Explore the balance of strength and softness through a Somatic approach to Pilates and soothing myofascial releaseAbout this Event
Your body knows what it needs before your mind does. A tight spine, stiff shoulders, shallow breath are all signs that it is time for you to pause, release and restore.
This masterclass invites you to move with awareness, combining Pilates with a Somatic, sensations-led approach and myofascial release using tennis balls to alternate activation and relaxation, building core power and muscular engagement, then dissolving into deep release and restoration.
Guided breathwork will open the session, helping you tune in and arrive in your body.
From there, gentle somatic floorwork and tennis‑ball fascia release will soften chronic tension along your spine and feet, creating the space your body has been longing for.
In the heart of the practice, thoughtfully sequenced Pilates movements will take you to the edge of deep contraction and muscular burn, then support you in finding the opposite: softness, surrender and fluid ease.
This alternation trains your nervous system to expand capacity and refine regulation, creating resilience and flexibility.
Our closing phase will integrate movement with stillness: gentle stretches, another section of myofascial release to untie knots in the glutes, quads and shoulders area, and restorative floorwork, so your system can absorb the work and settle into balance.
You will leave grounded yet invigorated, strong yet supple, ready to move through your day with clarity, ease and embodied presence.
In this masterclass you will learn:
• How to release tension safely and effectively using movement and self-massage with tennis balls
• How to balance muscular activation with deep relaxation
• What it feels like to challenge your edges while staying grounded and regulated
This masterclass is for you if you are curious about working with your body in new ways, and ready to expand your capacity exploring strength, softness and the balance between effort and ease.
Open to all levels. No previous experience needed.
FURTHER DETAILS
Please arrive 10 minutes before the start of the event, so that we can start promptly with the perfect quiet and concentration.
Please note, tickets are not refundable.
For any questions please get in touch with Vanessa Michielon at [email protected].
About
Vanessa Michielon, PhD, FHEA, is a Movement Specialist and Nervous System Educator leading a new era of body-based wellness, one grounded in science, emotional intelligence, and somatic awareness.
Founder of the Transformative Movement Method (TMM), Vanessa bridges Yoga, Pilates and Dance with the neuroscience of regulation and resilience, helping people not simply calm down, but thrive under pressure.
With over 37 years of movement study and 17 years of teaching experience (including in Higher Education as a Lecturer for Trinity Laban Conservatoire, the UK’s leading institution for embodied, somatic and interdisciplinary dance training), Vanessa has built a reputation for bringing depth and intelligence to modern wellbeing.
Her approach integrates Polyvagal Theory, Somatic Healing, Yoga Psychology and Pilates, offering a grounded, evidence-informed perspective on stress, resilience and embodied strength.
https://www.vanessamichielon.com
www.instagram.com/vanessamichielon
Event venue
Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London, United Kingdom
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