Ben Hemmer Liu 

Actor — Director  

Movement • Story • Atmosphere

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Ben Hemmer Liu is an actor and director working through movement, voice, and image.

His work explores the body as a site of expression, where gesture, rhythm, and presence become the foundation for performance and film. Drawing from theatre, martial arts, and somatic practice, he develops a cinematic language rooted in physicality and perception.

He is the creator of Portraits in Motion, a series of cinematic works that capture individuals through movement and environment, revealing presence beyond performance.

Ben is also the founder of AOM — Anthropology of Movement, a cross-disciplinary approach to training that integrates embodied practice with artistic expression.

Full Bio
Full Bio
A man with slightly wavy dark hair, light skin, and wearing a black shirt, smiling softly against a black background.
Three geometric shapes: a dark brown triangle, a tan circle, and a light peach square with a V-shaped cut on top, aligned horizontally.

AOM - The Anthropology of Movement

Anthropology of Movement is an actor centric somatic practice and artistic research platform directed by Ben Hemmer Liu

This cross-disciplinary practice fuses somatic awareness, martial adaptability, and dance-theatre — AOM unlocks the intelligence of motion—from instinct to artistry, from trauma to transformation, from crawling to combat to devised choreography — AOM follows a developmental arc of somatic education helping humans move, heal, and perform with presence. While Ben holds the artistic and pedagogic direction of this process the work itself is collective.

“AOM is a living pedagogy built around the language of gesture.
A language not abstracted from the body—but born of it. Rooted in evolutionary biology, shaped by human development, and refined through artistic and martial lineages.

More than fitness, dance, or therapy, AOM is the art of becoming human—through motion, awareness, and play. Every body tells a story — Gesture is our first syntax. Before speech, before meaning—we reached, we recoiled, we danced. In AOM, we study that language. We train it. We reclaim it as a tool for clarity, connection, and creation.

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Offerings

  • Somatic therapy

    Workshops & Intensives

    Where the body becomes a space for play, resilience, and creative transformation and movement becomes language of gesture and choreographic forms.

    These immersive group experiences weave together physical training, creative exploration, and nervous system attunement.

    Rooted in AOM (Anthropology of Movement), they draw from martial arts, devised theatre, somatics, and dance.

    Expect elements of Systema, kung fu, Laban, Lecoq, Viewpoints, Contact Improvisation, Acroyoga, and more—

    Always adapted to the group, always alive in the moment.

    Perfect for artists, educators, movers, and curious beginners ready to train, explore, and grow.

  • Movement therapy

    1:1 Training & Coaching

    Forge a body that’s not just strong—but precise, creative, and responsive.

    This isn’t conventional fitness. It’s a somatic approach to conditioning—built for artists, athletes, and seekers in motion.

    We train across all three planes of movement, through tension and release, rhythm and resistance—where breath meets biomechanics, and force becomes expression.

    From the ground up, we sharpen reflexes, awaken the spine, and restore presence under pressure.

    Your body becomes your instrument—articulate, adaptable, alive.

  • Trauma recovery through movement

    Somatic Sessions & Functional Integration

    Restore ease, rebuild coordination, and rewire your relationship to movement.

    These one-on-one sessions blend hands-on neurosensory work with guided somatic practice—drawing from the Feldenkrais Method, trauma-informed parts work, and principles of Russian Systema.

    Whether you’re recovering from injury, navigating chronic tension, or seeking clarity through the body, we work from the inside out—rewiring patterns, refining awareness, and restoring coherence.

    At the intersection of breath, perception, and biomechanics, we support your nervous system in becoming more resilient, responsive, and emotionally attuned.

    Move with less pain, more presence, and a renewed sense of agency.

  • Embodied healing

    somatic movement therapy

    Structured video trainings that bring the core of AOM into your personal practice.

    These self-guided sequences combine functional re-patterning, creative exploration, and nervous system training—bridging biomechanics, breathwork, and expression.

    Whether you’re deepening your craft, healing through motion, or exploring the language of gesture, this library supports focused, embodied growth—on your time, in your space.

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  • I work with Benjamin at a rehabilitation center that focuses on treating patients with Parkinson Disease. He demonstrates an exceptional use of knowledge in helping clients get back to moving and having a better quality of life. He has the opportunity to evaluate and treat clients at various stages of the disease process and can tailor his treatments based on his evaluations. He describes it as hands on somatic education rather than treatment, focusing on what the person is capable of sensing and doing in real time. Benjamin has a vast knowledge of how the body works drawing on his expertise as a somatic practitioner, martial artist, dancer, theatre maker, yoga and personal trainer. By combining knowledge from all these fields of expertise, Benjamin can treat patients in a unique and alternative way, when compared to traditional therapies in western medicine.

    Jason Ramdeen PT, DPT,

    Clinical Rehabilitation Director

  • I have been benefiting from Benjamin Liu’s expertise for a number of weeks. After working with him I am now able to walk up stairs without discomfort and maintain better posture throughout the day. My balance has noticeably improved; for example, I feel steadier when getting out of bed in the morning, and I have been able to stand for longer periods without fatigue. He is an expert of the Feldenkrais Method and has helped me become aware of my movement patterns, which played a key role in improving my balance and reducing pain. I am especially impressed with Benjamin’s sensitivity to the psychological aspects of motivating his clients. He is both professional and friendly. He skillfully balances pushing his clients to gain the maximum benefit from care without being overly demanding or critical. For instance when I was hesitant to try a new exercise, he offered encouragement and explained its benefits, which helped me feel more confident and motivated to continue.

    Dr Ben Sorotzkin, PsyD

  • “If you want to be in truthful dialogue with your body, to reconnect with its natural intelligence, and to work with someone who will gently but masterfully guide you to towards that, then work with Ben! I completely trust his knowledge of how the body works, and his holistic, connected approach. ”

    — Sabrina Hayeem-Ladani

  • “Studying under Ben's pedagogy was truly a step forward to the understanding of human bodies' capabilities. It is challenging and demands full focus. Ben will adapt himself to the student’s needs and will push them to reach their best creativity level. I got out of every class feeling fulfilled on a physical aspect and, most importantly, I found myself creating work.”

    — Tom Koch

  • “Ben is the best trainer ever. He is a great teacher and person. I never miss his classes”

    — Maha Alasaker

  • “I felt extremely fulfilled going home - I’ve been telling all my friends and family about class and they are so intrigued by it all. ”

    -Millie Gibbons 

  • “This practice is beneficial to all, especially to all performers. Learning to understand, listen to and trust your body is essential to all truthful performance. This works allows you to explore yourself and teaches you techniques in releasing unwanted and unnecessary tension. “

    — Girshel Topuria

  • “ I have been using the techniques the past few days and they're really effective! I look forward to more!”

    — Danny Musengo

  • “My first session was a revelation.  I can only describe it as a combination of being taught how to adjust my own spine, to rethink how to move my body to correct the bad habits, and to stretch more deeply than any yoga class.  To my surprise I was tearful at the end of the session, partly due to the deep release and partly because for the first time ever I could see that there was light at the end of the pain tunnel. Ben’s gifted and intuitive teaching reminds me of seeing a master in that he can sense the issue before I try and explain it in words.  It is quite remarkable. “

    -Natalie Clark

  • “Never before have I encountered a martial art that puts me so completely in my body.  After only a couple classes I found my awareness of my body increased exponentially, and I already had several years of martial arts and dance under my belt.  People chuckle when I tell them that we spend a solid half of class rolling on the floor, but my body now does things I had no idea it could do (like stand up from lying down without using my hands)!  Plus, who doesn't want to practice knife fighting blindfolded?!”

    — Robin Stillwater

  • “Ben is a gifted healer. I had only time for two sessions with him. My left knee had been bothering me. Ben was able to give me significant relief by working on my entire physical structure rather than just the knee. I highly recommend him. You would be hard pressed to find a more knowledgeable and kind miracle worker. He will also set you up with a set of exercises address your specific needs.”

    — Dieter Gloeckler

  • “Benjamin taught me a lot. I first found him in order to heal or at least work on my scoliosis. The body exercises given are empowering…It’s shocking how awake and aware I now feel with his training.Life changing experience. I feel blessed and so thankful!”

    — Morgan Swierk

  • “I've pursued many fitness modalities from structured cardio, to classic weight training, to pilates and yoga. Ben's creative, multidisciplinary, client-centered approach has seen my body change and improve in ways no other work has done before--increasing my joint mobility, lengthening my muscles, deepening my core strength, and giving me better balance. I move through the world better from having worked with Ben. All the while, he makes each session fun, different and interesting. I highly recommend him to anyone at any level of fitness wanting to feel better in their body.

    -Ben Stark

  • While I was aware of Asian martial arts in particular, I had never heard of Systema, a Russian martial art form.  However, since it was right around the corner, I decided to give it a go.  Unlike the Kung Fu I had previously studied for about a year, with endless slow repetition of various forms, Systema focuses on a small number of core principles, applied to different situations.  Ben teaches the class in a very hands-on, participatory fashion, making it comfortable for both newbies and more experienced participants.  We spend a lot of time with different partners using just our bodies and also knives, sticks, even a whip, working towards remaining calm and reducing long-held fears of hitting and being hit.  Each class ends with discussion and questions sitting in a circle about what we liked, didn’t like.  It’s a great workout and I’m finding it interesting and fun; I recommend it highly.

    — Larry Berkowitz

  • “A great practitioner is different than a great teacher.  I believe that Ben is both.  When I inevitably stumble in my grasp or execution of a concept, Ben is consistently able to discern the “why”, and he will immediately shift gears to a new exercise that frames the concept in a way that lays bare where I am falling short…and from there we can effectively work on improvement.  This ability to read in the moment how I am processing his instruction makes Ben a unique person and an excellent teacher. I feel fortunate to train with him.” “The exercises and training methods during our sessions - whether one on one or in group classes- are challenging, fun, and they get me thinking about how my mind and body can work in concert towards an objective.  Since I began working with Ben, I can see and feel positive results in everything from my breathing and posture to a level of confidence in my capability for self defense should the need arise. 

    — Greg E.

Somatic movement practitioner

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For inquiries, collaborations, and promotions, get in touch with me here:

benjaminhemmerliu@gmail.com
+1 (724) 901-1217