Stories and Reflections
An evolving archive of lived experiences, personal reflections, and practice moments from our community in Rotterdam and everyone else who stepped into The Sensing Self.
Said came looking for technical movement efficiency and left not only with new acrobatic movements and more resilient joints, but also with a new connection between his inner world and how he moves. →
I have multiple years of experience in movement practice and having followed different embodied workshops, so my personal guidance with Valeryia started with a more technical question: how can I improve my movement efficiency by working on physical imbalances?
From a physical perspective we worked with a lot of materials, which were nonetheless always related to each other. We started from joint articulation and how that can be integrated into acrobatic skills and complex moves and proceeded to using these moves in expression and improvisation. In other words, we explored what my joints are physically capable of and how this influences my ways of moving and shows up when I express myself in an improvisation or a game setting.
The efforts Valeryia puts in personalizing the journey expanded my development process outside the physical sessions.
Her asking contemplative questions as preparation and sending recaps with symbolic meaning led me to starting reflecting more in my daily life and noticing relations between mental, emotional state and how I move.
We used different locations and environmental elements and each session felt like a little experience. Valeryia has a great ability to apply different learning methods and she finds the approach which fits you the most. She is not only helping you improve your physical capacity, but also educating you on the approaches she uses, so you can understand them deeper and independently apply them later.
Completing this journey made me a better mover but also gave me a lot of information and understanding about myself on emotional, mental and physical level. A big set of tools and frameworks I received allowed me to implement and develop the materials inside of my own practice.
From a physical perspective we worked with a lot of materials, which were nonetheless always related to each other. We started from joint articulation and how that can be integrated into acrobatic skills and complex moves and proceeded to using these moves in expression and improvisation. In other words, we explored what my joints are physically capable of and how this influences my ways of moving and shows up when I express myself in an improvisation or a game setting.
The efforts Valeryia puts in personalizing the journey expanded my development process outside the physical sessions.
Her asking contemplative questions as preparation and sending recaps with symbolic meaning led me to starting reflecting more in my daily life and noticing relations between mental, emotional state and how I move.
We used different locations and environmental elements and each session felt like a little experience. Valeryia has a great ability to apply different learning methods and she finds the approach which fits you the most. She is not only helping you improve your physical capacity, but also educating you on the approaches she uses, so you can understand them deeper and independently apply them later.
Completing this journey made me a better mover but also gave me a lot of information and understanding about myself on emotional, mental and physical level. A big set of tools and frameworks I received allowed me to implement and develop the materials inside of my own practice.
Roxane found that training outdoors with others helped awaken her senses, inspiring a more mindful and playful way of moving and living. →
Community practice with The Sensing Self definitely helped me tap into my senses. Not only did I learn and train new ways to move, but the lessons also inspired me to combine movement with playfulness, curiosity and mindfulness. I am really loving the lessons so far: practicing outside together with a wonderful group of people. Valeriya truly inspires me to apply these concepts to both movement and daily life.
I'm excited to learn more!
I'm excited to learn more!
Lorena discovered a warm community where letting go of performance pressure allowed her to reconnect with play, trust and a sense of adventure and take on movement challenges she wouldn't have dared to before. →
The Sensing Self can be a mirror to your own Self and your life overall, if you allow it to become so. Learning a handstand, doing a pull up, climbing a building, or being embraced by friends when I am unable to do any of those are all meetings with my own discomfort, fear, frustration, capability, joy and connection.
Valeryia is a knowledgeable, dedicated and daring teacher who will teach you many physical skills and share equally as many bits of wisdom, but most importantly she is a believer in the human body and unique capabilities and potentials of each individual, as well as in the power of a collective body.
The Sensing Self community I perceive as an ever evolving organism which keeps growing with each new individual who feeds it with their presence and love for movement.
My physical and emotional boundaries have been pushed in the most adventurous and loving ways by this community and I am more equipped as a person on every possible level by being a part of it. Having gone through all of this through a movement practice, I believe the embodied knowledge I’ve received and the friends I’ve made by showing up for it will stay with me for life.
Valeryia is a knowledgeable, dedicated and daring teacher who will teach you many physical skills and share equally as many bits of wisdom, but most importantly she is a believer in the human body and unique capabilities and potentials of each individual, as well as in the power of a collective body.
The Sensing Self community I perceive as an ever evolving organism which keeps growing with each new individual who feeds it with their presence and love for movement.
My physical and emotional boundaries have been pushed in the most adventurous and loving ways by this community and I am more equipped as a person on every possible level by being a part of it. Having gone through all of this through a movement practice, I believe the embodied knowledge I’ve received and the friends I’ve made by showing up for it will stay with me for life.
Fenna moved straight into the discomfort of stored fear through partner trust exercises and environmental practice, and reconnected with a childlike joy that changed how she walks through the world. →
My private movement journey was a life-changing experience for me. We did it when I had just begun doing movement classes in a group, also with Valeryia as a teacher. I had had a small taste of the joy of movement, but also the fear I had stored in my body.
In a span of twelve weeks, I got to know my body profoundly, I learned to jump, balance, coordinate, I learned to breathe through fear, and stay with discomfort, I learned to get over my own assumptions and presumptions of my capabilities and do, even when I was scared. I learned to climb, handstand, cartwheel, and I learned to look stupid and feel good doing it.
Through all of this Valeryia was a steadfast, safe, curious and kind guide. As we got to know each other through more than words, she fine-tuned the program so that I could get the most out of it, being flexible where necessary, but never letting me off easy and challenging me to confront everything that I found difficult.
This attitude has found its way into the rest of my life and I notice myself trying more things, I’m curious about learning skills like juggling, hula hooping, slacklining and nun chucks. When these fun things come my way now, I don’t feel scared of embarrassing myself anymore,but rather I am able to quickly connect to the part inside of me that has childlike curiosity and resilience, with the adult determination and joy. This attitude doesn’t limit itself to learning tricks and skills, however. I feel more interested in my environment as a whole and see opportunities for movement and exploration everywhere, like the city is one big playground.
I am very grateful for the determination and commitment with which Valeryia teaches herself and others to keep exploring and moving in a non-dogmatic way, having an awareness of the layers of skills and tailoring the program to the needs of a specific body, all the while clearly articulating the use of this.
I am very grateful to Valeryia for her wisdom and her quietness when I needed to be understood in a different way than conversation. So as I said, the movement program was a lifechanging experience,not only am I able to cartwheel my way through a park now, I am able to see and know, the endless opportunities and knowledge of my body.
In a span of twelve weeks, I got to know my body profoundly, I learned to jump, balance, coordinate, I learned to breathe through fear, and stay with discomfort, I learned to get over my own assumptions and presumptions of my capabilities and do, even when I was scared. I learned to climb, handstand, cartwheel, and I learned to look stupid and feel good doing it.
Through all of this Valeryia was a steadfast, safe, curious and kind guide. As we got to know each other through more than words, she fine-tuned the program so that I could get the most out of it, being flexible where necessary, but never letting me off easy and challenging me to confront everything that I found difficult.
This attitude has found its way into the rest of my life and I notice myself trying more things, I’m curious about learning skills like juggling, hula hooping, slacklining and nun chucks. When these fun things come my way now, I don’t feel scared of embarrassing myself anymore,but rather I am able to quickly connect to the part inside of me that has childlike curiosity and resilience, with the adult determination and joy. This attitude doesn’t limit itself to learning tricks and skills, however. I feel more interested in my environment as a whole and see opportunities for movement and exploration everywhere, like the city is one big playground.
I am very grateful for the determination and commitment with which Valeryia teaches herself and others to keep exploring and moving in a non-dogmatic way, having an awareness of the layers of skills and tailoring the program to the needs of a specific body, all the while clearly articulating the use of this.
I am very grateful to Valeryia for her wisdom and her quietness when I needed to be understood in a different way than conversation. So as I said, the movement program was a lifechanging experience,not only am I able to cartwheel my way through a park now, I am able to see and know, the endless opportunities and knowledge of my body.
WDKA art students at Showroom MAMA expanded their understanding of the body as an instrument for art-making, using somatic tools to shape their graduation projects. →
In September, Valeryia led a somatic movement class for art students from the Willem de Kooning Academy during their 6-week residency at Showroom MAMA in Rotterdam.
She crafted a truly exceptional course that reoriented their understanding of the body as an instrument or apparatus for (collectively) creating art. Valeryia has a natural gift for getting people out of their comfort zones in a way that feels trusted, challenging and empowering. Her ability to connect with her audience, no matter their background, and to create a safe yet dynamic environment for exploration, is remarkable.
The students were not only engaged but deeply inspired, with at least four of them reporting back to me that her teachings directly influenced the work they showcased in their final exhibition.
If you are looking for someone who can unlock new creative pathways through the body and movement, Valeryia is the person to turn to.
Her classes are more than just sessions; they are transformative experiences that stay with you long after they’re over.
- Kirti Soekaloe, Host and Teacher, Art Residency at Showroom MAMA
She crafted a truly exceptional course that reoriented their understanding of the body as an instrument or apparatus for (collectively) creating art. Valeryia has a natural gift for getting people out of their comfort zones in a way that feels trusted, challenging and empowering. Her ability to connect with her audience, no matter their background, and to create a safe yet dynamic environment for exploration, is remarkable.
The students were not only engaged but deeply inspired, with at least four of them reporting back to me that her teachings directly influenced the work they showcased in their final exhibition.
If you are looking for someone who can unlock new creative pathways through the body and movement, Valeryia is the person to turn to.
Her classes are more than just sessions; they are transformative experiences that stay with you long after they’re over.
- Kirti Soekaloe, Host and Teacher, Art Residency at Showroom MAMA
Ser and Elmar joined the Deeply Human: Movement Edition workshop, expanding the mental maps of their bodies to find new space for presence, insight, and genuine connection.→
I had a wonderful experience at Deeply Human Movement Edition.
The conversations, the guidance, and the people created a safe and welcoming space. Reconnecting with my body in such a positive way gave me new insights and a deeper sense of self-awareness.
I am grateful for this experience and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for personal growth and genuine human connection.
- Ser Sanches
Het was beweging, ontspanning en verbinding. Ik kon de grenzen van mijn lijf,of eigenlijk de kaart die ik daarvan in mijn hoofd Geb, breder ervaren. Alsof er ineens meer ruimte ontstond om te voelen en aanwezig te zijn.
- Elmar Klijnsma
The conversations, the guidance, and the people created a safe and welcoming space. Reconnecting with my body in such a positive way gave me new insights and a deeper sense of self-awareness.
I am grateful for this experience and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for personal growth and genuine human connection.
- Ser Sanches
Het was beweging, ontspanning en verbinding. Ik kon de grenzen van mijn lijf,of eigenlijk de kaart die ik daarvan in mijn hoofd Geb, breder ervaren. Alsof er ineens meer ruimte ontstond om te voelen en aanwezig te zijn.
- Elmar Klijnsma
Photography on the page by Julia Kubuszewska. Captured during the 'World Body' workshop (2026).
Jasmijn's movement work set her on a journey of deepening her creative and self-expression, blending body language, voice, and poetry. →
I approached Valeryia for a private movement journey to dive deep into creative self-expression.
I had been feeling a lot of creative energy building prior, without a clear outlet. Committing to six guided sessions gave me the structure and accountability to actually follow that impulse and it honestly felt like the biggest gift to myself.
Our sessions were varied and exploratory. Part of our time together included working actively with fear in an embodied way. By having me carry out adventurous outdoor movement practices (of which my initial response was “there’s no way I can do this”, to then actually doing it, to then sitting with that realization), I was invited to move beyond hesitation and build trust in myself. This helped me cultivate a deeper sense of inner confidence.
Our creative explorations circled around dance, rhythm, use of voice, posture and body language, and eventually spoken word poetry. Perhaps most powerfully: being witnessed along the way, both publicly and in a 1-1 setting.
Valeryia, as a guide, brings a tremendous amount of aliveness to her work. Whether she brings you her inner movement practitioner, dance geek, her piercing questions or sense of awe and wonder, she is 100% along for the ride. She has a grounded, attentive presence and a strong ability to hold depth, while staying very responsive to what is needed in the moment.
In having gone through this journey, I am reminded of the power of collaboration. Valeryia offered concrete tools and thoughtful questions that helped me deepen what I was creating, which then in turn sparked new layers of inspiration and creativity. During our time together, I ended up writing my first rhythmic spoken word piece, and Valeryia helped me explore how to bring it to life in performance. I left this experience feeling as inspired collaboratively as I did creatively, and ultimately, more hungry for life.
I had been feeling a lot of creative energy building prior, without a clear outlet. Committing to six guided sessions gave me the structure and accountability to actually follow that impulse and it honestly felt like the biggest gift to myself.
Our sessions were varied and exploratory. Part of our time together included working actively with fear in an embodied way. By having me carry out adventurous outdoor movement practices (of which my initial response was “there’s no way I can do this”, to then actually doing it, to then sitting with that realization), I was invited to move beyond hesitation and build trust in myself. This helped me cultivate a deeper sense of inner confidence.
Our creative explorations circled around dance, rhythm, use of voice, posture and body language, and eventually spoken word poetry. Perhaps most powerfully: being witnessed along the way, both publicly and in a 1-1 setting.
Valeryia, as a guide, brings a tremendous amount of aliveness to her work. Whether she brings you her inner movement practitioner, dance geek, her piercing questions or sense of awe and wonder, she is 100% along for the ride. She has a grounded, attentive presence and a strong ability to hold depth, while staying very responsive to what is needed in the moment.
In having gone through this journey, I am reminded of the power of collaboration. Valeryia offered concrete tools and thoughtful questions that helped me deepen what I was creating, which then in turn sparked new layers of inspiration and creativity. During our time together, I ended up writing my first rhythmic spoken word piece, and Valeryia helped me explore how to bring it to life in performance. I left this experience feeling as inspired collaboratively as I did creatively, and ultimately, more hungry for life.
Machteld proved that play and physical confidence have no age limit, using moving in a community to reshape how she sees and navigates relationships and society in general. →
In een jaar op en af in The Sensing Self heb ik zoveel geleerd over mijzelf, hoe te bewegen in de openbare ruimte. Spelen en kracht en zelfvertrouwen opbouwen gaan hand in hand, en dan heb ik het nog niet over het samenspel. Dat geeft een nieuwe kijk, ook op sociale interactie. We zijn hard toe aan een meer holistische kijk op sport en spel en wat mij betreft ligt die hier. Aanbevolen, het is een rijke wereld en ik ben nog lang niet uitgekeken.
Group practice reflections from Justin, Louisa, Fenna and Arianna