Born in Vienna, Austria as the daughter of a dancer and a therapist, I was led to be curious about the sensual and the rational realms from a young age.
I chose to continue life in New York City as a professional dancer, choreographer and teacher over the last 28 years. Despite all my learning experiences it was the shame and debilitating psycho-somatic symptoms I carried in my body, the suffering in romantic relationships, blocks in my artistic life and a sense that my sexual self and powers were not fully my own that led me to first study Jungian Psychology, Sexological Bodywork and then Somatic Sexology over the last 6 years. These practices have brought much together in my life and are continuing to give me and the people I work with purpose and tools to shed old ways and grow deeper into themselves.
Developing these Sensuality Integration Sessions clarified for me that the continuum between our creative, our sexual, our intellectual, our spiritual and our health provides an intimate inner guidance to our aliveness and our relationships. Exploring that guidance is at the heart of what I do and what I want to share with others.
It gives me joy to work with people on experiencing sensations, dynamics and perspectives that can bring more intimacy, comfort in ourselves, presence and agency into all aspects of life.
My unconventional art-life grounds me in approaching each client with a non-judgmental, open-hearted and curious attitude. It allows me to flirt with and honor the mystery in each of us. I work with creative people from all walks of life, ages, abilities and sexual orientations and feel honored to accompany each on their desired path.
My credentials include:
- 28 years of teaching and working internationally with clients and students through private sessions, classes and workshops.
- Somatica®Institute Graduate in Somatic Sexology
- Body Electric School - for Sexological Bodywork
- Developed an MFA in experiencial performance philosophy with the first 4 graduates finishing in 2022
- Qi Kung teacher certification - Universal Healing Tao/Master Mantak Chia and with Daria Faïn.
- Yoga teacher certification- Laughing Lotus NYC
- Wheel of Consent study - Betty Martin
- Body Mind Centering training - Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, one of the founders of somatic experiencing
- Thai Massage Practitioner certification - Kam Thai Chow
- Professional dance training at Trisha Brown School, Alvin Ailey and at Movement Research, as well as performing with numerous choreographers and creating performance works since 2003 until today.
- NY Foundation for Contemporary Arts Award 2015
https://www.somaticainstitute.com/somatica-philosophy/
http://www.melaniemaar.com/process-as-guide/
https://bonniebainbridgecohen.com/
https://bettymartin.org/videos/
https://shengzhen.org/master-li-junfeng
https://www.mantakchia.com/universal-healing-tao/http://www.dariafain.net/
http://www.foundationforcontemporaryarts.org/recipients/melanie-maar