I'm Elisabeth Fisher.

Ever since I can remember, I wanted to create harmony in my environment. Since my early teens, I have been the designated diplomat and sounding board in my family, smoothing tensions and restoring peace.

Back then, I had no idea people could do this sort of thing for a living, so I attended law school and went on to negotiate deals as a big firm corporate attorney.

When I discovered that "mediator" was an actual job, I was thrilled that I could get paid for what I had been doing for most of my life - navigating complex relationships and bringing people together. Fulfilling professional life: check.

My personal life, on the other hand, was a different story. If "Doormat" was an Olympic discipline, I would have been a strong contender for the gold medal. I was an expert in

My legal and conflict resolution training had equipped me with solid communication and negotiation skills, and with the ability to stay calm in tense situations and do what needed to be done. I was great at using these skills for my clients' benefit, but for some reason, I was unable to do the same thing for myself. I had no desire to overpower anyone, and the only other option I saw was to retreat and accommodate. I had essentially disappeared as a person.

Getting out of this painful dynamic was neither easy nor quick. Reading lots of books and working on my mindset helped somewhat, but it wasn't nearly enough. Surprisingly, at least to my very intellectual self, the fundamental shift occurred through my body.

In 2007, after having been a couch potato for most of my life, I began martial arts training. As I learned how to defend myself against physical attacks, I developed a sense of empowerment that transferred from the dojo to the rest of my life. By the time I earned the rank of Shodan (first degree Black Belt) in Kenpo Karate, I no longer felt like a victim.

Along the way, I also discovered Yoga, and I became even more fascinated with how our posture affects how we think, feel, and act - not only on the mat, but in everyday situations.

Fast forward through many years of personal practice and several teaching and coaching certifications - Paul Linden's Being In Movement® mindbody education system, Yin and Vinyasa Yoga (RYT 500), Embodied Yoga Principles (now Embodied Toolkit), Embodiment Coaching, and Embodied Meditation.

Here's the essence of what I learned:

The most effective starting point for
changing your emotional state and your behavioral patterns is
changing how you hold your body and how you move.

You can consciously use your posture, breathing, muscle tone, and awareness to

People now have a much harder time walking all over me. I still don't like to fight - but I can, and I do when I have to. I'm usually able to say what I have to say, even in the toughest conversations. 

 Am I perfect at this all the time? Hell no! I'm human. Also, real talk: some situations are too intense to stay in charge of what's happening in you and around you - for anybody, no matter how much training and practice you've had.

The good news is that nobody has to be perfect. If you can get better at this human interaction thing, even if only a little bit, your relationships will become more meaningful and balanced, and you will be happier as a result. And if enough people attempt to do a little bit better, we may even create a more peaceful world. That may be a tall order, but it's worth a try.

I hope to meet you in one of my classes or workshops. 

To work with me one-on-one, click the button below to contact me.

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