Laura

Laura Hames is an Entrepreneur and Visionary. She is always developing new ways of looking at the world, connecting with people, and sharing what she is passionate about. Originally from the UK, Laura completed a degree in Dance and Theatre Performance at Bird College in London. As a dancer, performer and teacher of dance and pilates, she has always been inspired by the body, movement and health. Laura always had an innate knowing that there were different ways of looking at, and doing things. This is evident in her personal exploration with her body, health, expression and dance as well as how she works with others to inspire them to realize their possibilities and shifting perspective on what’s possible.

• In 2004, Laura up and left Brighton and took New York City by storm! When asked why she moved to NYC, she could only answer “It just called me.” There seemed to be no other option as to what she should do. Laura put her New York Life together with the help of craigslist, and in an instant, it all seemed to fall into place. And there began her New York life of self discovery and realizing those possibilities. If you can dream it, it can happen.

  As you will see from reading this bio, Laura’s background and experience all ties together to provide her with the skills and talents that she has today.

  Qualifications:

  • Certified BodyTalk Practitioner
  • Certified BodyTalk Access Trainer
  • Franklin Method Instructor
  • Certified Dance Instructor
  • Certified Pilates Instructor
  • Reiki Level One Practitioner
  • BA Hons in Dance and Theatre Performance

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  Certified BodyTalk Practitioner

  Background: Laura found BodyTalk in 2005, when her dear friend Lauren had a miraculous recovery from a back injury after one session of BodyTalk. Lauren and Laura both instantly knew that this was something they both needed to learn, and within 2 months they were both certified. Laura started a practice and began seeing clients and watching the miracles pour out.

  “Learning BodyTalk has been the most amazing, inspiring, life altering experience of my entire life. It was like being plucked out of one reality and dropped into another. It connected the dots from my deep knowing that I seem to have forgotten, and awoke parts of myself that I didn’t even recognize were asleep. BodyTalk continues to amaze and surprise me and is ever evolving as I grow and change. It’s like being put on the fast track of growth and change… what fun!”

  Studies: Laura has completed and monitored modules 1 ,2 ,3 ,4 ,6 ,7 ,9 , Advanced Practical, Orthopedic Evaluation, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Body Chemistry Specifics,  Family Constellations, Advanced Modules Integration, BodyTalk Interactive, PaRama Practical, Structural Integration, Finding Health and is a student of PaRama college. She is constantly expanding her knowledge and deepening her understanding of BodyTalk and how it relates to everything in life.

  Creations: Laura co-founded the BodyTalk Center with Karen Atkins in New York City in 2006. Laura was responsible for the creative flair- coming up with new and inspired ways of communicating about BodyTalk and seeing them through to fruition. Laura had the opportunity to put her skills into action-bringing people together, inspiring them and creating a community and network for the New York BodyTalk matrix and global BodyTalk matrix.

  January 2009, Laura opened BodyTalk Space at Union Square. She has brought together BodyTalk practitioners who share a vision in community, support, and recognizing each individual’s qualities and talents whilst feeding and sharing the united vision. We work together to bring BodyTalk to more people, as well as bringing a BodyTalk into life, and creativity.

  Practitioner: Laura’s clients vary in background, age, race, issues and priorities, but they all seem to have one prevailing factor- they want to improve their life and health. The most inspiring sessions are those where the client is actively participating in their healing process. Whether this be observing, focussing or even learning BodyTalk, clients who realize that their healing is in their own hands make the biggest steps. Laura has an ability to empower her clients and help them to recognize the small changes they can make in their lives to lead to a big difference. Laura’s clients are inspired by the possibilities for their health, well being and bringing the joy back into life and the fun into healing.

  Instructor: Laura is a certified BodyTalk Access Trainer. She also runs regular study groups and supports the BodyTalk matrix globally by offering support and ideas to fellow BodyTalkers. She finds great fulfillment in sharing her inspiration for BodyTalk, and helping others to recognize their own gifts, expression and success.

  http://www.bodytalkspace.com

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  Franklin Method Instructor

  Laura became a certified Pilates Instructor in Brighton, UK with Helge Fisher when in 1999. She was introduced to the Franklin Method, took some of his workshops, and immediately knew this was important piece in the puzzle. She began practicing and reading Eric’s books and noticed huge changes in her movement awareness. Moving doesn’t have to be an effort. It can be easy- and this can actually bring more benefit than ‘working really hard!’

  Laura then found BodyTalk, and her whole perspective on the body took a huge leap. No longer did she witness the body as a series of bones and muscles needing to be stretched, strengthened and massaged- instead she recognized that the body and mind, and our emotions and beliefs are not separate. Wow! Coming back to the Franklin Method after this experience was a totally different reality, it was as though the barriers of what is and what is not possible had been lifted. Suddenly, anything you imagine just is! If you can embody the design of the body you are actually working with yourself and not against it.

  Laura took the Franklin Year One Teacher Training, and immediately became a new dancer, with jumps and turns so dramatically different that she shocked herself. Laura then retook the year one Teacher Training in Italy, and then took a week’s intensive for dancers in Denmark at the Royal Danish Ballet.

  She is a now a level Two Instructor.

  

  Laura also assists Eric in his workshops around the world.

  Laura uses the Franklin Method when she works with her BodyTalk clients in sessions and she also teaches regular classes and workshops all over the country. She also teaches weekly classes at Dance New Amsterdam in New York City. She is passionate about changing the dance world and bringing more awareness to health, and movement.

  http://www.frankinmovement.com

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  Dance

  Laura has been dancing and moving for as long as she can remember. She has always been facinated by the body, how it moves and how to get the most from it. She started ballet classes at 4 years old, and thanks to a supportive mum, was able to keep her enjoyment and pursue a degree in dance at age 19 (which was a rather ‘insecure future’ according to the academic advisor at school!)

  “I have always been asking the questions “How can I dance with more ease? Does dance have to be bad for your body? Why are so many dancers injured? How can every day people experience the joy from their body that I feel when I dance? How am I going to change the dance world? (I know its going to happen… I just don’t know how.. yet!)”

  Laura began teaching dance when she was just 14 years old with her dance instructor, Adele Mason, in Brighton. This gave her the amazing opportunity to learn while doing, and she soon became facile at teaching all kinds of dance classes to children and adults of all ages. When she finished school, Laura ran 2 dancing schools and taught ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop as well as choreographing for performances, exams and festivals.

  In 2002, Laura and her friend Lucy Bennett started a Summer School in England; BDD (Brighton Dance Diversion). Laura resigned from this after 3 years due to living in NYC. BDD continues to run very successfully and is growing every year.

  Laura continues to dance and perform. She frequents Zvi Gotheiner’s ballet class for it’s fluid and artistic approach. His class is very condusive to imaging and practicing the Franklin Method.

  “BodyTalk and Franklin Method have transformed my dancing. It’s like I am a completely different person. I am so thankful to know what I know now, and it’s wonderful for me to share this insight with others. In a few years, all this stuff will be common knowledge. You cannot look at the body and mind as separate parts. It is an interwoven system of energy- both seen and unseen, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. What you feel is what you are, and what you image changes what you do and how you do it. If you have energetic blocks that prevent you from being your full potential, and belief systems holding you back, it’s almost impossible, or very effort filled to reach your goal.

  Dance has a lot of judgement and competition, which can be very hard on dancers, and instills many insecurities and fears. I know that I was one of those dancers- trying so hard, but it didn’t quite work. I tried everything to be the dancer I wanted to be- but now I recognize there were some pieces missing. It’s coming together more and more each day. It’s amazing.”

  
  

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  Personal Notes

  

  October 2009

  A lot has grown and changed in the past few months… I guess you can read about it on my home page!? I’m living in Brooklyn, and am traveling and teaching a lot more. And lots more fantastic adventures…

  
  

  
  

  March 13th 2009

  I am watching myself transform at a rapid rate. It’s not always comfortable. I am so thankful for my wonderful friends and that I am living a life of creation!

  
  

  

  November 16th 2008

  For once I will actually write about me from the perspective of me… who am I? Or who am I not…?!

  I live in New York City- in a cute little apartment on the Upper East side. At least for right now. I came to New York form sunny Brighton, England, what will be 5 years ago this January. It was a very cold entrance to NYC, and luckily thanks to a warmer coat, I will never have to experience cold like that again!

  

  I am blessed with living a wonderful life. I feel that I create it each day, and the world is really an open book to be written, and learnt from. I am constantly learning, growing and changing and finding new ways to share my excitement and enthusiasm with the world. I have these little books that I write down all of my inspired thoughts, ideas, feelings and images.

  I want to learn to animate, so that I can bring them to life, and also want to get some little movies filmed and ready to share.

  My life’s intension is to learn, grow, share and inspire. To feel and share love, and to find things that express that. I love to dance and snowboard, music, food, sunshine and to draw and create…

  I will add to this as I change who I am, and what I do… so I can watch myself grow.

  I love (including, but not limited to):

  • Ginger tea with lemon and agave
  • My iphone
  • iH2O
  • My new tea pot
  • My wonderful friends
  • Simon’s music
  • BodyTalk!
  • Franklin Method!
  • Bringing people together
  • Therabanding
  • Mango chutney
  • Snowboarding