If you would like to get to know me a little better, I’d love to share my story with you...

My name is Sarah, the creator of my Somatic Movement Studio, a designated specialist mind body somatic studio.  I am an Internationally Regulated Somatic Practitioner, Registered Somatic Movement Educator and Therapist (RSME / RSMT) with ISMETA.  I am also a Comprehensive Pilates teacher and member of the Society of the Pilates Method and a Dance UK Healthcare Practitioner. All of the work I carry out is regulated, which means that you have an external assurance of my qualifications, training, expertise and continued development with my own teachers.

My work takes place here within my own Somatic Movement Studio which is virtual and in person in Birmingham, as well as a guest teacher for dance companies and schools.  I teach clients with little movement experience, often post injury or with chronic conditions, all the way through to specialist professional movers with exceptional talents and skills.  My work focuses upon enhancing function through body mind integration, helping individuals make their own journey towards embodiment in movement and life as a whole!

My principal somatic practice is Franklin Method® and I am one of a few Advanced Franklin Method® Educators within the United Kingdom and English speaking world.  Having trained with Eric Franklin, founder of the Franklin Method®, all of my work integrates the teachings and principles of his transformative work and I pass on directly to you what I learn directly from him.  My second somatic practice is Somatic Therapy which I am currently studying at the Leven Institute for Expressive Movement, and I am currently in Clinical Training.

Within Pilates, I trained with the internationally renowned Alan Herdman at his London Studios.  After graduating from his course I worked within Alan Herdman affiliated Pilates Studios in Central London and Hertfordshire, teaching clients of every age, skills level and ability. I have a particular interest in the health and wellbeing of dancers, having worked with them at every stage in their dancing career helping them optimise and preserve not only their talent but also their body for life. I am the Pilates and Dance Wellbeing Tutor at the Centre for Advanced training for Contemporary Dance (Fabric) in Birmingham and at the National Centre for Advanced training Yuva Gati, which specialises in South Asian Dance. I am also a member of the Dance Leaders Group within Birmingham.

I completed advanced studies with Carolyn Anthony (Pre and Post Natal Pilates Specialist), Dr. Suzanne Martin (Performance Arts Enhancement and the Foot (inc. asymmetry, gait and hypermobility) and Rebekah Rotstein (bone and joint health using the specific training system Buff Bones® - safe for Osteoporosis and Osteopenia). I am an Advanced Buff Bones® instructor and Rebekah’s teaching assistant within the UK as well as the online trainings for UK instructors.  Wanting to further explore the nuances in the Pilates Method, but additionally searching for equal soul and aligned values in movement, I embarked on a deepening Pilates practice and study with Michael King and MK Pilates, continuous to the present day.  Within the differing and highly dynamic Pilates environments that exist today, my key interest is of the use of Somatics, Poly-Vagal Theory and interoception, as a powerful tool for movement, especially within remedial work and chronic conditions.

My personal movement story travelled the pathway of beginner, to specialist, initially as a dancer and Classical Ballet teacher, only to re-learn everything as a result of complex surgeries and challenging rehabilitation.  Having returned to dance, I discovered I loved being in the Pilates studio more than the dance studio!   Realising that there was more to the use of imagery than I had initially used as a dancer, I embarked on a very different movement journey with Eric Franklin.  From these experiences, I know the incredible power of truly integrating body and mind within movement and the total freedom and joy this brings.  When I’m not teaching, I am exploring movement through a whole range of different modalities and deepening my own somatic practice, based on continued study of anatomy, physiology and the psyche in movement, exploring the profound beauty and wisdom held within our physical bodies.

As an educator, my approach is gentle and calm; always with kindness, patience and listening deeply to my clients and their bodies in movement. I am a trauma informed practitioner which means that I have undergone enough training to know how to work with sensitivity and a very clear framework and additionally I have completed the BAID (Black Artists in Dance) training, safeguarding training and have DBS Clearance. It is my objective to be as inclusive as I can be, within the scope of my practice because movement is never just movement, but a holistic practice about the unique individual.  It is also a joy and is certainly the best place to be!

It is really important to me that everything we do in my studio is based on health, the science behind it, and my work enhances your wellbeing in mind and body.  Over the years I feel dismayed about my industry, hearing from new clients about body shaming in movement classes, being made to feel unworthy, compared with others or be given false truths (about six packs, pelvic floors, weight loss, mindless repetitions or how the body works to name a few).  All this does is make your body tense, uncomfortable, movement is not enjoyable and in some extreme cases causes distress and hurt.  Lots of this is passed down training from teachers, lack of knowledge or, worse still, stamping authority over others.  The damage it does to the person as well as their movement capacity can be huge.  From my own corner, I want to play my part in putting an end to all of that.

I work with women and dancers who are focused and committed to improving their movement skills, and wellbeing, regardless whether they are new to movement or professional movers.

I look forward to helping you on your unique journey, to discover the endless potential of your body and mind; helping you learn how to integrate both in a powerful way, to help you reach your goals, either online or in person.

Sarah

xx