Heart of Motion

Discover the transformative power of mindful movement with movement educator Allison Birt as she shares her journey from ballet to Pilates teacher and Franklin Method practitioner.
What happens when we shift our focus from punishing workouts to pleasurable movement? Allison reveals how our relationship with our bodies can fundamentally change when we approach movement with curiosity rather than judgment. "Movement is supposed to feel good. That is our birthright," she reminds us, challenging fitness industry norms that glorify exhaustion and pain.
The conversation explores the rich lineage of Pilates, tracing its evolution through first-generation teachers who brought their unique perspectives to Joseph Pilates' original work. Allison's training with Ron Fletcher (who infused Martha Graham dance techniques) and Kathy Grant (who emphasized creativity and improvisation) illustrates how these influences shape modern practice.
Allison shares an example of the Franklin Method's dynamic neurocognitive imagery. Through a simple shoulder exercise, listeners experience firsthand how changing the words we use – from "stiff, tense shoulders" to "slidey, glidey, smooth shoulders" – can instantly transform physical sensation. This powerful technique shows how we can literally "change our bodies by changing our minds," offering a pathway to greater agency and embodiment.
Ready to experience the difference mindful movement can make? Join Allison and Susannah for their upcoming workshops and discover how turning toward your body with kindness might be the most powerful practice of all.

About Allison Birt:

After a series of injuries prompted her to re-consider a career in dance, Allison transformed her passion for movement as art into a passion for movement as medicine. In 2001 she began learning to teach Pilates from Dianne Miller, honing her skills at the Vancouver Pilates Centre until 2016. She now enjoys teaching at Moving Spirit, a North Vancouver Pilates studio, with owner Susannah Steers.

A perennial student, Allison has been fortunate to learn from and study the repertoire of multiple first-generation Pilates teachers including Ron Fletcher, Kathleen Stanford Grant, and Mary Bowen, who each imparted their own unique perspective on the Pilates method.

In 2011 Allison became a Franklin Method Educator, which transformed her approach to movement education. Now one of a handful of Level 4Franklin Method educators worldwide, Allison is adept at combining mental imagery techniques with embodied anatomy to create lasting positive change in the mind and body.

Send us a text

Heart of Motion Podcast host Susannah Steers is a Pilates & Integrated Movement Specialist and owner of Moving Spirit Pilates in North Vancouver, BC. She is passionate about movement, about connections and about life.
Through movement teaching, speaking, and facilitating workshops, she supports people in creating movement practices that promote fitness from the inside out. She loves building community, and participating in multi-disciplinary collaborations.

Along with her friend and colleague Gillian McCormick, Susannah also co-hosts The Small Conversations for a Better World podcast – an interview based podcast dedicated to promoting the kind of conversations about health that can spark positive change in individuals, families, communities and across the globe.
Social Media Links:
Moving Spirit Pilates Instagram
Moving Spirit Pilates Facebook
Susannah Steers Instagram

Enhance your health through the power of breath, and discover how such a simple act can profoundly impact your physical and emotional well-being. Join me, Susannah Steers, as I guide you through the often-overlooked science of breathing, drawing insights from James Nestor's "Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art." Together, we'll navigate the intricate connections between breathing patterns and health. Learn about the role of the diaphragm in effective breathing, and how modern society's loss of fundamental breathing skills affects everything from posture to athletic performance. Whether you're into Pilates, fitness or sport or or whether you're someone curious about ways to improve your wellbeing, you'll gain valuable insights into how movement practices like Pilates, and deep nasal breath can help you live healthier and feel better.

Some references for this episode:

• Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, ” James Nestor, Riverhead Books/Penguin Random House, USA, 2020
• “Spark: The Revolutionary Science of Exercise and the Brain ,” John J.Ratey, MD with Erik Hagerman, Little Brown and Company, Hachette Book Group. New York, NY 2008
• “Multidisciplinary Approaches to Breathing Pattern Disorders, ” Leon Chaitow, Dinah Bradley, Christopher Gilbert, Churchill Livingstone, 2002.

Send us a text

Heart of Motion Podcast host Susannah Steers is a Pilates & Integrated Movement Specialist and owner of Moving Spirit Pilates in North Vancouver, BC. She is passionate about movement, about connections and about life.
Through movement teaching, speaking, and facilitating workshops, she supports people in creating movement practices that promote fitness from the inside out. She loves building community, and participating in multi-disciplinary collaborations.

Along with her friend and colleague Gillian McCormick, Susannah also co-hosts The Small Conversations for a Better World podcast – an interview based podcast dedicated to promoting the kind of conversations about health that can spark positive change in individuals, families, communities and across the globe.
Social Media Links:
Moving Spirit Pilates Instagram
Moving Spirit Pilates Facebook
Susannah Steers Instagram

The wisdom we seek is often already within us – but how do we access it? In this illuminating conversation with transformation coach and spiritual mentor Rachel Linnett, we explore how movement, creativity and self-love can becomes a powerful pathways to self-discovery, inner wisdom, and personal evolution.
Rather than seeking transformation through prescribed programs promising a "new you," she guides us toward embracing and accepting all aspects of ourselves – even those parts we'd prefer to hide. This radical acceptance becomes the foundation for genuine growth and change.
Drawing from 18+ years of experience coaching others and her own healing journey, Rachel shares how creative expression through painting unlocked emotional healing and reconnected her with suppressed aspects of herself. She offers practical insights for navigating life transitions, including the power of conscious breathing patterns to calm our nervous systems during challenging times.
Rachel also introduces her forthcoming book, "Droplets of Love: The Art of Loving Yourself into Freedom," which offers personal stories, insights, and practical tools for transforming unworthiness and self-doubt into self-acceptance and love.
Whether you're navigating personal challenges or seeking deeper meaning in your movement practice, this conversation illuminates how the journey inward ultimately leads to more authentic and purposeful engagement with life.

About Rachel Linnett

Rachel Linnett, a transformational coach and spiritual mentor with over 18 years of experience, guides others on journeys of self-healing and inner discovery.

Originally from England, and now living by the ocean in Connecticut, Rachel's own path of healing from a challenging childhood inspired her insatiable passion for empowering others to do the same.

A creative soul with a love for painting, colour and flowers, she infuses her work with warmth, humour, and deep insight. By helping clients connect with their inner wisdom, Rachel supports them in embrac ing lives aligned with their True Selves - filled with authenticity, purpose and joy.

Her first book, "Droplets of Love - The Art of Loving Yourself in to Freedom" was published in April 2025.

Rachel Linnett website
Rachel Linnett Art website
Droplets of Love
YouTube

Send us a text

Heart of Motion Podcast host Susannah Steers is a Pilates & Integrated Movement Specialist and owner of Moving Spirit Pilates in North Vancouver, BC. She is passionate about movement, about connections and about life.
Through movement teaching, speaking, and facilitating workshops, she supports people in creating movement practices that promote fitness from the inside out. She loves building community, and participating in multi-disciplinary collaborations.

Along with her friend and colleague Gillian McCormick, Susannah also co-hosts The Small Conversations for a Better World podcast – an interview based podcast dedicated to promoting the kind of conversations about health that can spark positive change in individuals, families, communities and across the globe.
Social Media Links:
Moving Spirit Pilates Instagram
Moving Spirit Pilates Facebook
Susannah Steers Instagram

Nothing happens until something moves. This conversation with Jen Steers, my sister and lifelong movement practitioner, reveals how physical practices become powerful tools for navigating life's complexities.
From childhood outdoor adventures to competitive synchronized swimming, Jen's relationship with movement has always been about freedom and connection. When she discovered yoga, however, something unexpected happened—her busy mind quieted. The physical practice opened doors to philosophical insights that transformed her approach to challenging situations.
During her career working in emergency housing and homeless shelters, Jen found that these movement-based awareness practices became essential tools. Rather than approaching difficult situations with toughness or rigidity, she learned to lead with curiosity and compassion. "It's not about enforcing rules," she explains, "it's about listening, seeing the other in yourself, and helping people see themselves again—not as the issue they're dealing with."
Our conversation explores the fascinating parallels between yoga and equine-assisted learning. Horses, as prey animals with highly sensitive nervous systems, provide immediate, honest feedback about our emotional states. They teach us about authentic presence, boundaries, and the ability to move fluidly between focused action and receptive awareness—what might be called "autonomic flexibility."

Ready to explore how movement might transform your approach to life's challenges? Subscribe to Heart of Motion for more conversations about the science and soul of movement as a pathway to vibrant living.

About Jen Steers
Jen Steers has been dedicated to coordinating fitness facilities and community programs in Ottawa Housing neighborhoods. During COVID, she worked in emergency housing and homeless shelters - a big growth experience for her. Jen is passionate about working with people and finding ways to build better systems and relationships, especially with the most vulnerable populations. She integrates yoga, mindfulness, equine therapy and energy work into her daily life and into challenging situations.

After a successful career, Jen retired last summer from the City of Ottawa and is now offering one-on-one coaching group training and corporate wellness workshops in yoga, mindfulness, equine therapy and energy healing.

Jen Steers on Facebook

Jen Steers on Instagram

Send us a text

Heart of Motion Podcast host Susannah Steers is a Pilates & Integrated Movement Specialist and owner of Moving Spirit Pilates in North Vancouver, BC. She is passionate about movement, about connections and about life.
Through movement teaching, speaking, and facilitating workshops, she supports people in creating movement practices that promote fitness from the inside out. She loves building community, and participating in multi-disciplinary collaborations.

Along with her friend and colleague Gillian McCormick, Susannah also co-hosts The Small Conversations for a Better World podcast – an interview based podcast dedicated to promoting the kind of conversations about health that can spark positive change in individuals, families, communities and across the globe.
Social Media Links:
Moving Spirit Pilates Instagram
Moving Spirit Pilates Facebook
Susannah Steers Instagram

Ever wondered how movement can transform not just your body, but your entire way of living? Join us as we welcome Tara Walsh, an expert horticulturalist and outdoor enthusiast, whose life story is a testament to the power of movement.

From the physically demanding world of horticulture to her mountain biking and outdoor adventures, Tara’s journey highlights the incredible benefits of balancing high-level athletic training with mindful recovery practices. Her experience with Moving Spirit Pilates reshaped her approach to healing, teaching her the importance of listening to her body and embracing resilience.
As we chat with Tara, we unravel the art of integrating self-care into rigorous training routines. It's a shift from the "no pain, no gain" mindset to a more sustainable approach that honors the body's need for recovery. Learn how everyday rituals and mindful practices, often overlooked in favor of more intense workouts, can be transformative. By acknowledging the body's interconnected nature, Tara helps us see the value in incorporating Pilates, yoga, and other mindful activities into our lives, ensuring we enjoy the sports and hobbies we love well into our later years.
Our conversation expands beyond personal performance, revealing the profound significance of interconnectedness in our lives. By recognizing our bodies as holistic systems that mirror the natural world, Tara’s insights teach us to foster deeper connections with ourselves and our environment. We explore the necessity of staying present in a fast-paced technological era, and how embracing a holistic view can lead to more meaningful relationships and sustainable living. Let Tara’s story inspire you to integrate movement, presence, and connection into a life full of joy and purpose.

Walsh & Co Gardens and Design Ltd.

Send us a text

Heart of Motion Podcast host Susannah Steers is a Pilates & Integrated Movement Specialist and owner of Moving Spirit Pilates in North Vancouver, BC. She is passionate about movement, about connections and about life.
Through movement teaching, speaking, and facilitating workshops, she supports people in creating movement practices that promote fitness from the inside out. She loves building community, and participating in multi-disciplinary collaborations.

Along with her friend and colleague Gillian McCormick, Susannah also co-hosts The Small Conversations for a Better World podcast – an interview based podcast dedicated to promoting the kind of conversations about health that can spark positive change in individuals, families, communities and across the globe.
Social Media Links:
Moving Spirit Pilates Instagram
Moving Spirit Pilates Facebook
Susannah Steers Instagram