“If you're looking to enhance your game both on and off the court, Michael Allison's Play Zone is your ticket. Michael offers tangible tools to tune into your body's signals and bring yourself into a state of attuned focus and fierceness. After watching The Play Zone, you will have a new appreciation for your body and an understanding of how to harness your nervous system for optimal performance in whatever arena you choose to excel." --Heather Abernethy, MD & PVI Course Partner
Course Timing
As a self-paced course, you can begin at any time and view on your own schedule.
Course Description
The intervening variable between our highest potential and our performance when it really matters is our bodily state. When we become aware that our body’s unconscious reactions follow a predictable sequence of survival, we can manage our bodily state to our advantage and optimize our resilience and performance.
The Play Zone develops a functional Hierarchy of Performance that aligns directly with the neurophysiological framework developed by Stephen W. Porges Ph.D. in the Polyvagal Theory. In this course, we will learn how to climb this Performance Hierarchy on demand through a variety of strategies, resources and relationships that utilize the integrated Social Engagement System. Physiologically, we learn how to contain our sympathetic mobilization in enough ventral vagal safety to turn it into play; engage and release our vagal brake and improve cardiac vagal tone; vagal efficiency - vital components for peak performance on any stage.
Click here to meet Michael Allison in this short video.
Payment Information
This self-paced course costs $199.
Your access will last for 180 days (approximately 6 months) from the date of registration
If you find you'd like more time, please email us at info@polyvagal.org to request an extension.
Course Requirements
There are no pre-requisites for this course.
Course Format
Course Framework
This 5-hour training provides 3 hours of self-paced recorded presentations with Michael Allison in which he shares his unique application of Polyvagal Theory to performance psychology and deconstructs the theory into an accessible language we can understand and translate not only to performance, but into leading a polyvagal-informed life.
This course includes a 1-hour recorded dialog between Michael Allison and Dr. Porges in which they dive into the Play Zone together, and dig deeper into the concepts embedded in this course.
Module 1: The Play Zone Introduction - Methodology and Principles of Polyvagal Theory (Michael Allison)
Module 2: A Container of Safety - Developing strategies, resources and relationships to find safety, comfort and control in the most challenging situations and conditions. (Michael Allison)
Module 3: Body, Mind & Belief - A physiological perspective for building mindset, confidence and mental resilience from the inside out. (Michael Allison)
Module 4: A dynamic Play Zone discussion between Michael Allison and Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D. exploring the principles of Polyvagal Theory applied to optimizing performance and resilience. (Michael Allison & Dr. Porges)
Module 5: Conclusion
Your registration includes an invitation to attend an optional live one hour online discussion and Q&A held quarterly (every 3 months) on the last Thursday of the month from 2 to 3 pm ET. In this informal live discussion, we'll summarize what we've learned in The Play Zone course and discuss how we begin to embody Play Zone strategies and practices into our personal lives and professional work. We invite you to join us regardless of your progress in the course material. Email invitations will be sent in advance of the live session.
Recommended Audience
Course Outcomes
Whether you are an athlete, coach, leader of an organization, or performer of any kind - the neurophysiological approach you will learn in this course will improve every aspect of your practice, preparation, performance and adaptability on and off “the court” including your overall health, relationships and quality of life.
You will receive a Certificate of Completion upon finishing this course.
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What is the attendance policy for a course?Live/Hybrid courses: While specific course policies may vary, we typically allow one absence for a live or hybrid course and require watching the recording and/or sometimes submitting a reflection for the missed session. If a participant is absent for more than the permissible number of live sessions, they may no longer be eligible to receive their certificate. Self-paced courses: Attendance does not apply to self-paced courses as they are designed to be consumed when the student is willing and able to take the course. All material is pre-recorded content, reading, or individual assignments. Please note that if you are enrolled in a course that offers CEs (continuing education credits) and you have opted to earn them, specific attendance policies apply and must be adhered to in order for you to remain eligible to earn CEs at the end of the course. Contact us for details if you are unsure of the attendance policy for your particular course!
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How and where are live sessions held?Live sessions are held online via Zoom. You will find your course Zoom link inside the course content on our Learning Platform once you enroll; email reminders with the Zoom link are sent to enrolled students. While having your camera on is not required, you are invited to turn your camera on during your live course session; this allows you to share in co-regulation with other learners and to build a sense of community.
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What if I am unable to attend a live session?We upload recordings of our live course sessions to our Learning Platform within 72 hours for you to view. (Please see the attendance policy above.)
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How can I tell what time the live session will be in my local time zone?To convert live course session meeting times to your local timezone, please use a conversion website like this.
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Where can I find the course material?PVI uses a Learning Platform (LMS) called Thinkific. Upon enrolling in a course, you will receive an email invite to access the course in Thinkific. This is where you'll find all of the course materials, links, and class community.
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Is this course accredited?PVI is the founding home of Polyvagal Theory, and we believe our courses offer the most accurate and up to date content about Polyvagal Theory and its many applications. There is no accrediting body for this type of curriculum. Our course descriptions will list any continuing education credits (CEs/ CEUs) or other professional benefits that might be available for the course (along with any applicable restrictions). If CEs are not listed for a particular course, then none are available.
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How do I reset my password to the PVI Learning Platform?You can reset your password by going to https://pvi.thinkific.com/users/sign_in and clicking the “Forgot Password?” link. You will then enter the email address you used when creating your account to receive a one-time password reset link. Use the instructions in that email to complete your password reset. If you have any other technical questions, feel free to reach out to us at info@polyvagal.org.
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Is there closed captioning?Yes. Most of our pre-recorded course content is hosted on a platform that offers closed captioning. If you come across a video that does not have closed captioning, please send us a message at info@polyvagal.org and we will be glad to assist you.
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In which currency are your prices listed in?Our prices are listed in USD (United States Dollars). Your credit card or bank statement will likely reflect the price in your local currency.
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Will I be charged sales tax?If you are located in the US or Canada, you will be charged sales tax on the cost of your course.
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Are there scholarships available?Yes, PVI offers scholarships for all of our courses on a rolling basis. You can apply for a scholarship at https://forms.gle/vvfQdyAtw3k79LpM9.
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Are there group discounts?Yes. For groups of five or more participants, a 15% discount is available for each participant. Please contact us at info@polyvagal.org to inquire and to enroll as a group!
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What is your refund policy?We are proud to offer a 30 day Money Back Guarantee for all of our courses (from date of purchase for self-paced courses and from date of first live session for live courses). Please reach out to us at info@polyvagal.org if you'd like to inquire about a refund.
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Can I purchase a gift certificate for PVI courses?Give the gift of learning! Yes, Polyvagal Institute offers digital gift certificates that arrive by email, and can be used towards any of our courses. Gift certificates are a simple way to share polyvagal insight and knowledge that stems from a better understanding of the human experience. Purchase a gift certificate now!
INSTRUCTOR(S)
Michael Allison
Michael Allison consults with professional, collegiate and high performing coaches, teams, organizations, athletes and performers in a variety of disciplines, as well as corporate executives, leaders and companies. He is a Health & Performance Coach, Personal Trainer, Medical Exercise Specialist, Post Rehab Specialist and Certified Oxygen Advantage Breathwork Instructor.
Michael is the creator of The Play Zone (www.theplayzone.net) and author of SMARTER Coaching, a certified behavior change course accredited by the American Council on Exercise. In addition, he is a certified ILS Safe & Sound Provider/Remote Provider and Focus System Training Provider.
With more than 25 years of experience in the fitness & wellness industry, he is the founder (1999) and co-owner of Physical Focus Inc. in Santa Barbara, California (http://www.physicalfocus.com) and leads a polyvagal-informed team of personal trainers, fitness instructors, health coaches, nutritionists and body workers.
Most importantly, Michael is a husband of 22+ years to his wife Jamie, a teacher-librarian, and father of two beautiful daughters, Kate (21) and Samantha (17).
Michael Allison
Stephen W. Porges, PhD
Stephen W. Porges, PhD
Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D. is a Distinguished University Scientist at Indiana University where he is the founding director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium in the Kinsey Institute. He is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina, and Professor Emeritus at both the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Maryland. He served as president of the Society for Psychophysiological Research and the Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences and is a former recipient of a National Institute of Mental Health Research Scientist Development Award. He is the originator of the Polyvagal Theory, a theory that emphasizes the importance of physiological state in the expression of behavioral, mental, and health problems related to traumatic experiences. He is the creator of a music-based intervention, the Safe and Sound Protocol ™ , which currently is used by approximately 4,000 therapists to improve spontaneous social engagement, to reduce hearing sensitivities, and to improve language processing, state regulation, and spontaneous social engagement. Dr. Porges is a founder of the Polyvagal Institute.
