• I help people fully inhabit their bodies and guide teachers to do the same • Get access to exclusive videos, articles and teachings from Domini Anne
Knotty by Nature
|
Some weeks overflow with deep thoughts Reader , while others hold more space for silence. This week falls into the latter category, yet a recent conversation with a particularly insightful client during a bodywork session sparked an interesting reflection I'd like to share. We were discussing "non-responsive" areas in his body—those persistent muscle knots and surrounding areas of tension. I explained how muscles need to express their full range of motion to feel free, to both contract and release throughout their potential length. When a muscle becomes stuck in contraction anywhere along that range, it develops what we call a "knot." In my experience working with bodies, I've developed a theory: the body often begins to use these knots as anchors for movement, not only adapting its engagement patterns to accommodate these non-responsive areas but actually altering our proprioceptive map—changing how we perceive ourselves internally and ultimately influencing how we show up in the world. "Sounds like emotions," he observed wryly, "like how people use their stored traumas to define them." Food for thought indeed—that the very things standing in our way of full embodiment can become both defining factors and points of stability for our personality, just as much as the creative elements that make us who we are. This Week's Free Workout: Ball by Myself Just as our bodies create internal anchors that shape our movement patterns, our environment plays a powerful role in how we express ourselves physically. This week, I'm sharing a playful exploration of how simple household items can transform your living space into a movement laboratory. In this 25-minute stability ball flow, we'll challenge the conventional boundaries between props and exercise equipment, discovering how everyday objects become invitations for creative movement. Using a stability ball as our primary dance partner (plus some optional hand and ankle weights), we'll flow through a sequence that builds core strength, balance, and mobility while awakening your imagination to the movement possibilities hiding in plain sight at home. Perfect for: Lunch breaks, morning energizing, or afternoon reset. Time investment: 25 minutes You'll need: A stability ball and optional light weights While we're exploring creativity in movement, I'm also excited to share two opportunities to learn together this month... Join Me at Creative Mornings Monterey: The Thread of Curiosity November 22nd, 2024, 8:30 AM PST • Wave Street Studios Attend online or in-person (Limited in-person seats available) Ever notice how pulling one thread can transform an entire piece of fabric? The same is true for our bodies and our lives. In this interactive session, we'll explore how physical and creative patterns interweave to shape our experience. Through gentle movement exploration and partner exercises, you'll discover how following curiosity can unravel stuck patterns and reveal new possibilities for expression. Come prepared to move, reflect, and surprise yourself.
And as we approach the holiday season... AMAZING SPACE: A Free Thanksgiving Morning Practice November 28th, 10:00-11:30 AM PST Live + 3-day replay access for all registered participants Looking for a way to begin your Thanksgiving with intention? Join me for Amazing Space - a graceful journey of breath and movement designed to prepare your body, mind, and spirit for the day of gratitude ahead. Why make space on Thanksgiving morning? • Optimize digestion before the feast • Release physical tension before hours of sitting • Create mental clarity for family time • Cultivate genuine gratitude through embodied practice This free 90-minute class combines proven breathwork techniques with fluid movement sequences - your perfect preparation for a day of abundance. Can't make it live? No worries! All registered participants will receive a 3-day replay to enjoy over the long weekend. Give thanks to your body first. The rest will follow.
Perhaps like those muscle knots we discussed, our greatest insights often emerge when we dare to explore what feels stuck. These moments of tension can become unexpected doorways to discovery. I'd love to explore alongside you Reader. With warmth, Domini Anne |
Domini Anne
• I help people fully inhabit their bodies and guide teachers to do the same • Get access to exclusive videos, articles and teachings from Domini Anne
"Weezy, your shoelace is untied" "I KNOW, Mom" And Louisiana kept on walking. Striding towards our favorite Goodwill, nothing was going to distract her from her goal. But watching my daughter pull a move that I've done countless times (ignoring an untied shoelace while on a quest for urban adventure) allowed me a unique opportunity to witness its effect. I'd always taken the well-meaning alerts about an untied shoelace as either a subtle commentary on the sloppiness of my presentation or an...
Finding Home in Your Body: The Art of Internal Navigation The Familiar vs. The Unknown Have you noticed how different it feels to drive somewhere new versus familiar? Even with the most sophisticated GPS, we feel disconnected in unfamiliar territory, helplessly dependent on that digital voice telling us to “recalculate.” But driving home needs no navigation – we flow through the journey, choosing routes based on traffic, weather, or simple whim, each choice informed by an internal map built...
If Life is a Highway, We Need more Rest Areas. “This is going to make a great story” When times get tough, these are the words that get me through. Reminding me that every adventure, mishap, and white knuckle moment lived up until now has always had an ending. When we're in the thick of it, struggling to solve the insurmountable problem of the hour, it can feel like things may never return to "normal". Projecting that the current predicament might possibly be great material for a future story...