About Marèa Movement
Behind the Name: Marèa
noun. tide
Pronunciation - ma-ray-ah
Definition - the regular, twice-a-day ebbing and flowing movement of the sea.
I wanted a word that brought to mind calm, stability and fierceful energy. Whenever I think about the sea, I feel instantly grounded and have a sense of freedom, imagining the expanse of the sea at the horizon. The ebb and flow of the sea is a constant cyclical movement - with its highs and lows, like in life. I thought this was the perfect image to accompany my vision… and so Marèa Movement was born.
Hello, I’m Stef.
In a nutshell, I am a Classical Pilates Matwork Teacher, with extensive experience as a Movement Practitioner in working with people of all ages and abilities. I have a background as a dancer and inclusive dance facilitator/leader.
I am interested in all things wellness and well-being and I am on a mission to help people become more mindful about their lifestyle and learn how to take better care of their body and mind.
What I’m About.
My Story.
My relationship with movement is critical to how I go through life. As a dancer – with many years of training, performance and high risk work - I’ve put my body through a lot of physical and emotional pain, injuries, discomfort, lack of rest and burnout, let alone body shaming and dislike (from others and myself).
Since a young age, whenever I didn’t feel good in my body or there was something going on like a physical pain or injury, my mind and mental health became badly affected by it, which in turn made the recovery journey longer and more difficult.
Years of being told I wasn’t good enough took its toll, and eventually allowed seeds of doubt to take root away from the studio. But despite everything, I kept following my path and big dreams. Since the day I left home for the first time at 19, I have relocated four times, travelled extensively meeting wonderful artists, practitioners and healers. In all these ups and downs and moving around I found myself and my mission. This journey however is beautifully never ending.
When covid hit, and everything started to shrink, my world and everything I had worked hard for started to fall apart. By then I had been living in England for just 6 months, so I took the chance to
reinvent myself again, starting by looking after my physical and mental health through yoga and pilates classes, art & craft, DIY work and looking after my plants.
Particularly, I fell in love with Pilates, noticing how not only I was able to retain my level of fitness, but my body started to transform and become stronger. My mind was also at ease during the time I spent on the mat. And so I took the leap…
I enrolled in a Teacher Training course with one of the UK’s most well known studios, Exhale Pilates London, certifying as a Classical Pilates Mat Teacher in 2021. For the past two years I’ve been teaching in various pilates studios, fitness and therapy centres around Warwickshire and the West Midlands helping clients recover from and prevent injuries, improve flexibility, core strength and mobility, as well as athletes improve their physical performance. Week by week I witness the incredible transformation of my clients who look and feel healthier, happier and empowered to take care of their body, mind and overall well-being.
My Approach
I am a compassionate person, a caring teacher, and I love making my classes a safe environment for people to have fun, feel at ease and challenge their own limitations. I always say that consistency is key to progress. Results will come over time, but what’s even more important for me is to allow my clients to recognise their progress and small wins week by week. This active response to the practice builds confidence, and confidence enhances awareness of oneself. This, in turn, ultimately contributes to one’s improvement.
If someone says to me: “I cannot do this!”, I reply: “We would find a way for you to do it!”
There is no limit in the mind that the body cannot overcome and vice versa.
If you’d like to chat more about what I do, please get in touch.