A movement meditation
Practice
The 5 Elements Movement Practice invites participants to embark on a transformative journey through movement, self-exploration, and meditative practice. The 5 Elements Movement Practice combines techniques from Dream and Memory-Based Movement, Body Contact Work, Improvisation, Ritualistic Dance among other practices to create a space for freedom, connection, and expression.
The ultimate goal of this workshop is to facilitate a shared environment where participants can reconnect with their pure essence. Through guided movement, internal visualizations, and meditative states, participants will explore the depth of their inner world and foster a greater sense of balance and well-being.
The workshop is centered on the five natural elements—Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether—using each as a framework to inspire the practice. These elements serve as channels for various emotional and energetic states, inviting participants to explore their bodies and minds in expansive ways.
Whether you are seeking to deepen your self-awareness, improve your well-being, or simply experience a profound shift through movement, this workshop offers the space to unlock new levels of creativity and self-connection. The emphasis is on experiential learning, allowing participants to explore their unique expression through improvisation and sensory awareness, while cultivating mindfulness and embodiment.
Juan Sánchez Plaza guides the practice with a deep passion for bringing together diverse people and communities, creating an environment where everyone can freely express themselves and evolve through the transformative power of movement.
Earth
From the earth we came, and to the earth we shall return. Earth is the element of nourishment, security, protection, stability, and discipline. Working with the earth requires the patience to calmly await the moment when things naturally emerge. In this element, the focus will be on cultivating patience in movement, mastering floor work, maintaining contact with the ground, and achieving stability in motion.
Water
Water is the element of feelings, emotions, love, dreams, the unconscious, and intuition. It embodies fluid and seamless movement. In our practice, we will explore liquid qualities and focus on continuity and fluidity in our movement. The water element also connects with spiritual inspiration, meditation, trance states, and creative imagination, offering a deep well of emotional and intuitive exploration.
Fire
Working with fire invigorates us, filling us with enthusiasm, optimism, and creativity. The Fire element connects us with the joy of living and our inner strength, often leading to a powerful and exhilarating experience. We will harness this explosive energy while maintaining control, ensuring it enhances rather than overwhelms. The focus will be on channeling and mastering our internal fire, allowing us to access and direct this dynamic energy at will.
Air
Air is the element of ideas, eloquence, and purposeful movement. It governs thought and speech, inspiring us, guiding us, and sharpening our minds. In this element, we will focus on embodying floaty, light movements, emphasising the journey through space. Our work will involve traveling from the center outward, cultivating expansive and projected movements that embody the airy qualities of freedom and clarity.
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Ether
The Ether, or Spirit, represents the most subtle form of matter, often imperceptible to the senses. It is the space that encompasses and connects all other elements. The Ether will serve as a culminating element, integrating aspects from all previous elements. We will approach it from a holistic perspective, engaging our entire body and incorporating meditative practices to achieve a sense of unity and wholeness.
Who is behind the 5 Elements Practice?
I am Juan Sánchez Plaza, a Spanish-born, London-based artist, dancer, choreographer, and yoga teacher. I’m also the founder of The 5 Elements Movement Practice, a holistic approach to movement exploration that integrates my experience in contemporary dance, somatic practices, and yoga, cultivated over more than a decade.
The 5 Elements Movement Practice is inspired by Dream and Memory-Based Movement, Body Contact Work, Improvisation, Ritualistic Dance, and other movement-based and meditation disciplines. Through this practice, I aim to create a shared space where participants can reconnect with their essence using liberating movement, internal visualizations, and meditative states. By incorporating the natural elements—Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space—I guide participants through an immersive experience that bridges creativity, introspection, and self-discovery, helping them nurture balance and authenticity in their lives.
My journey in movement began with formal training at SEAD in Salzburg, a transformative chapter that deepened my understanding of contemporary dance. Alongside my dance career, I developed a passion for yoga, certifying as a teacher in India. This experience broadened my perspective on holistic movement and well-being, influencing my approach to teaching and creating. I’ve also explored martial arts, rollerblading, acting, climbing, and diving, weaving these diverse practices into my personal and professional growth.
For me, movement is more than physical—it’s a pathway to connect with something greater, a larger consciousness that many might call "God." I strive to uncover this connection through personal exploration, movement, and intuition, seeking deeper truths about existence and the shared human experience. My mission is to inspire others to embrace freedom, creativity, and transformation through movement, helping to foster individual and collective well-being.
