Movement Works with Sarah McAllum

25/11/2025

Intertwingled (adj.) — in-ter-TWING-guld

A client made up this new word to describe the beautiful, messy, mingled connection between the right and left side of your body.

Think: intertwined + mingled = intertwingled.

It popped up in an individual session this week as we explored movement and noticed how NOT separate our left and right sides really are.

Because you often hear the word midline used to describe that imaginary line down the middle of your body. But we’re not built like a tidy map. There’s no sharp border. No “this side only” sign.

Instead, there’s a mixing, a constant connection where one side influences the other.

In Feldenkrais, we play with this. Exploring what does your left side do when the right leads? How does the weight transfer from one side to the other? How do both sides work together? How can one side learn from the other?

Strong and soft. Still and wiggly. Left and right, connected through the middle. Shaping how we move, feel and know ourselves.

So here’s to being gloriously intertwingled, when you stop trying to split yourself in two… and just feel whole.

17/11/2025

“For proper functioning, all nervous structure needs full activity followed by full rest.” — Moshe Feldenkrais

Movement and exercise are important. But so is rest.

Because rest isn’t just a luxury. It’s literally how your nervous system learns, restores, integrates and prepares you for whatever comes next.

And we think that rest just "happens" when we sleep or stop an activity, but rest is a skill.

Most of us have been taught to keep going, push through, squeeze more in. And we need to learn how to soften, settle and give your system the pause it needs can change everything from your mood to your mobility.

In Feldenkrais, we purposely build in moments of full rest because that’s where the magic happens: the nervous system updates the map, the body recalibrates and ease becomes possible.

So today, give yourself permission to stop, breathe and be.

09/11/2025

What a treat to spend the weekend at beautiful Living Springs in Ōtautahi, Christchurch for a reunion weekend with my colleagues from around the motu. Surrounded by stunning views, inspiring company and that special kind of learning that leaves you feeling both grounded and uplifted.

So good to reconnect, move, laugh and remember why this work keeps us curious and inspired. My brain’s full, my heart’s full and my body feels alive again. 💛

31/10/2025

Just me and my skeleton friend getting to the bare bones of anatomy and good movement. 😉🦴

Happy Halloween, bone-afide movers! 🎃

15/10/2025

Sneeze-pee? Back pain? Just want to feel good (and confident) in your body again?

Your pelvic floor is the floor of your core — it supports how you stand, breathe, move and feel.

Join me for a fun, practical women-only workshop to help you reconnect, strengthen and reclaim your pelvic power. You’ll learn why Kegels aren’t the whole answer, how breath and posture make all the difference, and leave feeling stronger, freer and more confident 😉

📅 Sunday, 2 November 2025
🕐 1.00pm – 4.00pm
📍 Movement Works Studio, McElwee St, Napier
💲 $125 (payment required at booking)

Spaces are limited — grab your spot here: https://movementworks.as.me/pelvicfloor

Reclaim your floor of your core. You’ll thank yourself every time you laugh, cough or sneeze!

12/10/2025

Another one done! 💪🏊‍♀️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♀️

Women’s Triathlon today, middle distance with 250m swim, 15km bike and 5km run. A few minutes faster than last year, so I’m pretty happy with that 🙌.

And extra bonus, scored a free hat courtesy of The Hits (yes, that’s me hiding from the heat in the cute pink bucket hat) and my first-ever spot prize! 🎉

Big thanks to the amazing, crazy wahine who keep roping me into these adventures (they smashed the long course!) and to all the sponsors, organisers and volunteers who make this event such a fun and supportive day every year. 💕

It’s true what they say - amazing things can happen when you tri!

10/10/2025

💊 If movement were a pill… it would be the most prescribed medicine on the planet!

Like this article says 👇

https://www.sciencealert.com/the-best-medicine-for-joint-pain-isnt-what-you-think-expert-says

The best thing you can do for joint pain isn’t rest or pills — it’s movement.

But here’s the catch, it’s not just about moving more, smashing a workout or running for miles. It’s about HOW you move.

This is where Feldenkrais really shines. Because we explore movement in a way that’s gentle, functinal, curious and smart. The kind of movement that nourishes your joints, eases tension and helps everything work together again.

Movement really is medicine for your body and your brain 💫

Stiff knees, aching hips and the slow grind of chronic joint pain are often accepted as an unavoidable part of getting older.

07/10/2025

Women's only workshop to reclaim, connect and restore your pelvic floor! Sunday 2 November 2025.

06/10/2025

IMPORTANT UPDATE!
The Pelvic Floor Workshop has moved to Sunday, 2 November.
Same great content - new date ✨

05/10/2025

Just in case you need a reminder today... you are amazing.

04/10/2025

🌿 The most satisfying gardening weekend of the year - chipper time! 🌿

Huge weekend in the garden and mostly forgot to take photos… too busy doing the work 😅

Here’s the last bit we tackled in front of the studio. But now we have many beautiful big piles of mulch for the year ahead.

And the massive pruning pile behind the studio is now gone, so normal two car parks there are available again! 🚗🚗

So grateful, once again, for Feldenkrais keeping my body moving well enough to lift, drag, prune, rake and pile for hours on end. Muscles definitely know they’ve had a workout… but still moving and smiling.

01/10/2025

I often get asked: “So… what’s a Not Yoga class like?”

Think of it as movement + mindfulness. It's a bit different from your usual kind of yoga or exercise class because it's

👉 Verbally guided — no need to copy a pose, you’re simply listening and exploring
👉 All about comfort — no straining or super flexibility required
👉 Playful and curious — you might roll, wiggle, reach or pause… it’s an adventure in awareness
👉 Gentle, yet powerful — small, mindful moves that make a big difference
👉 Relaxing and refreshing — you’ll leave feeling lighter, freer and more at ease.

Because it’s not about stretching harder or just mindlessly doing a series of exercises.

It’s about discovering HOW you move and HOW it feels so that you can experience easier ways to move, breathe and be.

Come join our Not Yoga community for movement, relaxation and discovery in every class. 💫

New term starts next week from Monday 6 October.

See you there!