The Environment you Move in Matters
I've taught in so many studios over the last ten years, and in that time thought a lot about how I would want my own space to feel…
Much of 1:1 work involves learning to let go of our impulse to grip and overuse certain tissues, in order to distribute movement and load more evenly through the whole body. A process that commands our attention, and also requires us to feel safe.
You see, our bodies have evolved to contract in response to threat; the fight or flight mechanism prepares muscles to run from -or fend off- immediate danger; and over time, our tissues also tense to create stability around vulnerable, injured or lax joints. But because our nervous system is so responsive, this mechanism can become overly sensitised, particularly in our busy, modern environment. Stressful thoughts, overstimulating environments, and language that emphasises competition or effort, can trigger undue tension, making it harder to regulate our breath and access efficient movement, and further, almost impossible to develop new habits.
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.
However, it’s worth recognising that we all experience the world differently, and that I will make oversights. So please know, there’s an open dialogue around adjusting the studio environment and my teaching approach to suit your access needs. These things might sound trivial, but they’re really not… when you are able to soak up the full experience of your 1:1 time, and be fully embodied, the benefits ripple out into the rest of your day, week, and month.
So if you feel limited in crowded or generic class environments, I’ve got you.