The environment you move in matters

Image by James Melia

I've taught in so many spaces over the last ten years, and in that time thought a lot about how I would want my own space to feel. Much of the work we do in the studio is about expanding our awareness and letting go of background tension so we can learn to distribute movement and load through our whole bodies, not just via the path of least resistance. This requires a lot of our nervous system, and we can only tap into our bodies in this way when we feel safe.

We have evolved to contract in response to threat; the fight or flight mechanism prepares muscles to run from -or fend off- immediate danger. This is a helpful mechanism in the presence of actual threat, but because the nervous system is so responsive, it can become overly sensitised, particularly in our busy and stimulating modern environment. Loud, overwhelming environments and even stressful thoughts can trigger unnecessary tension, making it harder to regulate our breath and access fluid, efficient movement patterns.

For this reason, the images, scents and sounds in my studio space have been carefully considered to help you step out of your busy day to day and land in your body so you can really harness your awareness and the work. However, it’s worth recognising that we all experience the world differently, and I will make oversights. So please know, there’s an open dialogue around adjusting the environment and my teaching approach to suit your needs.

So if you’re looking for a space where you can move as your whole self, get in touch, I might be able to help,