From the first exercise to a new awareness of the body 

Axis & Alchemy / Breath & Connection / Ankles / Balance / Tango

“I noticed an improvement in my walking and balance, but also something deeper: my body and I are learning to know each other better.”

I started the program with Breath & Connection, and from the very first exercises I felt a great sense of personal satisfaction, a feeling of relaxation, and the sense that I had received an immediate benefit.

At first, I watched the video, then I watched it again while doing the exercises along with it. I immediately realized that the work required much more attention than I had imagined: the breath, the position of the neck, the way I released one leg, the mobility of the hips, the ankle that did not want to move, and the tendency to hold my breath without even realizing it.

That is exactly what struck me: exercises that seemed simple made me discover parts of the body that I was not really observing. I began to understand better where I was compensating, where I was using unnecessary effort, and where the body was not as free to move as I thought.

As the weeks went by, the practice became more structured. I worked every day with Breath & Connection, ankle mobility, ankle strengthening with a TheraBand, hip strengthening, metatarsophalangeal mobility, bridge, and later side-to-side work. Some sessions lasted an hour and a half, or even an hour and forty minutes.

I noticed that the exercises gradually became less tiring and more satisfying. My ankles are still very restricted, but I feel that they are beginning to move better and with more autonomy. In some exercises, especially in the metatarsophalangeal mobility work, I still feel trembling and effort in the area between the ankle, Achilles tendon, and calf, but at the same time I notice small but important improvements in the way I perform the exercises.

One day in particular really struck me. After doing the exercises, in the afternoon I did about 45 minutes of Julio’s tango exercises. It almost seemed impossible: I was breathing calmly, standing more upright, with great balance, and I was able to do exercises that I had not been able to perform well before. It was a magnificent day: almost 45 minutes with almost no loss of balance.

Even on the days when I was very tired, or when my muscles felt fatigued, I tried to complete the practice. At the end of the session I felt satisfied and truly well. More than once, I had the sensation that some parts of the body were beginning to work in their own way, with greater autonomy. 

After several weeks, I perform the exercises with less effort. The body still resists and takes time to loosen, but that is okay. After a full session, I feel good and I am happy that I practiced.

I noticed an improvement in my walking and balance, but also something deeper: my body and I are learning to know each other better.

It helped me a lot to be able to rewatch the videos as many times as I wanted, to follow clear explanations, observe the visual demonstration, and work with precise instructions. I also appreciated the connection to dance and tango, because it helped me better understand how this work can enter real movement.

I am happy to have started this program. Even before writing this testimonial, I had already recommended it to two people.

Ornello Pederzoli
Argentine Tango dancer