The Art Of Movement Framework: 5 Elements for Transformation and Growth

Transform your movement practice into a powerful language of gesture, training mind, body, and spirit through five dynamic elements.

Each workshop follows a clear structure, allowing space for personal and collective expression.

Earth:

The Sanctuary - Arrival & Grounding

Fire:

The Forge - Activation & Energy Building

Water:

The Lab - Creativity & Flow

Air:

The Stage - Expression & Communication

Spirit:

The Retreat - Integration & Reflection

  • The sound AOM echoes the primordial vibration of creation, also transcribed as OM or AUM and stands for

    • Anthropology of Movement: Connect your body and practice with the rich tapestry of practices, lineages, and stories of embodied practice.

    • Awareness of Movement: Cultivate a deeper understanding of your body's unique expression and story.

    • Art of Movement: Engage with your peers in an innovative practice that inspires creativity and vitality.

    In New York City and internationally, AOM fuses martial arts, theatre, dance, somatics, and storytelling into immersive journeys of self-discovery and creative expression:

    Each workshop is designed to challenge, heal, grow skills, and inspire through an embodied practice that connects body, mind, and spirit.

    From the energy of the stage to the intimacy of shared movement, these workshops offer a unique opportunity to explore your body’s intelligence, adapt to stress and conflict, and express your personal story through the power of movement and performance.

  • Holistic Education for All

    AOM is founded on three guiding principles:

    1. Every person with a physical body is capable of lifelong learning and development.

    2. Every individual has a story to convey that can change the world.

    3. "Everyone has the ability to cultivate movement awareness, unlocking a deeper connection to human experience, nature and universal knowledge."

    Based on these principles, AOM is dedicated to cultivating a platform where the awareness, skill, and culture of human movement are central to a comprehensive, holistic education. We aim to empower and train the polymath within each of us.

    At AOM, our work is centered on healing, education, and creativity, all driven by embodied wisdom and kinesthetic learning. We champion the essential value of somatic awareness, storytelling, and movement arts as intangible cultural heritage, recognizing their profound impact on personal and societal growth. These aspects, often neglected in conventional education, are crucial to restoring a more holistic learning environment across all areas of society.

    Our mission is to reintroduce these vital elements into the heart of education, creating a platform that unites science, tradition, and innovation into a shared global culture. We provide individuals, communities, and organizations with the tools to cultivate their "physical instrument"—a concept that transcends the mere physical body and embraces the dynamic interplay between consciousness and movement.

    A key aspect of our work lies in challenging and reshaping body culture through kinesthetic learning, encouraging the exploration and expression of personal narratives through interdisciplinary art forms. By advancing a science-informed, holistic education, we seek to address the needs of both the present and the future.

    AOM’s media channel is committed to showcasing how people from all walks of life experience and understand their bodies. We highlight the work of historical and contemporary experts dedicated to kinesthetic learning, practice, and culture, contributing to a global, democratic society's holistic growth.

    We believe that true democracy begins with the body. To achieve equality, education must include an awareness of what we share as human beings before the acquisition of verbal language and learned skills. Language, often tied to social class and privilege, can divide us. However, movement is a universal language that transcends these barriers. By examining our shared physical heritage, informed by millennia of kinesthetic anthropology, we can begin to address the biases and histories that shape our current world.

    Humanity's shared education in physical practice is our most fundamental connection—our ability to move, tell stories, and develop throughout our lives. By exploring movement across cultures and contexts, we uncover both our shared human experience and the uniqueness of each individual. Movement, therefore, becomes a practice of empathy, curiosity, and compassion, fostering a deeper understanding of others and ourselves. Moreover, through the study of movement, we can connect with other species and the non-living world, developing a spiritual practice that transcends religion and cultural divisions.

    AOM is dedicated to fostering creativity, discovery, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be alive as an evolving, communicating, and developing human being.

  • AOM – Anthropology of Movement

    Somatic Movement Training & Embodied Pedagogy

    Anthropology of Movement (AOM) is a somatic movement system and embodied pedagogy that reimagines the body as instrument, teacher, and temple.

    Rooted in trauma-informed somatic education, martial arts, and physical theatre, AOM blends nervous system regulation, creative expression, and adaptive conditioning into a holistic, interdisciplinary practice.

    It is a training for artists, athletes, and seekers in transition—designed to enhance physical intelligence, emotional resilience, and poetic embodiment.

    Pedagogical Foundations

    AOM draws from a living lineage of master teachers, including:

    • Moshe Feldenkrais – neuroplasticity & functional integration

    • Michael Ryabko – natural movement, fear modulation & breathwork

    • Jacques Lecoq – gesture, rhythm & expressive play

    Alongside these pillars, AOM is informed by:

    Krishnamacharya, Andrew Taylor Still, Laban/Bartenieff, Viewpoints, Hebertism, and the broader evolution of 20th-century actor training, somatic psychology, and movement-based healing practices.

    The Five Elements of AOM

    Each session is a ritual of awareness, reinvention, and integration, organized through the following elemental gateways:

    • Earth — Resilience & Foundation

    • Water — Adaptation & Flow

    • Fire — Power & Will

    • Air — Expression & Vision

    • Aether — Integration & Meaning

    This elemental pedagogy links physical movement to emotional, mental, and symbolic layers—awakening a deeper, more connected experience of self.

    Why AOM?

    Unlike conventional fitness or talk-based modalities, AOM invites the body to become a site of inquiry, storytelling, and transformation.

    You’ll train not just muscles—but awareness, coordination, and presence under pressure.

    Whether in recovery or performance, AOM provides tools to:

    • Restore nervous system balance

    • Rebuild functional movement patterns

    • Deepen creative embodiment

    • Reclaim agency after stress or trauma

    • Sharpen stage presence and somatic awareness

  • The Art of Movement: Introducing The 5 Elements

    A framework designed to guide you through a transformative process. Train your mind, body, and spirit through the integration of 5 dynamic elements of transformation.

    🔥 Fire: The Combative Body

    • Space: The Forge

    • Archetype: The Warrior

    • Focus: Courage, Strength, Mobility, Resilience

    Description:
    The Warrior archetype embodies bravery, strength, and discipline. In this space, you’ll tap into your inner warrior to build physical strength and mental resilience. This element empowers you to face challenges head-on with determination and unwavering confidence, channeling the energy of fire to fuel your journey.

    Practice Overview:
    Engage in dynamic martial arts and cross-disciplinary movement. Utilize functional training with bells, clubs, maces, and animal-inspired patterns to transform your energy into action, fortifying your body and mind.

    🌬️ Air: The Articulate Body

    • Space: The Stage

    • Archetype: The Storyteller

    • Focus: Breath, Voice, Communication, Knowledge

    Description:
    The Storyteller archetype is the communicator of truth. This space invites you to refine your communication skills, express your thoughts clearly, and discover the power of your voice. Focus on breath control, clarity of speech, and expressive gestures to enhance your ability to connect and inspire through storytelling.

    Practice Overview:
    Master breath, voice, and storytelling to articulate your truth with confidence. Develop your communication skills, refine your personal narrative, and explore new creative ways to express emotions.

    💧 Water: The Creative Body

    • Space: The Lab

    • Archetype: The Alchemist

    • Focus: Creativity, Adaptability, Flow, Emotion

    Description:
    The Alchemist archetype embodies transformative creativity and fluidity. In this space, you’ll explore your creative potential through movement, dance, and physical theatre. Work with theater masks and engage in cross-disciplinary art to express emotions and cultivate deeper connections with yourself and others.

    Practice Overview:
    Tap into your creativity through movement and collaborative performances. Embrace the fluidity of life, express your emotions through art, and discover new ways to engage with your creative self.

    🌍 Earth: The Grounded Body

    • Space: The Sanctuary

    • Archetype: The Seeker

    • Focus: Stability, Mindfulness, Awareness, Presence

    Description:
    The Seeker archetype is about grounding and introspection. In this space, you’ll foster mindfulness and stability through somatic practices and meditation. Cultivate inner peace and presence, rooting yourself in the present moment to navigate life with clarity and purpose.

    Practice Overview:
    Anchor yourself through somatic coaching and mindfulness practices. Ground your mind and body, enhancing awareness and inner peace as you move through life with stability and intention.

    🌟 Spirit Quintessence: The Integration of All Elements

    • Space: The Retreat

    • Archetype: The Teacher

    • Focus: Integration, Wholeness, Celebration, Community

    Description:
    The Teacher archetype represents the culmination of your journey. In this space, you’ll experience the harmonious integration of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth through retreats, teacher training, and community-building. Celebrate your transformation and connect with a supportive community of like-minded individuals.

    Practice Overview:
    Engage in retreats and teacher training to integrate the elements. Embrace the full spectrum of your transformation, while learning to guide and inspire others in their own journeys.

  • “If you want to be in truthful dialogue with your body, to reconnect with its natural intelligence, and to work with someone who will gently but masterfully guide you to towards that, then work with Ben! I completely trust his knowledge of how the body works, and his holistic, connected approach. ”

    — Sabrina Hayeem-Ladani

  • “I felt extremely fulfilled going home - I’ve been telling all my friends and family about class and they are so intrigued by it all. ”

    -Millie Gibbons 

  • “Ben is the best trainer ever. He is a great teacher and person. I never miss his classes”

    — Maha Alasaker

  • “Studying under Ben's pedagogy was truly a step forward to the understanding of human bodies' capabilities. It is challenging and demands full focus. Ben will adapt himself to the student’s needs and will push them to reach their best creativity level. I got out of every class feeling fulfilled on a physical aspect and, most importantly, I found myself creating work.”

    — Tom Koch

  • “This practice is beneficial to all, especially to all performers. Learning to understand, listen to and trust your body is essential to all truthful performance. This works allows you to explore yourself and teaches you techniques in releasing unwanted and unnecessary tension. “

    — Girshel Topuria

  • “ I have been using the techniques the past few days and they're really effective! I look forward to more!”

    — Danny Musengo

  • “My first session was a revelation.  I can only describe it as a combination of being taught how to adjust my own spine, to rethink how to move my body to correct the bad habits, and to stretch more deeply than any yoga class.  To my surprise I was tearful at the end of the session, partly due to the deep release and partly because for the first time ever I could see that there was light at the end of the pain tunnel. Ben’s gifted and intuitive teaching reminds me of seeing a master in that he can sense the issue before I try and explain it in words.  It is quite remarkable. “

    -Natalie Clark

  • “Never before have I encountered a martial art that puts me so completely in my body.  After only a couple classes I found my awareness of my body increased exponentially, and I already had several years of martial arts and dance under my belt.  People chuckle when I tell them that we spend a solid half of class rolling on the floor, but my body now does things I had no idea it could do (like stand up from lying down without using my hands)!  Plus, who doesn't want to practice knife fighting blindfolded?!”

    — Robin Stillwater

  • “Ben is a gifted healer. I had only time for two sessions with him. My left knee had been bothering me. Ben was able to give me significant relief by working on my entire physical structure rather than just the knee. I highly recommend him. You would be hard pressed to find a more knowledgeable and kind miracle worker. He will also set you up with a set of exercises address your specific needs.”

    — Dieter Gloeckler

  • “Benjamin taught me a lot. I first found him in order to heal or at least work on my scoliosis. The body exercises given are empowering…It’s shocking how awake and aware I now feel with his training.Life changing experience. I feel blessed and so thankful!”

    — Morgan Swierk

  • “I've pursued many fitness modalities from structured cardio, to classic weight training, to pilates and yoga. Ben's creative, multidisciplinary, client-centered approach has seen my body change and improve in ways no other work has done before--increasing my joint mobility, lengthening my muscles, deepening my core strength, and giving me better balance. I move through the world better from having worked with Ben. All the while, he makes each session fun, different and interesting. I highly recommend him to anyone at any level of fitness wanting to feel better in their body.

    -Ben Stark

  • While I was aware of Asian martial arts in particular, I had never heard of Systema, a Russian martial art form.  However, since it was right around the corner, I decided to give it a go.  Unlike the Kung Fu I had previously studied for about a year, with endless slow repetition of various forms, Systema focuses on a small number of core principles, applied to different situations.  Ben teaches the class in a very hands-on, participatory fashion, making it comfortable for both newbies and more experienced participants.  We spend a lot of time with different partners using just our bodies and also knives, sticks, even a whip, working towards remaining calm and reducing long-held fears of hitting and being hit.  Each class ends with discussion and questions sitting in a circle about what we liked, didn’t like.  It’s a great workout and I’m finding it interesting and fun; I recommend it highly.

    — Larry Berkowitz

  • “A great practitioner is different than a great teacher.  I believe that Ben is both.  When I inevitably stumble in my grasp or execution of a concept, Ben is consistently able to discern the “why”, and he will immediately shift gears to a new exercise that frames the concept in a way that lays bare where I am falling short…and from there we can effectively work on improvement.  This ability to read in the moment how I am processing his instruction makes Ben a unique person and an excellent teacher. I feel fortunate to train with him.” “The exercises and training methods during our sessions - whether one on one or in group classes- are challenging, fun, and they get me thinking about how my mind and body can work in concert towards an objective.  Since I began working with Ben, I can see and feel positive results in everything from my breathing and posture to a level of confidence in my capability for self defense should the need arise. 

    — Greg E.

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