Benevolent Instruction
By Mina Estrada & CoCo Loupe
Call it guided meditation or facilitated improvisation or structured playtime… it is all of this. Created by dancing humans (us!) but made for everyone, Benevolent Instruction is meant to create space and opportunity for all of us to be active.
Benevolent InstructionOct 21, 2023
Ep 30: 4 Part Dance
Oct 21, 2023 - This session takes you on a small choreographic exploration can result in what we'll call a 4 Part Dance. Starting with asking "Where do you want to move today? Where in the body do you feel the urge to create action or flow?" Then we build short 2 Part Sequences that we then combine into a final 4 Part Dance of your own. Moving actions from one location in the body to another. Easy. Low stakes creativity and motion.
Written and recorded by CoCo Loupe.
This podcast and community practice is co-produced and facilitated by CoCo Loupe and Mina Estrada with collaborators Nicole Garlando and Noelle Chun.
Ep. 29: Back from Hiatus - Standing Tall
After a long, long break, we are offering new episodes of Bevevolent Instruction!
Enjoy listening, moving, dancing, responding, being alive and curious and creative.
This episode features a new script "Standing Tall" by CoCo Loupe.
Ep. 28: Embodied Paraphrasing
As 2022 comes to a close, some rumination feels fitting. CoCo Loupe has created a lovely script that reflects on her dancing/learning life. There's a short introduction about the script by CoCo at 1:25. Embodied Paraphrasing starts at 7:00.
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction or go to our website benevolentinstruction.com for updates and news. The Community Zoom events will resume on Jan. 7 at noon EST. See you in 2023!
Ep. 27: Archive
CoCo Loupe curated a stellar trio of goodies from the archives for our last community zoom session. We loved it so much we wanted to share it with you!
1:30 - a soft and rebounding sequence (CoCo Loupe)
10:30 - Radiant Mass (Mina Estrada)
14:40 - Run On Story (CoCo Loupe)
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction or go to our website benevolentinstruction.com for updates and news. The next Community Zoom event is Nov. 19.
Ep: 26 a conversation with Mina Estrada
Welcome to another episode of Benevolent Instruction.
Season 2 Episode 26 to be exact!
I'm CoCo Loupe, co-creator and facilitator along with Mina Estrada, Nicole Garlando and Noelle Chun.
For today's journey through the Benevolent Instruction world, we offer another interview slash conversation. This time i sat down with Mina Estrada. the person who without her playful presence and rigorous commitment to being my friend and fellow movement interrogator, this practice would have never really existed.
This is the second episode of this particular kind...the first conversation episode was #24 with Noelle Chun and because that one was so much fun and so fruitful, we decided to keep going with this format and offer them every once in a while as we continue to publish our regularly scheduled instruction recordings.
anyway! we have these conversations all of the time as collaborators and creators but wanted to start offering them to our listeners and fellow practitioners so we could all delight in these musings on dancing, making dances, creative processes, writing, living and any other subject that feels relevant and related to this practice.
now Much like Noelle and I, Mina and I have known each other for years and also co-produced dance works, concerts and community projects together. and in fact, Benevolent Instruction, originally referred to as Voice Recognition, actually started as a text-based pen-pal dance game between the two of us. as soon as we met back in 2014 we formed a close bond of friendship and almost immediately started to produce dreamy, playful and mysterious (to us at least) dance experiences for ourselves and our communities. benevolent instruction happens to be the longest running of these many projects (going on a full 4 years now) and we're still delighting in its rigorously complex yet comforting and easeful qualities.
If you'd like to know more about Mina, you can check out her bio on our website at benevolentinstruction.com but for now we'll jump right into our conversation.
I hope you enjoy the topics we cover and that through conversations like this one, we can all continue to get what we more of what we need out of the Benevolent Instruction process and practice.
As always, you can follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction where we post information about new podcast episodes and upcoming community events.
Speaking of which, our next community zoom session is at 12pm EST on August 20th.
You can register to join by heading over benevolentinstruction.com.
I hope you're having a beautiful day and now, my conversation with Mina Estrada!
Ep. 25: -ness
CoCo and Mina dig into the ness of it all... Readiness and Centeredness are two scripts itching to get you moving and being and maybe moving a little more.
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction or head over to our website benevolentinstruction.com for updates and news. Please consider joining us for our next Community Zoom on Saturday, August 20 at 12:00 EST.
Ep. 24: a conversation with Noelle Chun
Welcome to another episode of Benevolent Instruction.
I'm CoCo Loupe, co-creator and facilitator along with Mina Estrada, Nicole Garlando and Noelle Chun.
Today we have something different and very special to share with you.
Since the Intro episode where Mina and I talked a bit about what Benevolent Instruction is, all of our episodes have been the scripted recordings that we create for our solo practice and for our community sessions. So now after almost 50 episodes of THOSE recordings, we wanted to start offering interviews and conversations about Benevolent Instruction, dancing, making dances, creative processes, writing, living and any other subject that feels relevant and related to this practice.
So today, for episode 24 of Season 2, I sat down with Noelle Chun to talk about Benevolent Instruction and check in about where we think we're living inside of the practice, how we are sensing its development and asking how we think it's serving us and others who engage with it.
Noelle and I have known each other for over a decade and we have created dances and concerts together, taught together and collaborated on community projects as well. Noelle has been writing, co-facilitating, and practicing with us for a couple of years now and I'm so happy that we finally recorded one our many conversations about Benevolent Instruction to share with everyone.
If you'd like to know more about Noelle, you can check out her bio on our website at benevolentinstruction.com but for now we'll jump right into our conversation that was recorded earlier today.
I hope you enjoy the topics we cover and that through conversations like this one, we can all continue to get what we more of what we need out of the Benevolent Instruction process and practice.
As always, you can follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction where we post information about new podcast episodes and upcoming community events.
Speaking of which, our next community zoom session is at 12pm EST on August 6.
You can register to join by heading over benevolentinstruction.com.
I hope you're having a beautiful day and now, my conversation with Noelle Chun!
Ep. 23: readymade
In this Benevolent Instruction episode, CoCo Loupe offers an exploration of the body's readymades and the creative practice of bringing external objects into the movement activities available to us through anatomical sites of action (all of the body really).
Community gatherings to practice these journeys together happen every other Saturday via Zoom.
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction and check out our website benevolentinstruction.com
We hope you enjoy this latest offering and as always, get what you need and have a beautiful bodybrain day!
Ep. 22: bodybeing
Let your bodybeing delve into these new scripts from Mina and CoCo.
1:45 - the 2 the same (CoCo Loupe)
14:15 - Visceral Vernacular (Mina Estrada)
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates and news. We are taking a hiatus from the Community Zoom event until July 9.
Visit our website at benevolentinstruction.com to find out more about us and the practice.
Ep. 21: a soft and rebounding sequence
In this episode, CoCo says a few words about the practice and introduces her new script "a soft and rebounding sequence" and relates the benefits she's enjoyed from moving with it and to it.
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates and information about our community zoom sessions and other activities.
Visit our website at benevolentinstruction.com to find out more about us and the practice.
Ep. 20: nothing
This exquisite mediation on nothing, written and read by Noelle Chun, is quite a lovely journey. Enjoy.
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates and news. We would love for you to join our next community zoom event Saturday, April 23 at 12 EST.
Ep. 19: simplicity
03/29/22: Simplicity
CoCo talks about the short hiatus that we took from publishing episodes, our community zoom sessions, our upcoming engagements at The Ohio State University Community Conversations series in April and the Body Mind Centering Conference in Ohio in June and the script offered today, Simplicity.
She gives a brief description of the practice and welcomes everyone to start dancing, moving and enjoying the Benevolent Instruction practice.
Follow us on IG @benevolent_instruction and visit our website at www.benevolentinstruction.com.
Ep. 18: A Trio of Goods
1:20 – Rigorous Ease (Nicole Garlando)
13:35 – Local Travel (CoCo Loupe)
26:20 - Ball on the Ground (Nicole Garlando)
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates and news. We would love for you to join our next Community Zoom event this Saturday, Feb 26 at Noon EST.
Ep. 17: continuing body
CoCo Loupe has done it again… letting the self ramble, unaware of the beginning, you are just continuing… there is no rush in my being.
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates and news. Our Community Zoom events are shifting to a new day and time. Starting on Feb. 12 the event will be Saturdays at 12:00 EST. We would love to have you there!
Ep. 16: And the body waits on the playground...
This selection of Benevolent Instructions is from the last Community Zoom event, which was the first one of 2022!
1:20 – scoopflatbody (CoCo Loupe)
10:25 – aom_ (Nicole Garlando)
Check out Nicole Garlando's new book "The Plural of Or" at nicolegarlando.com
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates and news. We would love for you to join our next community zoom event this Tuesday Jan 14 at 7pm EST.
Ep. 15: commemorance
Commemorating + Remembrance = Commemorance. The internet says this is not a word... well it is now. Benevolent Instruction is celebrating ONE YEAR in the podcastverse! It has been a lovely road and we will continue to travel it with you. Each of us created a new script to acknowledge this milestone.
1:35 – Anniversary (CoCo Loupe)
9:35 – Horizons Bend (Nicole Garlando)
18:30 – Gratitude (Noelle Chun)
21:05 – Skydiving (Mina Estrada)
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates and news. We would love for you to join our next Community Zoom event this Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 7pm EST.
Ep. 14: Soft
This selection of Benevolent Instructions comes straight to you from the lovely Community Zoom event we had the other night.
1:45 – in your skin (CoCo Loupe)
5:50 – Soft (Noelle Chun)
9:30 - in your skin longer (CoCo Loupe)
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates and news. The next community zoom event is Tuesday Nov. 30 at 7pm EST.
Ep. 13: horsehawksnail
This selection of Benevolent Instructions comes straight to you from the lovely Community Zoom event we had last night.
1:30 – loosen (Nicole Garlando)
8:30 - BodyBand (Mina Estrada)
14:00 - horsehawksnail (Nicole Garlando)
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates and news. The next Community Zoom event is Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 7pm EST.
Ep. 12: being a yawnbody
Hello everyone!
Welcome to Benevolent Instruction.
This is Season 2 Episode 12: being a yawnbody
This episode contains 3 audio scripts…. 2 written and recorded by me and 1 by Noelle Chun.
These are the recordings that we used for our community zoom gathering last week, and I must say that until I went through the script by Noelle I had no idea that i could yawn on command repeatedly….what a revelation. I felt completely cooled and cleansed by the end of that session so give it a try….turn into your yawnbody and see what happens.
If this is your first time experiencing Benevolent instruction and you’re not quite sure what you’re getting yourself in to, we recommend listening to our intro episode where mina and I do our best to describe the what, how and why of this process.
If Benevolent Instruction brings you any joy, please subscribe, rate and review the podcast and share it with friends.
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates on community events and other news.
Our next community zoom gathering is happening this coming Tuesday, November 2nd at 7pm EST and you can find the link to register in our Instagram linktree in a few days.
As always, we hope that you enjoy this experience, and we’re so grateful that you’re here with us.
Intro/outro music composed by Mike Boyko.
Episode 11: impulse groove questions
Welcome to Benevolent Instruction!
This is Season 2 Episode 11: impulse groove questions
This episode contains 3 audio scripts…. 2 written and recorded by Noelle Chun and 1 by Mina Estrada.
These brand new scripts take us on a journey that has impulses meandering through the body, asks us to check our pulse for groove qualities and then asks us a few questions about shifts in consciousness and bodily perspectives.
If this is your first time experiencing Benevolent instruction and you’re not quite sure what you’re getting yourself in to, we recommend listening to our intro episode where mina and I do our best to describe the what, how and why of this process.
If Benevolent Instruction brings you any joy, please subscribe, rate and review the podcast and share it with friends.
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates on community events and other news.
As always, We hope that you enjoy this experience, and we’re so grateful that you’re here with us.
Ep. 10: if you were a cloud
CoCo Loupe and Mina Estrada welcome you to another episode of Benevolent Instruction!
This is Season 2 Episode 10: if you were a cloud
This episode contains 1 audio script…. written and recorded by CoCo.
The recording starts us off with a guided warm up and then ever so gently glides into a set of images and prompts inspired by cloud watching.
Again, please celebrate with us as we continue to enjoy our new intro and outro music composed by Mike Boyko. It’s just a great treat to have his work be a part of this show.
If this is your first time experiencing Benevolent instruction and you’re not quite sure what you’re getting yourself in to, we recommend listening to our intro episode where mina and I do our best to describe the what, how and why of this process.
If Benevolent Instruction brings you any joy, please subscribe, rate and review the podcast and share it with friends.
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates on community events and other news.
And speaking of news, we are back into the swing of things with our community zoom sessions. We would love to have you join us! The next one happens on Tuesday, October 5th at 7pm eastern time. The link to register will be in the benevolent instruction bio on instagram in the next few days.
As always, We hope that you enjoy this experience, and we’re so grateful that you’re here with us.
Ep. 9: Your Own Drummer
CoCo Loupe offers a journey through time focusing on tempo and rhythm from the body, through movements and out into and about space. Enjoy moving to the beat of your own drummer in this episode.
Also, this is the first episode that includes intro and outro music, composed by the one and only Mike Boyko. We are so grateful for his generous contribution to this podcast and for his unwavering support of this practice.
Follow us on Instragram @benevolent_instruction and join us for our next community Zoom session on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at 7:00pm EST. Link to register in our Instagram bio.
Ep. 8: Nap
This ode to exhaustion was written and read by Mina Estrada.
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction. Community Zoom is coming back on Sept. 7 at 7:00 PM (EDT).
Ep. 7: 3 Sections Return
This Benevolent Instruction was written and read by CoCo Loupe. If you're ready to be invited into a world of clear directives that can usher you into wild and mysterious places, then this audio script is built for you.
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for more news and updates. Community Zoom is returning SOON!!!
Ep. 6: ZigZag
Sometimes CoCo Loupe creates beautifully designed doodles with her eyes closed, and sometimes they inspire Mina Estrada to create an audio script in response... and that's what's happening in this episode. Get some zigging and zagging in your life.
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates on community events and other news.
Ep. 5: Let Weight
This journey through language and rhythm was written and read by Nicole Garlando, and we think you're going to really dig it.
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates and news.
Ep. 4: Live in My Body
If you've been waiting for a gorgeous new script from Noelle Chun, then today's your lucky day! "Live in My Body" a stroll through the mediative and the kinesthetic... it is for you to be in your body, of this time, in this place.
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates and news.
Ep. 3: Talking Me Through It
This blissful romp was written and read by CoCo Loupe, and it was recorded while she was in the physical process of doing it, so the audio quality may seem a little different and you will hear her breathing throughout... she was having a good time, and we hope you will too!
Ep. 2: (try to be cool about it)
This Benevolent Instruction was written and read by Mina Estrada, and is intended to be a reminder to be kind to yourself...
Follow us on Instagram at benevolent_instruction for news and updates.
We have an incredible announcement - Benevolent Instruction Community Gathering (in person!!!) is happening in Orlando, FL on July 10. You can also join virtually. Contact us at benevolent.instruction@gmail.com for more information.
Ep. 1: Back to the Beginning
To kick off the 2nd season of Benevolent Instruction, we have a lovely new script written and read by CoCo Loupe. Follow us on Instagram at benevolent_instruction for updates and news.
Ep. 25: Moving Mountains
This Benevolent Instruction, written and read by CoCo Loupe, is inspired by the enormous desert majesty of the Southwest. We'll be posting some pics from her trip on our Instagram @benevolent_instruction this week to accompany this gorgeous script for your meditating and moving pleasure.
Ep. 24: Body of Water
This Benevolent Instruction is totally inspired by Mina's time hanging out with the great North Atlantic ocean. Hop over to our Instagram @benevolent_instruction to see some sunrise pics and ocean snippets to get you in the mood for a little water dancing.
Ep. 23: Curious Love
This selection of Benevolent Instructions is from the last Community Zoom event for spring 2021. The podcast will continue to drop new scripts weekly, however, we are taking a hiatus this summer from our regular biweekly Community Zoom events, but we will be back in the fall.
2:05 – Million Mile Body (Nicole Garlando)
8:00 – Untitled (Noelle Chun)*
16:25 – Risk (Mina Estrada)
22:50 – Audience (CoCo Loupe)
*Some explicit language
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates on community events and other news.
Ep. 22: Make Room for More Room
This selection of Benevolent Instructions is from the lovely Community Zoom event we had on May 6, which as usual, was complete delight, some new people joined us for the first time, and we explored/danced/moved/grooved to these scripts.
2:10 – Connect (CoCo Loupe)
5:45 – All of This is Yours(Mina Estrada)
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates on community events and other news. Our last Community Zoom before we take a summer hiatus is Thursday, May 13, 2021… if you’re curious, please join us.
Ep: 21 - Motoring
This Benevolent Instruction, written and read by CoCo Loupe, will get your engine revving... take it for a spin.
Follow us on Instragram at benevolent_instruction for updates on community events and other news. April 22 is our next Community Zoom event. We'd love to see you there!
Ep. 20: Tango
2:00 - A Little Dance #2 (Mina Estrada)
6:40 - Brace Yourself (Written by Sarah Lehman, read by Noelle Chun)
9:50 - Tango (Mina Estrada); Music credit: "La Cumpasita" performed by Danny Malando
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates on community events and other news. Our next Community Zoom event is April 22.
Ep. 19: There There
This Benevolent Instruction, written and read by CoCo Loupe, is a gorgeous little bodybrain adventure for you.
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates on community events and other news. April 8 is our next Community Zoom event. We'd love to see you there!
Ep. 18: Keeping Things Whole
This selection of Benevolent Instructions is from the lovely Community Zoom event we had last night.
1:30 – Radiant Mass (Mina Estrada)
5:40 – Location Citation (CoCo Loupe)
14:00 – What if (Mina Estrada)
Reference materials:
https://www.space.com/15590-andromeda-galaxy-m31.html
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47541/keeping-things-whole
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates on community events and other news. April 8 is our next Community Zoom event.
Ep. 17: Brevity
This episode is filled with Benevolent Instruction shorties - one to two minutes each - for when you're on the run but want to squeeze in a little guided improvisation.
1:25 - Honey (Nicole Garlando)
3:30 - Pelvis Party (Mina Estrada)
5:35 - Pick Up, Put Down (CoCo Loupe)
6:40 - Sloshing Prayer (Noelle Chun)
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates on community events and other news. March 25 is our next Community Zoom event... join us!
Ep. 16: Sensorial
This selection of Benevolent Instructions is from the lovely Community Zoom event we had last night.
1:30 – Fireflies and Fingertips (CoCo Loupe)
8:20 – Risk (Mina Estrada)
14:30 – If Then (CoCo Loupe)
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates on community events and other news. March 25 is our next Community Zoom.
Ep. 15: Go To Your Knees
This Benevolent Instruction was written and read by Nicole Garlando, who has been an incredibly generous contributor and collaborator in this process and we are honored to have her with us. Nicole is a maker and a doer and we highly recommend you check her out at nicolegarlando.com or on Instagram @nico.garlo.
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates on community events and other news.
Ep. 14: Some Little Dances
This episode is the complete playlist from our last Community Zoom event, which includes a slightly altered version of last week’s Benevolent Instructions episode.
1:25 – Prepare Yourself For Something (Mina Estrada)
7:00 – Murmuring (CoCo Loupe)
15:55 – A Little Dance (Mina Estrada)
21:40 - What’s Going On (CoCo Loupe)
Murmuring was inspired by Sarah Lehman, who is a regular participant in our community zoom events. Thank you, Sarah!
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates on community events and other news.
Ep. 13: What's Going On
This Benevolent Instruction, written and read by CoCo Loupe, is a lovely meditation on being present paired with some light composition and a delicate question or two. Trust us... you should do this.
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction.
Ep. 12: Corporeality
This selection of Benevolent Instructions is from the lovely Community Zoom event we had last night.
1:15 - Whole Corporeality (CoCo Loupe)
11:00 - Lead the Way (Mina Estrada)
16:30 - Dimensional Imagination (Nicole Garlando)
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates on community events and other news.
Ep. 11: arclight
This Benevolent Instruction, written and read by Nicole Garlando, was inspired by words shared by Megan Overholt, a lovely human being and regular participant of our Community Zoom events.
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates on community events and other news.
Ep. 10: Wolf Moon
This selection of Benevolent Instructions is from the lovely Community Zoom event we had last night.
1:45 – Mountain w/ Craniosacral Fluid (Nicole Garlando)
6:35 – No Need to be Something Else (Mina Estrada)
10:20 – Haiku Cat (CoCo Loupe)
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates on community events and other news. Feb 11 is our next Comm Zoom
We hope that you enjoy the experience, and we’re so grateful that you’re here.
Ep. 9: Let's Get in Your Head
This episode is a single Benevolent Instruction, written and read by Mina Estrada. It's a small journey in and around your head... it is the leader and your body simply goes along for the ride.
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates on community events and other news. Our next community event is Thursday, Jan. 28.
We hope that you enjoy the experience, and we’re so grateful that you’re here.
Ep. 8: Be The Easy You
This selection of Benevolent Instructions is from the lovely Community Zoom we had last night.
1:50 - Silly (CoCo Loupe)
12:20 - flowerstem, bendystraw (written and read by Nicole Garlando)
18:15 - Voice Recognition (written by Mina Estrada and CoCo Loupe; read by Coco Loupe)
Follow us on Instagram @benevolent_instruction for updates on community events and other news.
We hope that you enjoy the experience, and we’re so grateful that you’re here.
Ep. 7: Key of E
Key of E is written and read by Mina Estrada.
This episode is inspired by Counterfeit Madison (counterfeitmadison.com), a participant and friend of Benevolent Instruction. She is an incredible composer and vocalist, among many other things, and has graciously shared some details of her experience with synesthesia that connects color, shape, emotion, and taste to specific sounds. The elements of this complex sensory intelligence are wildly inspiring and have served as the muse for this piece, and also for Key of F from Ep. 4, which was written and read by Coco Loupe.
If this is your first time experiencing Benevolent instruction and you’re not quite sure what you’re getting yourself into, may I recommend listening to our intro episode where coco and I do our best to describe the what, how, and why of this process. We hope that you enjoy the experience, and we’re so grateful that you’re here.
Ep. 6: Moving into the New Year
Can you believe we are at the end of this wild, weird year? We just had our last Community Zoom of 2020 and we hope you enjoy the glorious playlist from the event! To clear up any possible confusion, the first track of this episode is the same track from episode 5, but we used it for the community event and it just made sense to keep it in this full playlist. We will be bringing more Benevolent Instruction into 2021, so subscribe to this podcast and follow us on Instragram at benevolent_instruction to get all the updates. Happy New Year, friends!!!
2:55 - aBeginning (Nicole Garlando)
10:50- Just Words (CoCo Loupe)
21:05 - This is a Dance (Noelle Chun)
29:00 - anEnding (Nicole Garlando)