Todd Phillips has a great deal of love and compassion for people, and has been an explorer on a journey of personal self-discovery and what it is to be human for his entire adult life. He has a passion for connecting deeply with others, exploring new ways of thinking and being, and discovering the joys of expression and living life full out.

At the University of California, Santa Cruz, Todd was fascinated with social history and the emergence of cultural movements. He studied Asian history with an emphasis in comparative religions, focusing on how people in different cultures and times saw themselves, made meaning of their lives, constructed their realities, and ultimately what choices they saw and didn’t see as available to them. This was the beginning of his study of Taoism and Buddhist thought, which emphasize the conscious cultivation of presence and awareness, and the unfolding nature of life.

Todd spent two years living and traveling in Southeast Asia after graduation, further exploring the paradigms and languages of foreign peoples and deepening his commitment to being a golbal citizen. He believed that by distancing himself form the defining influences of American culture, he would fall more naturally into his own true human nature. His journey has taken him on many adventures including bicycling across the US and twice across Mexico over 3 summers as an HIV/AIDS educator, trekking the Himalayas, multiple explorations of Brazil (even buying an apartment there!) and many other adventures that fed his curiosity, expanded his awareness, and exposed him to new paradigms and perspectives. Todd speaks Mandarin, Spanish, and is learning Portuguese.

Todd has also dedicated much of his life to the exploration of what it is to be male in American Society, seeking alternatives to the practices of competition, domination, exploitation, and violence that characterizes misconceptions of what is masculine. He has been a participant and dedicated leader in the California Men’s Gathering since 1992, leading workshops and gatherings of up to 200 men through experiential insight-oriented activities and rituals.

Todd has a great sense of humor and is a big proponent of self-expression through play! He has been learning, teaching, and performing improv with Um…Gee…Um since 1997, making up skits, musicals, and stories on the spot. He has been the Musical Director for many years, and has also functioned as Artistic Director. What Todd loves about improv is that it requires us to walk boldly into the unknown and be fully present in the moment of discovery while taking risks, listening, cooperating, and letting go of survival strategies. This is fundamental to Todd’s philosophy of what it takes to live an exceptional life as the magnificent beings that we already are.

Somatic integration and embodiment are key areas of interest and focus in Todd's life. He believes that shifting habitual protective bodily stances and physical reactions is fundamental in allowing us to be expressive, creative, resourceful and spacious beings. He is dedicated to the study and practice of somatic integration, awareness and release through the practice of contemplative movement, Real Play, Tai Chi, Chi Gong, movement improv, feldenkrais, contact improv, authentic movement, and dance. Todd has taught classes and workshops in movement improv , healing through movement, and full-bodied living.

Todd is currently actively involved in Non Violent Communication, practicing and promoting a way of communication that supports our ability to stay connected to our humanity and get our needs met in difficult situations. Through NVC Santa Cruz he is a founding and active member of Santa Cruz Restorative Circles, a group promoting a method of conflict resolution that emphasizes restoring balance and wholeness through a process of connection and equally shared power. He has used this process with communities, non-profits, and is currently training the Santa Cruz Waldorf School to integrate Restorative Practices and Circles into their community. He is also in his 3rd year of a 4 year course to become a Spiritual Practioner through Inner Light Ministries.

Todd completed his initial coaches training through the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in 2001, where he has since returned and taught as an expert in his field. Todd has received further training in somatic, spiritual, and integral coaching.

After successfully coaching full time for many years, in 2007 Todd began coaching part time in order to return to one of his passions by taking a part time position as a Case Manager at the Santa Cruz Aids Project, where he has implemented and is running a Wellness Program for clients.

He currently lives in Santa Cruz with his partner of more than 4 years, Javier.