“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.”
JIM ROHN
Hi, my name is Anastasiya, I am here to show you that all you need to know about your body and about movement is already inside of you. All you need is to learn how to listen and read the signs of your body, instead of suppressing them. Start peeling your onion, a whole new world is about to be uncovered for you.
I started dancing when I was 3,5 years and for the past 25 years I have experimented with different dance styles, from rhythmic gymnastics, to salsa, tango, bellydance, pole dancing & twerking. I have always loved to challenge myself, learn new dance styles and try new sports. Primary goal back then was to push the limits, show the world I was worthy, because I was capable, my body could held the world on its shoulders.
Few years back, I taught pole dance and twerk next to a full time job, but unfortunately I had to take a break as my body was literally falling apart. That was a clear sign that something had to change. Not only in the way I (over)used my body but the way I approached life in general. My body was not supporting my lifestyle choices and was sending alarms and SOS signals I ignored for years. After struggling with lower back pain for a few years and not finding any relief from conventional therapies, I started my own discovery journey into the world of human physiology and movement. My very structured legal brain immediately decided to “do things right” so I took trainer courses and started testing functional movement on myself.
Now — 5 years later — my life has changed completely. Not only my back problems are not bothering me anymore, my life transformed 360 degrees. I moved to Italy, bough my dream home in a small rural village in the Italian Alps, left my full time job and I am creating my online coaching business and soon will be running a B& B in our home. Was it all thanks to movement? No, but it was my “door opening” that allowed the transformation to happen.
This new approach to what physical activity can be, has shown me how to appreciate and respect my body’s boundaries, not putting it in a box, but exploring the endless possibilities of movement with curiosity, not judgemnt. Now has come the time to share it with you. Hop on and let me guide you through the wonderful paths of movement.
This can be you, you have it in you to make the change. Your life can be so much easier, more joyful and bright, once you start noticing the way you move. Increased awareness is the FIRST step towards the transformation you are searching for. Lets move together and create future generations that feel at ease in their bodies, and transfer that ease and joy everyone around.
Testimonials
I love the slow progression all the explanation, and the focus in a specific area in a body. A lot of what we did is similar to fitness exercises, but when you do it slowly and with all the tips and focus that you give us, it feels completely different.
Working with Anastasiya helps me ground myself and connect with myself. I know these are things that are good for me, but they are hard to decide to do on my own, so I really enjoy having a dedicated time to be guided by her to reconnect. It adds a new dimension to my week and helps me stay balanced.
Anastasiya challenges me in ways I wouldn’t know to challenge myself. I am pretty good at pushing my limits, but the way I do it is by brute force. Having Anastasiya guide me through seemingly “easy” movements that expose undiscovered facets of my physical body is both fascinating and rewarding.
My philosophy
Movement is life. The way we move is the way we live our lives. As Bessel Van der Kolk said “Angry people live in angry bodies”. Every experience we have from when we were born till we leave this earth are imprinted into our body, written down in the codes of our inner computer. We carry this luggage with us each and single day of our lives. Therapy can definitely help making it lighter, but that is just a start.
Medicine is progressing every day, so there is a good chance we will live a much longer life than our ancestors. But what about the quality of life? Would you like to live in your current body for the next 50-60-70 years? Does it feel like a comfortable and safe home to you?
We need to move more, but also to move better. If your current workout (be it gym / dancing / acrobatics, running or weightlifting) is not helping you to move better and to feel better, what’s the point?
My movement sessions are built on the principles from Pilates, functional fitness, somatic education. I continuously explore different methods, testing it always first on myself and then integrate it into my client work. There is no secret formula or patented method, just common sense mixed with a lot of curiosity and self-humor.
My method
A lot of people are asking me: are you teaching yoga or is it Pilates? I teach neigher.
Our human mind always wants to categorize things, in order to understand them better. And that is completely fine. Yes, I use movements from yoga, Pilates and other movement-related specializations, because movement is our “common language"' but I add a specific focus.
Depending on the language I work in, I could call my sessions “functional movement” or “'postural movement”, “ginnastica posturale”.
We work with the body as a whole (holistic approach), looking at its primary function and focusing on broadening our “movement vocabulary”, including as much variation as we can. We look at the body as a complex system that was designed to work and move in a certain way. That’s why we move away from just doing (copying a form) a certain exercise like a push-up, a squat, a plank or a headstand and fitting our body no-matter-what into a certain shape. Instead we focus on training a movement and “re-learning” how our body should feel and react, meanwhile building new neural pathways in our brain. We might be doing the same movement, e.g. mermaid with side bent, and it will look different on you than it does on me. And that is great. I teach you how to feel the movement and explore it within your capabilities at a given moment of time. We explore our bodies abilities together and learn new, easier ways to move.
My ultimate goal as movement coach is not only to help you to move more freely, without pain and injuries, improve your posture but to get you curious to explore that way you are used to move and show you an alternative way. This is where the transformation starts. everything you experience on the mat, becomes part of you and your life will never be the same.
FAQ
What should you know before joining the movement world?
First, read carefully though this section, if you still feel unsure about something, feel free to send me your question here and I will get back to you.
What is the best place to start integrating movement into my life?
If we have never worked together I always recommend starting by following me on IG. It gives a nice first taste and there is a lot of free material you can find. Next step would be subscribing to the Online Movement Space. This is a monthly subscription that gives you access to a library of trainings. It grows every week and as a member you get to co-decide and ask for a specific training/ practice.
I am new to movement or I had to stop for a long time, would I be able to follow the classes?
Most of the classes/ sessions (live online or pre-recorded) are meant for people with different levels of previous / existing physical activity. I always include more easy or more difficult options so everyone can feel comfortable during the classes and have the possibility to adopt each movement to the body. If you are not sure or have a pre-existing diagnosed condition that prevents you from doing a certain movement, please reach out to me and we will discuss together the best way forward.
How do I know that I am doing the exercises correctly?
In my sessions (live online / pre-recorded / private) I give very specific explanations that will allow you to gain awareness about the way your body responds to a certain move. You do not need to copy a certain “shape”, but find a way to feel the move in your body. During a private coaching session I directly guide and correct you. In case of live online classes you are free to ask questions and ask for feedback during the class. If you are part of Online Movement Space, I encourage you to ask questions in our group chat and get feedback from me. In case you want to receive a personalised feedback, I also offer a postural /movement assessment. Reach out for more info!
I have a herniated disk, can I still follow the classes?
Please always consult the doctor beforehand. My session will help you to rebalance the working of the muscles and avoid future problems, like hernia, back spasms, sciatica. In case you are in an inflammation period (that prevents you from moving freely) — you need to wait until the pain level drops, before joining the class.
I am pregnant, are the classes suitable for me?
Please always consult the doctor before coming to the class. The classes are not specifically designed to sustain you during (or shortly after) pregnancy. If you have always been physically active and have a standard pregnancy without complications, you are welcome to join once you have your doctors approval.
I don't have (some) of the materials you use in class, can I still join?
We often use props during the classes. However, you are free to substitute them by “on hand materials” (towel, tennisbal, socks, belt) — I always include variety of options. Tools are just props that help us in a certain exercise, making it more effective, but it is always up to you to aquire them.
In the 1:1 setting, the props are included in your “STARTERS BUNDLE”.
Will the classes help me to loose weight?
I do not focus on weight loss in my programs/classes/sessions. Increased physical activity (at least 3 times a week) will definitely help you to feel more energetic and emotionally light, which will change your eating habits (and at the end help you to lose weight). My movement coaching will help you to reduce muscle imbalances, make the joints more mobile and stable and take away some of the “stuck” fluids, making your body more toned and fit.
Latest news
Check my Instagram for interesting posts and additional exercises that can help you in your movement journey.