What if you're already practicing mindfulness without even realizing it?

In this episode of The Human Health Collective Podcast, I sit down with Neil Place for a conversation about mindfulness, mental health, movement, sport, and what it actually means to be present.

We unpack what mindfulness really means beyond meditation and sitting quietly with your thoughts. Neil describes it as observation without judgment, and throughout our conversation, we explore what that can actually look like in everyday life.

From sports and competition to running, movement, relationships, mental health, and the moments we often rush through without noticing, mindfulness can be a tool for understanding yourself, getting out of autopilot, navigating discomfort, and becoming more intentional about how you respond to what's happening around you.

We also talk about Neil's work at the intersection of mindfulness and sports psychology, the role sport can play in developing young people, and why performance doesn't have to come at the expense of mental health or the person behind the athlete.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• What mindfulness actually means and why it's more than meditation
• How you may already be practicing mindfulness without realizing it
• The connection between mindfulness, mental health, movement, and performance
• Why self-awareness can help us get out of autopilot
• Learning to observe thoughts, emotions, and discomfort without immediately judging them
• Using mindfulness to navigate pressure and improve performance
• The role of identity, values, and self-awareness in sport and life
• Why resilience isn't about ignoring discomfort or simply pushing through
• How coaches can create healthier and more compassionate environments
• The power of sport to build connection, community, and lifelong relationships
• Why meaningful change often requires slow, relational work rather than a quick fix

At The Human Health Collective, we believe better health starts with better conversations. Our goal is to bring together people from across healthcare, wellness, fitness, mental health, and our community to challenge the way we think about health and help all of us better understand the whole person.

If you enjoyed this conversation, follow The Human Health Collective Podcast, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone who could benefit from becoming a little more present in their own life.

Connect with Dr. Libby Schwartz:
📲 Instagram: @movementmantra.pt
🌐 Website: movementmantrapt.com

Follow The Human Health Collective:
📲 Instagram: @humanhealthcollective

Better Health. For All.