Aikido, Process Work, and the Deeper Currents of Conflict – with Gary Reiss & Miles Kessler

What does it mean to meet conflict—not with reactivity or avoidance—but with presence, clarity, and a willingness to go deeper?
In this episode of RAW, Anouk sits down with therapist and conflict facilitator Gary Reiss and Aikido teacher and meditation guide Miles Kessler—two longtime friends who bring decades of experience in trauma healing, martial arts, and group facilitation.
Gary shares insights from his work in Israel and the Palestinian territories, including collaborations with trauma experts on both sides. Drawing from Process-Oriented Psychology, he explores how we can access the wisdom hidden within personal and collective tension—even, and especially, in heartbreaking times.
Miles brings the perspective of Aikido, a martial art rooted in harmony and non-resistance, and how its philosophy can help us engage conflict with grounded strength rather than force.
Recorded during Gary’s recent visit to Tel Aviv, where the two were leading joint events, this conversation invites us to reflect on what it means to respond—not react—in the midst of profound uncertainty.

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About the Guests:

Gary Reiss is a therapist, author, and international trainer in Process-Oriented Psychology, also known as Process Work—a therapeutic approach for navigating personal, relational, and societal conflict. He has worked extensively in Israel and the Palestinian territories, collaborating with trauma experts on both sides. Gary integrates psychology with Taoism, shamanism, and Jewish mysticism in his work.

Miles Kessler is a 6th Dan Aikido teacher, meditation guide, and founder of the Integral Dojo in Tel Aviv. With dual lineage in the Iwama Aikido tradition and the Burmese Mahasi meditation tradition, Miles brings embodied wisdom to his teaching and facilitation. He also leads Aikido Without Borders, a non-profit dedicated to peacebuilding through practice.