CARLY DAMMON (she/her)
Mindful movement is my heart and soul. I started dance classes at the ripe age of two and made dance my whole world until I finished high school. The competitive side of dance burned me out and felt antithetical to dance as a form of art and expression, so I chose not to pursue it in college. I had chronic pain from hyperextending and pushing my body past its limits.
On my journey of slowing down, I found a yoga class at my university. The movements felt intuitive and connected me to the pieces of dance that nourished my body and mind. A few years later, I came across a workout video from the early 2000s that combined yoga, pilates and dance. It felt like a light bulb, or rather an entire chandelier went off in my head. These different movement modalities fused together just felt right in my body.
I made a routine out of this practice and began feeling stronger and healthier. People in my life commented on the physical changes to my appearance, which sparked another light bulb moment - I didn't love weight loss being glorified. As someone recovering from disordered eating and body dysmorphia, I found the aesthetic-based language of the fitness world to be limiting and exclusive. Through treatment for disordered eating, I found Ayurveda and herbalism and fell deeper in love with yoga, pilates, barre, and dance. I wanted to infuse the principles of yoga, mindfulness, and zen into fitness. My journey through movement is ever-evolving and I aim to make fitness more inclusive and accessible for all. I want fitness to feel empowering, explorative and liberating.
What You Can Expect From My Classes
Curiosity, fluidity and grounded power. My intention is to create a warm and welcoming space for you to feel empowered and free to honor your body's needs. While core focused work is challenging in nature, we'll approach it in a way that feels ~*approachable*~ Think strength meets softness. My teaching style is anatomically driven, prioritizing breath attunement and encouraging the adaptation of moves/shapes for each individual's unique needs and desires. In my Pilates offerings, we honor and emphasize the roots and principles while infusing non-traditional, dynamic flows. While the class is accessible to all levels, it will indeed offer challenges and empower your entire body. We'll conclude with a soothing stretch and shavasana, leaving you feeling refreshed and centered.