An autumn equinox interview with Lyle Povah, who's worked in prisons and hospitals for the last 30 years. He's an international musician, drum circle facilitator, yoga teacher, and researcher who uses music and movement to bring people together and promote well-being. 

While the rain created it's own beat on his touring trailer (yes you can hear it in the background!) with 100 drums in tow, we chat-jammed about the power of freedom and intuition. Lyle shares his journey of working with children, families and in community during challenging times, with the intention of bringing more joy into the world. I caught up with Lyle about 250km into his 1,500km fundraising campaign. In addition to the power of music and it's therapeutic healing benefits, we explored the process of trusting one's own path in love, joy and connections.

Lyle shares his take on the meaning of freedom and how "Joy, and the expression of joy is freedom. When we're joyful, we feel well...Joy is like the yeast in bread. When it is present, all of the other ingredients rise up to allow for that expression. Joy is the key!"

He is the founder & executive director of the Rhythm of Life Society, a registered charity which recently launched it's first fundraising project, the Drum Run Adventure Tour. Lyle's mission is to run between 25 towns and cities across the province in the span of 3 months.

Follow Lyle as he travels around BC-(yes in autumn!) to raise funds for the BC Children's Hospital. The tour ends on November 18th 2023 in Vancouver after touring Vancouver Island, the Highway of Tears, the Okanagan & the Lower Mainland.

In this episode, we smiled a lot as we explored these gems:

• 1:20 -Music sessions in the hospital, healing benefits and spontaneity

• 2:45 -The organic process of group creation, being heart centered for healthy collaboration and the creation of a legacy project

• 5:40: -How joy can have a visceral connection to freedom.

• 8:00 -The foundation of joy in team and community building and the benefits of being heart centered.

• 9:30: How anger, fear or challenging feelings can be explored during difficult times and the importance of nourishing practices for healing.

• 12:20: Working with families with sick children in hospitals and holding space for others through as a "guest in their home"

• 16:33: Collaboration with staff and families and the impact of joy in the hospital

•  19:20: What brought Lyle to this work and the impact of intergenerational healing, ease, and love

• 21:00 : About the tour, travelling the highway of tears and community connection with 3,000 km of driving and 1,500km of running.

• 24:00 Health and sovereignty in the Baby Boomer generation and relationship to masculinity as a musician.

• 27:20 Working in the downtown eastside in the 1980's and the impact of the AIDS epidemic on patients The relationship to the feminine and masculine and the impact of working through stigma and following intuition in Lyle's generation with the node of honouring care, love and devotion in community.

• 29:30: The importance of countering violence in our everyday culture with authenticity and vulnerability in the role  of the masculine.

• 30:10 What listening to the pulse of intuition means and how vulnerability helps to access it for everyday life and big projects. Being heart centered in decision making.

• 32:20 Intuition and how to confirm if you're in the flow and on your best path-How unforeseen incidence, meetings and material assistance can be issued from intuited decisions: "Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it! Boldness has beauty, power and magic in it. Begin it now!" 

• 34:40 Advice for those who are struggling and how to hold space for those who are in a challenging place. The power of finding our own answers from within.

To learn more about Lyle's other project here: ⁠https://www.drummingandhealth.com/⁠