Naomi’s Story

The spark that propelled Naomi Saunders into a career directed at maximizing performance-related movement was completely unexpected.

Raised by social worker parents who valued intellectual pursuits far more than athletics, Naomi’s early interest in dance was considered a distraction from her schoolwork and other “serious” endeavors.

However, while completing her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Berkeley, she went to Mexico at the suggestion of a fellow student, to travel and view the folkloric dances of the Oaxaca region.

Discovering Dance in Mexico

In this rugged setting, Naomi felt she was seeing the real Mexico. At the time, the population was smaller and primarily consisted of natives who wore hand-loomed cloth. The dance presentation was outdoors in an amphitheater on a hill.

The folk dances seemed to Naomi to give voice to the real integrity of the mestizo – the Mexican and Spanish cultures. The entire experience was one of living anthropology.

Suddenly, Naomi realized, “That was it. I wanted to do what I was looking at. To dance those ethnic dances, to move and to perform in front of an audience.” Totally seized by the desire to become one of the folk troupe dancers, even without any athletic background or training, she persisted for the next three years in achieving her dream.

The resistance of the Oaxacan people and of many of the troupe’s members was significant. Naomi had to learn to perform while experiencing considerable reservations from many of the other dancers, who were understandably uncertain about changes to long-standing traditions. The resistance was also present in some audience members, which made her all the more determined to befriend the Oaxacan people.

As this was Naomi’s first athletic experience of any kind, she recognized the importance of ‘keeping her mind in the game.’ Maintaining her attention and concentration in this challenging environment gave her a sincere appreciation for the experience of athletes in general. Naomi observed how the mental and physical processes are interrelated.

Naomi persisted in learning the dances for over a year, making the practice sessions, becoming part of the community, and forming alliances to garner support for her inclusion as a local dancer, before a young and relatively progressive troupe director agreed to include her in the public dance presentations.

Once part of the troupe, Naomi danced many presentations throughout the country of Mexico in Oaxaca, Taxco, Acapulco, San Miguel de Allende, Toluca, and at the National Theatre in Mexico City.

She augmented her connections with the area by volunteering at the American language library, perfecting her Spanish, and exploring the area. She was fortunate enough to dance for notables including Mexican President Luis Echeverria and former United Nations Secretary General Kurt Waldheim.

What Naomi thought would be a one-year experience lasted three and one-half years. Athletics became her life direction and she pursued her professional development as an Exercise Specialist. She obtained certificates as an Aerobics instructor, and as a physical fitness instructor. Naomi taught in classes in Mexico, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Completing a Holistic Picture

Naomi’s functionally shorter left leg led her to experience the Feldenkrais Method^®. After her condition was resolved in her very first session, Naomi was convinced of the power of this method. Fascinated by this dramatic personal experience, she embarked on the rigorous years long training required to obtain Feldenkrais Method^® certification as an instructor.

Recognizing that Pilates is based on other mind-body disciplines, Naomi extended her education to include expertise in core strength and working long muscles. She completed that second training in 2004.

The final leg on her training journey in the mental aspects of performance. Naomi is currently completing the rigorous Internship phase of JFK University’s Masters’ in Sports Psychology degree. Her internships completes in 2012, when she will graduate as an accredited sports psychology consultant.