Who I am, what I do

I’m Julie. I run my Feldenkrais® practice, Smooth Moves Lab, from beautiful York and online.

I help people move with more joy, freedom and ease, without having to hurt themselves or push through the pain barrier. I help people to inhabit their body, learn its cues and have faith in its ability to get better.

I am a mover improver, mind-body balancer, pain whisperer, coach & possibility facilitator.

How I became an unlikely movement teacher

From geeky kid…

When I was little, I was known for being shy, stubborn, for reading voraciously and for looking after my little sister (or nephew - as in the picture). I was small, never chosen for teams at school, had flat feet and was clumsy as a legacy of being born with a slightly dodgy hip. That’s my excuse, anyway.

I still enjoyed being active. I hadn’t learnt not to yet. So, I…

  • played outside

  • roamed around on adventures with friends

  • swam underwater

  • roller skated

  • did daredevil tricks on my bike

  • and climbed trees.

Yet, these fun times all dropped away as I hit my teens. School work came to the fore at the same time as the competitive nature of teenage sport put me off. I couldn’t match up, so chose to set my body, my physical self on one side and live in my head.

…to responsible mother

In mid life, after the duty years of bringing up children and working long hours sat down at desk jobs, my daily state was feeling fatigued, stiff and aching. I was active, walking and cycling, but without the joy. I tried Pilates for years to address post-natal back pain because a doctor said I should.

…to mid-life movement experiments

The kids grew a bit more. I had a nagging feeling I was missing out. So, around age 40, I thought I had better round out my education and turn my attention to my body.

I got braver, putting myself into situations that I wasn’t any good at. I took up…

  • dancing

  • yoga

  • windsurfing

  • training in a gym

  • and martial arts.

These were fun, I enjoyed myself. But the aches did not go away. I was not feeling any more flexible or skilful. I felt I was lacking progression, a way to develop.

…tHEN a chance encounter

I came to Awareness Through Movement® by chance. My Pilates teacher was learning some new skills and tried them out on us, her class.

I was hooked from the first lesson. This class spoke to my body and my busy, little mind.

I had plenty to feel and think about as I moved. It did not matter whether I could or could not do some moves. Nobody compared me with anyone else. The teacher did not demo perfect poses that made the rest of us feel inadequate. I liked that we didn’t have a formula to copy mindlessly. Instead, we were guided to feel what was happening, to find our own best version of each movement.

…to movement connoisseur

I stuck with this new thing and dropped Pilates.

Bit by bit, I could feel more and do more. I became more attuned to myself. I felt more aware and alive. My mind and body were reunited…or, my mind did not always get the upper hand. I loved feeling free and weightless at the end of class. I had self-help tools that I knew would last a lifetime and which I could apply any time.

For years, a knee niggle had bothered me when walking. So now, as I walked I experimented with myself. I played around with simple variations to my gait - changing where I placed my heel, the angle of each knee, how much my pelvis swung and turned with each stride. Soon, the knee pain vanished and has stayed away.

On long, long car journeys to go to meetings, with my low back locked in spasm, I would do the tiniest movements of my pelvis, in circles, curves, arcs and lines - taken from a classic lesson we call The Pelvic Clock. As if my joints had been oiled, it brought smoothness and comfort, even on 14-hour work days.

…but still learning

I still have lots to learn. There are ‘advanced’ lessons I can’t do well yet. I pick up injuries or pain, like anyone. I have illnesses and feel stress.

But, I know how to get myself out of that quicker now. I lie down on the floor and do what I teach in class. Do less… move more slowly…feel where else moves apart from the first place you noticed… feel where you press the ground… and where you don’t…

…and now passing it on, as a movement teacher

I love introducing people to this little-known method. If they come and try a lesson, they are open minded - which is a great start. For a while, though, they are also usually a bit baffled. How can something so gentle make any difference?

Soon, that gives way to excitement as they realise how they can learn the means to change themselves from the inside out. They can feel great, once a week, at the end of class. And, they can have lives that are easier, less uncomfortable, less restricted and more fulfilling.

It is satisfying and a privilege to be part of.

What students say about my teaching

“You know your stuff.” - JP, workshop student

“Loved your kind, calm, clear approach.” - MW, workshop student

“Julie is a calm and caring teacher.” - SD, classes student

“Thank you for the opportunity to join your insightful classes.” - CC, classes & workshop student

Still have questions…?

…before you join a class or work with me

Great! I don’t blame you.

You want to know more about how I would accommodate to your own circumstances? You want to know if we would gel? You want to know how our partnership would work if you come for a one-to-one? Or, something else is on your mind?

I like to satisfy my curiosity, too, before jumping in at the deep end.

Fire away. I’d be happy to help.

Training and credentials

And, now onto the formal bit…so you know that I am experienced and fully qualified for this work. And that I didn’t just attend a weekend workshop and think myself the finished article.

I am qualified as a Feldenkrais® practitioner, teaching Awareness Through Movement® group sessions and offering individual Functional Integration® lessons.

I follow the ethics guidelines of the UK Feldenkrais® guild, am a member of the guild, have insurance and an enhanced DBS check.

My training programme

I trained for four years (2016-2020) with the Feldenkrais® Professional Training in London, an intensive, experiential course of 1000+ hours, which is regulated by the Feldenkrais European Training Accreditation Board and recognised worldwide. Before that, I had studied Awareness Through Movement® in weekly classes for 11 years.

My trainers

I trained under the educational directorship of Elizabeth Beringer, an original student of Moshe Feldenkrais, and Scott Clark. They both also have a movement background - Elizabeth in Aikido, Scott in dance and Laban.

The training exposed me to numerous international trainers - David Zemach-Bersin, Garet Newell, Angelica Feldmann, Julie Peck and Arlyn Zones. Some of their areas of expertise included child movement development, voice and physiotherapy. I continue with regular courses for my own curiosity and professional development, most recently with David Zemach-Bersin, Jeff Haller and Marek Wyszynski.

What I learnt about

My training curriculum included:

  • somatic pioneers

  • the life of Moshe Feldenkrais and development of his method

  • how infants develop, learn and move

  • how to create a learning environment

  • sensory and motor nervous system

  • self-organisation

  • stress, pain and anxiety

  • skeletal anatomy

  • fascia, soft tissues and tensegrity

  • moving efficiently in gravity

  • the influence of judo

  • the concept of ‘acture’ vs posture

  • habit disruption

  • movement observation

  • developing sensing of self and others

  • Awareness Through Movement® repertoire and principles

  • Functional Integration repertoire® and principles

  • documented teaching practicum of Awareness Through Movement® and Functional Integration® lessons