Meet Your Guide

Alex Schenker

Movement Therapist ◆ Somatic Educator ◆ Injury Prevention Specialist

I'm Alex, a Movement Therapist and Mobility Educator. I help people resolve persistent tension and pain by building resilient, adaptable bodies through a unique somatic method that blends hands-on therapy with movement re-education. My approach is designed to not only release deep-seated tension and address the source of imbalances, but to empower you with the knowledge and skills to become the expert of your own well-being.

My practice is built on a foundation of somatic principles: addressing the conversation between your nervous system and your muscles. For too long, persistent pain and stiffness have been treated as purely structural problems. My work starts from a different understanding: that these issues are often patterns of exaggerated protection and miscommunication between your musculotendinous system and your nervous system. The solution isn't just to stretch or strengthen, but to recalibrate.

Background & Methodology

My path into this work began in childhood, shaped by my mother’s deep work as a somatic yoga teacher and bodyworker. That early exposure to the healing arts planted a seed that would later grow into a lifelong passion.

For over twenty years, since enrolling in a 2-year diploma program, I have immersed myself in the study and practice of two foundational Japanese modalities:

• Sotai, a form of neuromuscular re-education that focuses on "moving away from discomfort" to reset distorted patterns and restore efficient, pain-free motion.

• Shiatsu, which provides a masterful anatomical roadmap through the musculotendinous meridians, allowing me to identify and treat the root patterns of tension and weakness that disrupt the entire body.

These arts form the core of my somatic movement therapy: a hands-on practice designed to calm the nervous system and release the deep, protective holding patterns behind chronic pain.

Martial Arts Background

Becoming a Practitioner of Hyoho Taisha Ryu

My journey has also been one of physical discipline and natural movement exploration. My lifelong practice of martial arts led me to Japan in 2017, where I earned my 5th-degree black belt in Taijustu and deepened my understanding of natural biomechanics, efficiency of motion, and power generation under pressure.

I continue this study today through my practice of Taisha Ryu Kenjutsu, a 450-year old discipline of Japanese swordsmanship. This background provides a unique lens through which I view mobility, alignment, natural movement, and injury prevention.

Natural Movement & Functional Training

Teaching a Natural Movement Certification Course

My advanced certifications in Natural Movement helped me bridge the gap between healing arts and martial arts. I use holistic, real-world movement patterns, like ground mobility, gait, balancing, hanging, and manipulating objects, as the essential language for rebuilding a body that is not just free from pain, but also capable, strong, and adaptable. This is the practical application of somatic awareness: building a balance of flexibility and resilience, and naturally reshaping your posture.

I also incorporate specialized training tools such as steel mace, steel club, rope flow, and bo staff/stick mobility exercises to improve joint health, rotational power, coordination, and full-body functional strength. These tools complement my mobility training offerings, providing dynamic ways to build adaptability, control, and confidence in motion.

Philosophy & Mission

My work is designed for those who are tired of temporary fixes and are ready to understand the root cause of their pain, and do whatever they can to help themselves along the way. I don't just want to treat you; I want to guide your development.

Whether in movement therapy treatment sessions, online mobility training, in-person workshops, or online courses, my goal is to give you the tools and confidence to learn how far you can take your self-care on your own: equipped with a lifelong toolkit for maintaining a pain-free, functionally capable body.

I am passionate about growing every day through my practice, and I hope to relay that passion to you in your own practice.

Certifications & Training

• Shiatsu Therapy Diploma (including Sotai Therapy)

• FRC Mobility Specialist Certification

• Buteyko Breathwork Instructor Certification

• Natural Movement Certifications (All)

• Agatsu Steel Club & Mace Training Certification

• Kenbiki (Tendon Alignment Therapy) Basic Level practitioner

• Weck Method Rotational Movement Training Certification (Rope Flow)

• Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu Shidoshi (Instructor) qualification