Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sahara Morimoto. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sahara, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

A defining turning point in my career came during the COVID pandemic, though it had been quietly unfolding before then.

I became a certified Ilan Lev Method (ILM) practitioner in 2019, initially driven by curiosity – wanting to expand my movement vocabulary as a contemporary dancer. What I didn’t expect was how deeply I would fall in love with the practice itself: the treatments, the movement classes, and the ongoing research.

At the time, I was actively working as a performing artist in contemporary dance, maintaining a full and often irregular schedule, and using any free moments to treat and explore ILM. When quarantine restrictions came into place, I found myself at a standstill, both in dance and in hands-on ILM treatments.

During that period, daily online Ilan Lev Method movement classes were offered by senior practitioners. I attended almost all of them, despite the time differences. What stood out to me was how naturally I showed up for these sessions, especially after turning down multiple online opportunities in dance – rehearsing, performing, and teaching.

That contrast brought a quiet but undeniable clarity that my passion had shifted.

After a 15-year career in the dance profession, I chose to step away. What surprised me most was how easeful that decision felt. There was no resistance – only a sense of alignment. What began as curiosity had gently guided me into a new path, one that felt both natural and deeply fulfilling. I was also energized by the potential of ILM to bring relief, connection, and possibility to others.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a certified practitioner of the Ilan Lev Method (ILM), an integrative bodywork and movement practice.
I offer 1:1 treatments and group movement classes that support individuals in unlocking their body’s natural ability to heal – physically, emotionally, and psychologically. My work focuses on restoring fluidity, expanding movement possibilities, and reconnecting people to a deeper sense of ease and vitality.
At its core, the method is rooted in movement, frequencies, and the joy of possibility. Embracing the idea that movement is life.

What I’ve come to believe through both my training and practice is that healing is not only about finding the “right” modality, but about connecting with the right practitioner. Each person is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. That uniqueness is something I deeply respect and work with in every session.

My path into this work began through a curiosity about physical potential as a contemporary dancer. During my training, I was surprised by how holistic the experience was. Each practitioner I worked with brought a different quality of touch and presence and through that, I found myself opening in ways I didn’t know were possible. It was a deeply freeing experience – one that shifted not only my body but how I related to myself and to life.

Today, I bring that same curiosity and openness into my work with clients.
I’ve witnessed a wide range of outcomes – from relief of chronic pain, increased mobility, and improved circulation, to emotional release, greater clarity, and a renewed sense of flow. What I value most is that each experience is unique in how it unfolds.

My role is not to impose a solution, but to listen deeply, meet each person where they are, and support their system in finding new pathways.

What I’m most proud of is creating a space where people feel safe to change.
A space where habitual patterns can soften, where the body can reorganize, and where new possibilities can emerge, often in ways that feel both surprising and natural.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Both culturally and professionally, I’ve always had a strong patience for discipline – repeating a practice until it is fully “in my body.”

So it was extremely challenging when, during my Ilan Lev Method training, I was asked to change constantly; to break patterns, drop what I was doing, and be comfortable not knowing where I was going. I also have a strong visual memory, which made it difficult to move away from copying my teachers and instead stay truly present with the person I was working with.

At times, I would feel like I had understood a principle, only to lose it again in the next moment. After the third part of the basic course, I messaged my mentor, Igal, “I feel like I’m Alice in Wonderland – lost and searching.” I was frustrated and confused, especially after all the time and dedication I had put in.

To my surprise, he replied, “That’s great! Because when she fell, the story began.”

That moment stayed with me. It shifted my understanding completely. I realized I needed to unlearn the need to “arrive” or to master something in a fixed way. Instead, the work asks for continuous curiosity – staying in active research, where not knowing is not a failure, but the very place where something new can emerge.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Beyond training and technical knowledge, what has been most essential in my work is the ability to truly be present with another person.

With more practice, I’ve naturally developed a wider range of skills – different approaches, variations, and ways of working. But what matters more is my ability to set aside my own ambition and meet the person in front of me with openness and attention, allowing the session to unfold rather than directing it.

I see my role as entering a dialogue with their system – listening, responding, and navigating together toward new possibilities.

Trusting the unknown plays a big role in this. It can be uncomfortable – sometimes even scary – but I’ve come to see that it’s also where the greatest potential lies. By staying connected to that space and allowing my intuition to guide me, I often find that the outcomes go beyond what I could have planned or imagined.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.saharamorimoto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sahara.morimoto/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahara-morimoto-39122319/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@curious-sahara9

Image Credits

photography by: Itamar Skalka, Davide Casiraghi