After dancing with Pilobolus for over 3 years, teaching ballet barre at Physique 57 in NYC and Dubai, and directing the Art Monastery in Italy, Neva was ready to call somewhere home and create her own blend of fitness, embodiment, and mindfulness — Catalyst Training. She moved to Vermont 4 years ago and has been teaching and refining the technique ever since.
“After so much travel, I was yearning to live close to the land. At the Art Monastery (now in Springfield, VT) we explore contemplative practice, creative practice, and communal living. With my background and passion for movement, once we landed in Vermont, I started developing Catalyst Training based on what I did in my own daily practice. What I’m really excited about is blending opposites to refresh and awaken the body and mind.”Catalyst is both a full on work out and an awareness building session. We go from dance music to breath work, we jump around the room and we do yoga poses on a mat. It’s my dream 2 hours of training the body and mind to be more awake, more free, and honestly, happier.”
Cockrell will offer two 4-week workshop series at 118 Elliot on Saturdays from 10:00am-12:00pm from February 29-March 21 and April 4-May 2.Preregistration is required for both series by emailing Neva at Neva@LoomEnsemble.com. “I experienced in myself and observed that Catalyst is incredibly accessible for a wide range of abilities and mobilities.” —Becky Miller, Burlington, Vermont
One of the beautiful things about the way this workshop is structured is that it can really meet you where you’re at. All levels of movement experience and ability are welcome. “It was a goal for me that the class could be diverse,” Nevasays, “when we share any space, but especially a movement space with all different types of bodies, each person learns more.”
“Catalyst creates a container that allows me to give my body what it needs, while also pushing me to push myself. I achieved more than I thought I could, worked harder than I thought I wanted, and loved it way more than I thought possible. This isn’t “exercise” or “strength training,” it’s an expression of joy in sweat.” —Shawn, Brooklyn, NY
Catalyst was birthed at the Art Monastery, where Neva currently lives and is a co-director. When she was first creating Catalyst, she taught it everyday for an entire summer to anyone who happened to be at the Art Monastery for a residency or retreat and asked for their feedback. The technique is therefore inherently steeped in similar values of bringing awareness into our everyday movements, building community through kindness and connection, and bringing creativity into even the smallest parts of our lives.
“My experience of Catalyst Training with Neva was a full mind, body, spirit nourishing and full contact experience.” —Maria Pilar Pina, Alexandria, VirginiaLearn More
