Charlotte Blake, parkour coach, researcher, and founder of Free Your Instinct (now Esprit Concrete) joins Andrew Telfer to unpack how parkour can support mental health, especially in people often left out of traditional fitness or therapy models. From the urban environment’s role in wellbeing to ecological dynamics, movement as non- verbal communication, and parenting through risk, this conversation is rich, real, and reflective. Charlotte shares how ‘failing small’ builds confidence, why parkour is
misunderstood, and what she’s learned working in forensic mental health settings.
Key Themes:
Parkour as therapeutic intervention
Ecological dynamics and the person–environment relationship
Reframing urban environments through play
Movement as dialogue, not prescription
Parenting, fear, and letting kids take risks
Redefining progress in mental health contexts
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro & Charlotte’s background
03:20 – Getting into parkour and early impressions
05:30 – Gender, risk, and reclaiming space
08:45 – The changing image of parkour
10:00 – Making movement inclusive and adaptable
12:15 – What parkour really is
14:40 – Ecological dynamics explained
18:15 – Parkour in forensic mental health services
26:00 – Person–environment relationships & urban health
35:00 – Non-verbal progress and ‘can cycles’
39:30 – Being a parkour coach and a mum
44:30 – Navigating screen time and outdoor play
47:20 – How to get started in parkour or community movement
50:30 – What’s next for Charlotte and Esprit Concrete
Links:
Follow Charlotte on Instagram: @esprit_concrete
Background track by Mary Erskine aka Me for Queen, from the song Exercise: meforqueen.com
Learn more about WildStrong: wildstrong.co.uk