr. Richard Soutar, well published author. He is a thought leader, pioneer in the neurofeedback field, and CEO and founder of New Mind Technology. Show Notes During COVID, New Mind has been shifting office practices to in-home practices Richard says that it took a while to get government and agencies to get it to work New Mind is doing Neurofeedback training for self improvement, for meditation, for relaxation, etc The way has been paved by all different pioneers Neurofeedback Neurofeedback is awesome because there is a re-wiring, and a real change There is a new level of optimal functioning, new socio-emotional levels, just documentable changes Richard says that his patients say that “what feels really good, is feeling really good, and being able to make things happen in my life. It feels empowering” “Enhancing people’s quality of life is the real goal” - Richard After a couple responses, you find ones that are better than the old ones And you find the liberty in responding differently, to change your life Musicians, visual artists, business people, they all find a new form of creativity Benefits There is one girl who was going to commit suicide, but she changed her lifestyle, her friends, where she lived, her jobs, etc Getting into a new space is a shock for some, when they are used to suffering With a transcendental state that you can get to on psychedelics, you can only be in that state for so long With neurofeedback, you find that space inside of you, and once you learn it and recognize it, you can revisit it often People are capable of reaching these ‘high’ states, and it's learning to recognize where those states ‘begin’ and where they ‘end’ to move within them The fear of the pain, makes us cling more tightly to it “You can’t break through (pain) by an act of will, you break through it by letting go” - Richard Frequency and Waves Most decisions are made in the feeling brain, not the thinking brain There is a fibonacci sequence in the brain waves, and it starts with the heart Theta is a great frequency to use to help tap in The ‘aha’ moments that people get are little worlds you can actually train yourself to access When you grasp for it, you lose it, the flow comes upon you Final Thoughts Micah says that Dr. Soutar’s YouTube channel is a wonderful resource Micah says that he can make someone feel better in 3 sessions Richard says meditate or get into neurofeedback, and everything else will follow Links The Automatic Self: Transformation and Transcendence Through Brain-Wave Training New Mind Youtube Channel New Mind Training About Guest A pioneer in the field of neurofeedback, Dr. Soutar has published three books on the topic of neurofeedback and conducted workshops on the various aspects of neurofeedback at conferences and clinics in the U.S and Europe. He developed the first fully certified internet training course for neurofeedback. He has worked successfully with professional athletes and businessmen on peak performance as well as a wide spectrum of individuals with the traditionally labeled psychological and medical disorders. He has also pioneered a wide range of clinical screening and assessment tools for neurofeedback including, the Mini Q, The Magnitude Analysis System, The Interactive Self Inventory, and The NPC Symptoms Checklist.

In this episode of Restorative Talks on how to live your best life, Micah interviews Dr. Jeff Tarrant, Doctor of the Neuromeditation Institute. In the show they go into detail on four types of meditation, neurofeedback, practice and more. Show Notes Meditation  Meditation is mental training It doesn't have to be connected to a religious system It changes the way you perceive things in the world We can all benefit from meditation It's a practice toward shifting your consciousness, a ‘no mind’ state “If you engage in a practice that is not a good match for your brain, that can be a problem” - Jeff There is no meditation that is perfect for everybody There are multiple different styles of meditation, some are more of a mantra practice, and some are more of a quiet mind style 4 Styles of Meditation Focus - the one that most people understand most easily Mindfulness - it’s paying attention in a gentle, soft way, paying attention to what's happening in the current moment, but not attaching to it Open Heart - loving, kindness and compassion practice, intentionally activating a positive emotional state Quiet Mind - it's the stereotypical meditation state, where you're not doing or thinking about anything In the Focus style, the frontal lobes in the brain are very engaged An increase of Gamma is usually associated with an increase in blood flow The default mode network gets a lot of attention in meditation It's primary job is self referencing With TM (Transcendental Meditation) you're focusing on a mantra  Teaching with Neuro Meditation Jeff comments on teaching meditation to kids and making it more popular in the culture we live in, “We can still teach the skills, but we may need new tools” “It’s about teaching people to increase their sensitivity to their internal state” - Jeff The hardest part about meditation is sticking to the routine Jeff says he works hard on making sure people have a routine, and know the ‘why’ Micah says meditation is simple, but not easy Links NeuroMeditation Institute Email - dr.tarrant@hotmail.com About Dr. Jeff Tarrant Dr. Tarrant is the founder and Director of the NeuroMeditation Institute and author of the book, “Meditation Interventions to Rewire the Brain.” Dr. Tarrant received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri in 1997. He is a licensed psychologist and board certified in neurofeedback. Dr. Tarrant has devoted much of his professional career to working with technology-based interventions such as quantitative EEG, neurofeedback, biofeedback, and audio visual entrainment (AVE). He has also trained extensively in a variety of spiritual and meditative practices, including Zen, Vipassana, Taoism/Qigong, Arhatic Yoga, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). His research focuses on exploring brainwave changes that occur as a result of contemplative practices, technological interventions, and non-ordinary states of consciousness. He is the Chief Science Officer for Healium XR, creating biometrically controlled virtual reality experiences. He is a regular presenter at national and international conferences Dr. Tarrant offers in-office and home-based EEG NeuroMeditation sessions with BrainAvatar and New Mind systems. In his spare time, Dr. Tarrant enjoys playing the drums, attending concerts, and spending time in nature.