Pernille Bertelsen

Pernille teaches at Senses Barre and Senses Reformer. She has been teaching dance, movement, and functional muscle training for over 25 years – from recreational to elite levels. Originally a dancer, group fitness instructor, and personal trainer, Pernille has taught a wide range of group-based training forms in both the dance world and the fitness industry. She holds a master’s degree in educational psychology with a specialization in body and learning. Pernille regularly provides further education to movement educators and physical education teachers throughout the country.

What motivates you to teach?

I’ve been dancing since I was 13, and at the age of 18, I traveled to the USA to dance. Here, I started teaching, and I quickly discovered the unique and magical flow that arises when movements, activity, communication, music, class management, and participants’ engagement come together harmoniously. As a teacher, you receive back – multiplied and then some – what you give out. Teaching fills me with energy, joy, and vitality for daily life, and it’s the most wonderful gift to be able to contribute to witnessing students’ development and help guide participants to a different place in their training than they would have reached if they had trained alone.

What motivates you to keep yourself active?

The body – which is the most amazing machine ever invented. All bodies in the world are different, and I work with great respect for the individual body. The body in motion has always been my personal sanctuary in a sometimes hectic everyday life, and it’s in training that I recharge my batteries for all aspects of life.

What do you emphasize in your teaching?

I emphasize in my teaching how, through professional, evidence-based knowledge and my experiences, I can support, guide, and assist you in working as effectively as possible with the exact body you’ve been equipped with. In my teaching, I focus on how we best listen to the bodily signals (respecting the state of the day) and challenge or acknowledge the body in accordance with this bodily dialogue. A warm-hearted, engaged, and joyful atmosphere at eye level ties the entire teaching together. I aim to send participants home with a lovely warm feeling of having used the whole body in the right way – combined with a delightful mental break and a smile on their face.