We didn’t
invent it.
We found it.
The foundation of FIVE MOVES – built on science, not opinion.
Why your body decides.
Antonio Damasio
Neuroscientist
The body reacts first
Physical reactions occur BEFORE conscious thoughts
The brain interprets retroactively
Emotions are bodily states
Talking alone does not change the body
Transformation must begin in the body
Candace Pert
Molecular Biologist
Emotions have an address
Neuropeptides store emotions in tissue
“Butterflies in the stomach” — real receptors
“Lump in the throat” — measurable reaction
The body is the subconscious
Blockages can be localised
Stephen Porges
Polyvagal Theory
No safety, no change
Ventral Vagal: safety, connection, openness
Sympathetic: fight/flight, tension
Dorsal Vagal: shutdown, freeze
Transformation requires safety
The nervous system decides — not the mind
HeartMath Institute
Heart Field Research
The heart sends more than it receives
Heart field = 60x stronger than brain field
Electromagnetically measurable
Reaches several metres
Heart coherence influences other people
Nervous systems synchronise
Rock & Schwartz
Neuroleadership
Self-discovered = anchored
Advice from outside = weak neural connections
Forgotten quickly
Self-discovered insights = strong connections
Stays. Forever.
Lehrer & Gevirtz
HRV Research
Breathing controls the nervous system
6 breaths per minute = optimal HRV
Longer exhale activates vagus nerve
Nervous system switches measurably
Conscious breathing = direct access to the autonomic nervous system
The foundation stands. Now the change.
Eric Kandel
Neuroscientist
The brain is malleable
Without emotion: brain stays rigid
With emotion: brain becomes malleable
Window for change opens
What is not used dies off
New pathways become stronger
Karim Nader
McGill University
Memories can be changed
Recalling a memory = becomes unstable
A brief time window opens
A new feeling can be integrated
Traumatic memories can be permanently altered
Not fading — truly gone
Georg Northoff
University of Ottawa
Identity runs deeper than feelings
“I feel calm” = temporary state
“I AM calm” = identity
Activates deeper brain areas
Identity statements anchor more deeply
Change becomes part of the self
Wolfgang Klimesch
University of Salzburg
The subconscious has opening hours
Directly after waking: theta state
Directly before sleeping: theta state
Subconscious is directly accessible
Change is easier at these times
The door stands open
Phillippa Lally
University College London
Habits take time
“21 days for a habit” — a myth
Real research: 18 to 254 days
Average: 66 days
Change requires repetition
Stop too early and you fall back
Paula Niedenthal
University of Wisconsin
The body shapes the feeling
Body posture influences emotion
Not the other way — body first
Gestures store feelings
Multisensory anchoring lasts longer
The body always remembers