Matt HurleyMeet Matt - Making Movement More Accessible
Movement Specialist | Habit Creation Enthusiast | Positive Mindset Reinforcer | Health Coach
Accredited Exercise Physiologist in sunny North Queensland, Australia.
I am passionate about movement and assisting others to feel the joy of freedom through improved mobility, health and wellbeing. Why? Well I've actually struggled to answer this question until recently...
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I grew up playing it safe: average grades in school, a small group of friends, and a couple of recreational sports (Soccer, AFL). I never really pushed my boundaries and found the edge of my comfort zone. As I was nearing the end of my schooling days I started to contemplate where I was headed, what would I do. Fear of failing held me down like a chain and ball, I didn't want to end up without a career. But I had no idea what I wanted that career to be.
I was introduced to form of movement and creative expression in my final year of school thanks to a friend. Capoeira - the Brazilian dance-fighting artform was something I'd heard of and it intrigued me enough to unclasp the fear of failing; to step out of my comfort zone and just try it. Enjoying the expressive and playful nature of this sport I came to find bliss and comraderie I have not been able to recreate alone. But I was still pressed to make a decision on where to from School. The fear remained, looming like a dark cloud.
Fast forward to my university studies - I played it safe, started in Computer Science, but quickly dropped out after a slap on the wrist - it was not for me, though I'd followed the path of tech all throughout school.
What was I going to do then? I hadn't learnt much about anything else...
Fear...
Taking what I'd come to know and love in Capoeira I jumped over the fence into studying the human body; it's form and function under physical activity. My passion for movement play expanded and grew into a deep curiosity of different movement modalities, and I ended up continuing my study into chronic disease and illness as an Accredited Exercise Physiologist - servicing people with disease, disability and injury to get them back to living a life they enjoy through (you guessed it) MOVEMENT.
That fear of failing, missing out, playing it safe and being comfortable ALL began to decompress and fade - I had found something I was so deeply enthralled by and passionate about I couldn't help but be curious and jump in the deep end.
From my time learning the art of Capoeira and exploring other movement methodologies I have grown a strong interest in movement play, body awareness, and mindfulness – to gather a greater appreciation for the capabilities of the body, and how to restore activity that may seem lost. As a result I continue to learn and grow a wider understanding of movement and mindset methodologies; from theory to practice.
Movement Matt was born of the passion and enthusiasm for sharing movement with other people. To provide a safe environment to learn and explore, grow and recover from what may have once seemed a means to an end.
Why? Because, at my core I love to bring joy and freedom to the lives of others - contributing and collaborating; sharing and connecting with other humans on this Earth as we move through our lives.
My mission is selfish in that way - a fulfilling and healthy life, to me, is one of service and compassion; of creative expression and education. It is relationships that are grown and nurtured by connection through movement, motivation and mindfullness.
I hope that you will e