About Me
Michael Allison is a performance coach, author, and educator whose work integrates Polyvagal Theory, breathwork, and the science of the autonomic nervous system into practical applications for health, performance, leadership, and behavior change.
He is an educational partner with the Polyvagal Institute and has collaborated directly with Stephen W. Porges, PhD, to advance applied uses of Polyvagal Theory across high-performance, therapeutic, and wellness contexts. Michael has presented his work at Oxford University and Harvard Business School, and has trained and certified more than 750 coaches, therapists, and leaders worldwide as Play Zone Professionals. His original methodology includes the Play Zone®, Autonomic Agility®, and the Performance Hierarchy©, and has been translated into French, German, Polish, and Spanish.
Michael is the author of The Performance Code: The New Science of Achieving Under Pressure and co-author of Polyvagal Parenting. He is also a contributing author for Psychology Today, where he writes the column The Pressure Paradox. He previously owned and operated Physical Focus Inc., a personal training and health coaching center in Santa Barbara, California, for 25 years before selling the business in 2023. His professional training includes Oxygen Advantage with Patrick McKeown, the Safe & Sound Protocol with Stephen W. Porges, PhD, Vagus Nerve Certification Training through the Vagus Nerve Society, Positive Neuroplasticity with Rick Hanson, PhD, personal training, medical exercise, and post-rehabilitation exercise.
Michael’s work has been applied across sport, leadership, therapy, trauma, addiction, health, and wellness. His approach helps individuals understand how physiological state shapes breathing, attention, behavior, connection, and performance under pressure.
