Movement and Self Discovery with Saskia Gregson-Williams and Indiana Woodward

We caught up with previous collaborator and dancer Saskia Gregson-Williams with her friend, co-founder and New York City Ballet dancer Indiana Woodward, amidst the launch of new fitness platform Grace & Form. They talked through all things mindful movement, confidence and self love.

Tell us about where your love for dancing first came from.

My passion for dance began when I was just a little girl. There was something magical about the combination of discipline and freedom that dance offered me. It nurtured both my creativity and my ambitious, competitive nature from an early age. Dance was a means of communication, an extension of my personality and as I grew up this passion turned into full time training as a professional ballerina. I got very injured when dancing professionally which is when I started my blog, writing cookbooks and setting up my first business, Naturally Sassy, in the wellness space.

We were keen to discuss your recently launched fitness platform, Grace & Form, which you’ve co-founded with your childhood friend and ballerina, Indiana Woodward (congrats!). What exactly can users expect from your new programme, and what is its mission?

A lifelong dream of mine and Indiana’s has been to use our individual backgrounds and rich experience in ballet and fitness to come together to create a unique and transformative movement experience. I had been building an online studio streamed in thousands of homes worldwide, and Indiana had been working away becoming a principal ballerina at the esteemed New York City Ballet. Our experiences culminated in launching Grace and Form; the home of ballet classes and mindful movement practices, including ballet (from complete beginner to professional), barre workouts, strength routines, sculpt classes and yoga sequences.

Grace & Form is available to stream in our app or desktop studio, with classes and workouts that are led by world-class dancers, athletes, and master trainers. They are designed to challenge and enhance your strength and skills whilst nurturing and promoting mental well-being. We envisioned Grace & Form as a sanctuary where the artistry of ballet intertwines with the power of fitness, shaping not just bodies but inspiring a profound connection between movement and self-discovery for everyone.

What was it that inspired you and Indiana to create Grace & Form?

Both of us love movement, and have always had a great appreciation for what our bodies can do for us but we’ve also both battled with low self-worth, and an overall lack of self-love for our bodies. In ballet, there's a lot of focus on physical skill, but mental health is often ignored and not given enough attention. This mirrors a broader societal pattern, reflecting a magnified version of the complex relationship many women navigate with their bodies, and relationship to exercise from a young age.

We wanted to create a space that nurtured and strengthened bodies and minds, building a love for your body with every step. Bringing ballet to beginners, and helping those who love to dance love their bodies better.

Mindful movement is a big part of your approach to fitness. How do you think movement can be linked to self discovery?

Movement can be a powerful tool for expressing and processing emotions. Physical activities like dance and yoga can help in releasing pent-up emotions and managing stress and anxiety,  leading to greater emotional clarity and self-understanding. Slower forms of exercise that utilise technique and skill to accomplish encourages you to stay in the present moment and really feel into your body and use that mind-body connection to perform each move. This practice helps you recognize the patterns of your mind, including habitual thoughts and reactions, offering insights into your daily mental and emotional landscape. It’s something you can tap into everyday to understand where you are, and move through those feelings, note them, or just be with them.

Do you have any pieces of advice you feel would benefit those who may be struggling to find movement they enjoy?

If you’re new to exercise or returning after a break, start with manageable goals. Overexertion can lead to discouragement, and can often leave us unsure if it’s the form of exercise that we don’t enjoy or our approach to it!  Pay attention to how you feel during and after different activities. Choose movements that leave you feeling energised, uplifted, or relaxed, rather than drained or excessively sore. I’m a big believer in moving every day, even if that just means 15-30 minutes.

Aside from Grace & Form, what else does 2024 have in store for you?

We’ve launched the online studio aspect of Grace & Form, but that’s just the beginning. We have lots of new ventures launching under that umbrella in 2024. I’m looking forward to continuing to develop my own movement practice this year, and support my busy schedule with as much self-care as I can.

What is your favourite thing about Wolf & Badger?

I’m all about moving more slowly through life, working to lessen my impact on the world, and making better, more sustainable, ethical and local choices. By carefully selecting designers and brands that align with values of sustainability and ethical production, Wolf & Badger promotes a more conscious approach to consumerism, encouraging buyers to think about the origins and impact of what they purchase. I resonate deeply with this mission.

Photography by Megan Mcnally.