The Philosophy Behind Poise
The Body, Mind and Breath
Where awareness begins and transformation unfolds
At Poise, we believe that lasting change doesn’t begin by fixing ourselves—it begins by understanding ourselves.
Self-awareness begins with the relationship between the body, the mind, and the breath. Long before we can explain our thoughts or emotions, the body is already communicating. Our breath reflects our internal state, our thoughts shape our experience, and the patterns we develop influence how we move through the world. When we learn to recognize these connections, we create space to respond with greater awareness rather than automatic reaction.
Through movement, meditation, breath, and body awareness, we cultivate a deeper understanding of ourselves. Rather than seeking perfection, we believe transformation unfolds through curiosity, presence, and the willingness to listen inward.
This philosophy is the foundation of every experience at Poise. Whether through private practice, educational programs, or The Library, our intention is to help individuals and organizations develop greater resilience, flexibility, and intentionality—creating meaningful change that extends into every aspect of life.
The Story Behind Poise
I’m Madeleine Barmark, founder of Poise. and my work has always been driven by one question:
What can we learn when we begin listening to ourselves?
For more than a decade, I’ve explored that question through movement, meditation, breathwork, and body awareness, working with individuals, treatment centers, organizations, and private clients. Again and again, I witnessed the same truth: lasting transformation doesn’t come from pushing harder or becoming someone else. It begins by understanding ourselves more deeply.
Born in Sweden, my approach has been shaped by years of study across yoga, meditation, trauma-informed practices, cognitive psychology, Buddhist psychology, somatic awareness, and neuroscience-informed mindfulness. While each discipline has offered valuable insights, they all point back to the same philosophy: the body, the mind, and the breath are inseparable, and understanding their relationship is the foundation for meaningful change. Poise was created to bring this philosophy to life.
Through private practice, workshops, educational programs like Grounded, and The Library, my intention is to create experiences that invite people to slow down, become curious, and develop a lifelong relationship with themselves.
My hope is that Poise becomes a place people return to—not because they need fixing, but because they are committed to understanding themselves more deeply.
Understanding Ourselves is not about becoming someone new, Its about coming home to who we've always been.