Authentic Movement is a meditative, intuitive, improvisational movement practice involving a mover and a witness. It is a practice of listening, attunement, slowing, and opening to a deeper sense of the body and psyche. It was developed by dancer and psychotherapist Mary Starks Whitehouse, who, following her work with Carl Jung, became curious about moving without intention or the practice of "waiting to be moved." The Discipline of Authentic Movement was further developed by Janet Adler, who, over the past fifty years, has refined and deepened the witnessing aspect of the practice.

Authentic Movement is an awareness practice in which there is a mover and a witness. The mover moves with eyes closed or slightly opened and attention directed inward. The witness practices non-judgmental observation. During a session, the mover responds to inner sensations, emotions, images -- whatever surfaces in their internal experience. The witness sits to the side of the space and pays attention to their own internal experience while observing the physical journey of the mover. The focus of the witness is self-awareness rather than evaluation or interpretation of the mover’s experience.

After moving and witnessing, both can record or further explore any aspect of the journey in writing and/or drawing. 

In the end, they have time to share if they wish. Care is taken that both mover and witness speak from their own internal experiences rather than from a judging or evaluative point of view

Authentic Movement cultivates a contemplative frame of mind, clarity of perception, and personally enhancing movement. Participants are often surprised, delighted, and amazed by the diversity and wealth of their experiences as both movers and witnesses.

Meet your teacher Natalya

Natalya was introduced to Authentic Movement while receiving her BA in Dance Movement Therapy at Naropa University. “Talk therapy only goes so far for me. I can experience loops of thinking and solidify narratives and often get sidetracked by the therapeutic relationship. I have such a ‘pleaser’ inside that I have a hard time staying connected to my inner landscape. But in Authentic Movement, a new dimension of self-discovery, expression, and processing of my experiences happens. I am seen & witnessed but not in my head but in my body”. She has participated in 7 years of ongoing Authentic Movement & is a Registered Somatic Movement practitioner.