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Embodied Practice

branch 4

This branch centers on the belief that learning begins in the body.

Embodied practice is about cultivating awareness, presence, and self-knowledge — the internal conditions that make learning, change, and connection possible. In a world that constantly pulls us out of ourselves, this work invites a return: to sensation, to breath, to listening inward.

At Groundwork Studios, embodied practice is not separate from learning — it is its root.

What We Do

This branch focuses on practices that support self-awareness, regulation, and readiness to learn. Through movement, reflection, and gentle inquiry, we create opportunities for people to reconnect with their bodies and build a more trusting relationship with themselves.

Our work here includes:

Accessible yoga and movement practices
Guided experiences that prioritize listening over performance
Reflective content that supports self-understanding
Tools and prompts for tuning into physical and emotional needs

This branch holds space for slowing down — not as an escape from learning, but as preparation for it.

What We Prioritize

Accessibility-first movement

We design practices that honor different bodies, abilities, and daily realities. All movement counts.

Embodied self-knowledge

We support people in learning how their bodies communicate needs, boundaries, and capacity.

Presence without performance

Our approach emphasizes curiosity, gentleness, and choice — not athleticism or perfection.

Connecting body awareness to learning

We explore how being present in the body supports empathy, openness, and the ability to change.

The "Fourth Branch" Journey

This branch began before I had language for it.

I grew up dancing — aware of my body from a very young age, often assuming that kind of physical awareness was something everyone naturally had. Over time, I learned that it isn’t. That awareness deepened through yoga, especially under teachers who emphasized presence over form — asking us to smile, to face one another, or even to practice with our eyes closed.

When I moved to New York to pursue professional dance and compositional improvisation, anxiety became a constant companion. Yoga teacher training changed my relationship with my body — and with myself. It taught me how to slow down, witness what was happening internally, and navigate stress with more care and agency.

I believe our culture is often designed to pull us out of our bodies. Disconnection can show up as pain, illness, or simply not knowing what we need. I also believe deeply that yoga is for everyone — not as an athletic pursuit, but as a way of listening inward and responding with care.

This branch exists because learning doesn’t start with content or cognition. It starts with presence. When we know ourselves — when we can sense our needs and capacities — we become more open to learning, change, and connection with others.

—Allison