Our Story
The Academy arose out of our intention to bring more consciousness and safety into today’s world of movement. Both of us – Renée Tillotson and Douglas Groesser – had individually been experiencing the need for more mindfulness in movement practices: Renée as studio owner and Black Belt Nia teacher, and Douglas as a lifelong mover in gyms, on tennis and volleyball courts, on soccer fields and ski slopes.
As we observed the many teaching practices of instructors and coaches in the worlds of exercise, moving arts, and sports, we began to realize that although these teachers might know their discipline very well, they had no idea or technique as to how to teach it mindfully. And they were often hurting themselves. And their students. And thinking that was OK.
The instructors we watched did not know how to teach to the whole human being: body, feelings and mind. They did not know how to weave intentionality into their lessons to satisfy student’s minds. Some did not know how to teach students to value and respect their bodies and their emotional natures – to see themselves as precious. Most coaches had no clue as to how to listen to body sensations in order to craft and adapt their movement.
The most painful part for us has been watching the performers, athletes and students of these instructors and coaches as they sacrifice their physical, emotional and mental health for the sake of external goals. We see pain glorified and people damaging their bodies, thinking that it’s the only way to get better, to win, to lose weight, to succeed, or to get fit.
We realized that there had to be a better way to teach movers. We know ways of moving that allow people to get more healthy and to feel better. Ways to be more aware, instead of needing to numb the pain. Ways to find success and reward through movement without permanently damaging our poor bodies.
So we created a global legacy project to train the teachers of movement, so that they can in turn teach their students and athletes to move mindfully. Douglas as a teacher trainer and curriculum developer in a lifelong academic career served as Renée’s muse, from her career of teaching gymnasts and Nia movers, as well as directing hundreds of movement teachers for a decade at the StIl & Moving Center.
We came up with a program that systematically trains movement instructors in listening to body sensation, achieving continuity of consciousness, making room for Joy, and enhancing Self awareness in their teaching. And we share that program worldwide via The Academy of Mindful Movement!
