A neurophysiological approach to our highest performance
A physiological approach to performance
Performance isn’t all in our heads. We can have the skills, knowledge, and abilities to excel, yet struggle to access them when it really counts. The Play Zone brings physiology into the performance equation, developing the awareness and agility to navigate physiological shifts and access our capacities when they matter most.
Endorsed by Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D., developer of Polyvagal Theory
The skill behind the Play Zone
And the skill that makes this possible is Autonomic Agility®
The ability to recognize your physiological state, respect how it shapes your performance, and skillfully guide your state to better match the demands of the moment — even under pressure.
Learn the method →- 1
Recognize
notice the cues that reveal your state
- 2
Respect
how your state shapes what’s accessible to you
- 3
Relate
develop an attuned and agile relationship with your physiology
HEALTH & PERFORMANCE COACH · WRITER · SPEAKER
Michael Allison
Michael Allison is a performance and leadership coach, educator, and writer, and the author of the forthcoming The Performance Code (New Harbinger, May 2027), with a foreword by Dr. Stephen W. Porges. He is the creator of Autonomic Agility®, an educational partner with the Polyvagal Institute, host of Pursuit of Play on Substack, and co-author of Polyvagal Parenting (2026). He has presented at Oxford University and Harvard Business School, and works with athletes, teams, leaders, and organizations performing under pressure.
Join me on Substack
Pursuit of Play
You perform best when you feel safe enough to play.
Pursuit of Play is my publication on Substack. A new article one week, a new podcast episode the next.
Every other week, I sit down with someone who achieved something real and look at what was happening inside them along the way.
In the weeks between conversations, I write articles here. Some of it is new. Some of it is work I’ve created elsewhere over the years.
- Week 1Article
- Week 2Podcast
- Week 3Article
- Week 4Podcast
