• 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
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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
There are moments—like this week—when the world feels like too much. You open the news and it hits before you can brace: airstrikes. university occupations. protest crackdowns. leaders falling. systems unraveling. And yet somehow, you’re still expected to reply to emails, make dinner, smile at strangers in the grocery store. The body knows something is wrong, even when we keep moving through our day. This past Saturday, just 90 minutes before teaching The Source Awakens, I was out walking my...
Hi Reader, Thanks to everyone who tuned in (or set an alarm!) for Thursday’s IG Live on the Gyrotonic Method and bone density. The questions were smart, the conversation was rich—and if you missed it, I’ve got you covered. 🎥 Here’s the replay: We talked about: Whether overhead work with the Wingmaster can replicate heavy lifting If jumping on the JSB with max resistance creates enough impact How much challenge is actually required to stimulate bone growth And most importantly: How do we layer...
My hands gripped the edges of the table as I took another breath and focused on relaxing the area beneath my left scapula. The needle bit into my skin, searing a path down my back as I exhaled slowly, keeping perfectly still while tension rippled through my body. Then ...Release. A magnificent flood of warmth spread across my system. The moment the needle lifted, my body melted. Relief washed through me like an internal tide, eclipsing the distress signals that had overwhelmed me just seconds...