Often times it's in those moments that we feel the least like dancing, that we most need the medicine it can bring.
We are going through a time of so much collective trauma, pain and grief. And on top of that collective pain, so many are going through personal trials and tribulations too. In times like these, we often can't bring ourselves to do the things that bring us joy--like dancing. It's easy to stop taking care of ourselves and our needs, and to spiral down into hopelessness and despair. Yet these are the times when we need dance the most. These are the times when its benefits can be the most powerful. I have personally experienced this countless times. This dance has been there for me through every hardship I've faced in my adult life. Abuse, financial struggles, deaths of loved ones, accidents, injuries, difficult endings and life changes, and of course a global pandemic... through it all, the last thing I wanted to do was dance, but I was "forced" to dance anyway--as a dance teacher, I kept dancing and I kept showing up for my students no matter what. And each time I did, I always felt a little bit better. Dance didn't solve all my personal problems, and it certainly can't solve all the problems that plague our world, but it does give us the strength to keep going. I'm writing this with no agenda, other than to share with you the tool that most helped me through all of my own suffering. You don't have to take my classes, or any class at all, to benefit from the healing power of moving to music. But if you do come to my classes, know that I am holding space for the full spectrum of your human experience. Not just your joy, but your pain and grief too. And if you are suffering right now, I am sending you so, so much love.
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On this International Women's Day I am reflecting on my feminine relationships: my relationships with other women, my relationship with femininity, my relationship with myself. I am surrounded by strong, talented, kind-hearted, genuine, incredible women of all ages and from all walks of life. I am in awe of all the things these women have survived, overcome, and achieved in their lives, and they inspire me every day. I, too, have survived and overcome many difficulties in life, and I consider myself to be a strong and passionate woman with so much to contribute to this world. But I didn't always feel this way. And if belly dance hadn't come into my life, I am not sure that I ever would. Like nearly all of us, I grew up in a culture that taught me that, as women, our physical appearance is the most important thing about us, while always pointing out all the ways in which our appearance falls short of the impossible ideals it imposes. My culture also taught me that other women are my competition, that life is a zero sum game, and that I "win" by being better than the woman next to me. It taught me that women are toxic, that women gossip and are always out to get each other. I grew up learning these things, and became a teenager with very few female friends. Most of my hobbies and interests were in male-dominated fields, and I prided myself in my lack of stereotypically feminine interests, having internalized the unspoken societal views that things women like are inherently inferior. That all began to shift when I took up belly dance. Over these last 15 years since belly dance came into my life, the ways that I view other women--and myself--have completely transformed. I now see feminine beauty not with the judging eyes of our society, but in the same way that I see the beauty of the trees in a forest: each is so different and beautiful in its unique ways, no matter how tall, how thick, how green or how old. How boring would it be if all trees in a forest looked the same... I try to look at myself the same way. We all have bad days, though. Days when it's difficult to see ourselves in a positive light. On days like that, belly dance itself offers me so much relief. Never underestimate the power of physical movement, especially coupled with music, to help us move and release painful emotions! Most importantly, I am now surrounded by so many incredible women, doing such beautiful work in this world. The vast majority of these women, I met through belly dance: as my teachers, classmates, colleagues, students, clients, acquaintances. So many of these relationships have grown into lasting bonds. Through these relationships and through this dance, I have experienced so much healing of these painful old wounds. I've come to realize that those old beliefs were lies, imposed upon us to suppress and to oppress us, and that there is a universal truth that we can all choose to tap into at any given moment: When we support other women, we empower ourselves as well. When we make life better for some women, we make life better for all women. There is nothing more empowering for a woman, than being surrounded by women who care about you and want to see you succeed! Was This Post Useful? Did you find this post useful? Would you like to see more like it? If so, comment below letting us know!
You can also visit our blog map to find more of our articles, or subscribe to our newsletter or Facebook page to be the first to find out about our next post. And you'd like to learn belly dance online, check out our available classes here. If you're feeling this current of heavy, overwhelming, or exhausting energy right now, you are not alone! It's normal to get burned out in the summer, but this moment in time feels extra exhausting. We are still living through a time of fear, uncertainty, major shifts and transitions... I just want you to know that regardless of how difficult things are right now, you're doing an amazing job. The challenges you've overcome these past 2 years were no small feats, and you're still here, you're still standing. There's so much to be said about that! So acknowledge your victories and take it one step at a time when it all feels like it's too much. Slow down or pause when you need to, and be kind to yourself through it all... no matter what. What are some tools in your figurative toolbox that help you get through tough times? For me dance, yoga, other forms of movement, breathwork, music and writing are great ways to regulate my nervous system so I'm not constantly being swept up by the storms of life. Make sure to have at least a few of your own "tools" at your disposal and to use at least one of them each day (whichever one feels the most approachable or pleasant in those difficult moments, especially when inner resistance hits). Take care of yourself first and foremost and help whomever you can along the way. Despite all the terrible things that are happening, I also see support systems strengthening, and communities that will help build a better future forming and growing. You are loved and supported... even when it doesn't feel like it. You can do this! Need some extra help? Try out these simple breathing exercises taught by Namita of Yoganama: Was This Post Helpful? Did you find this post helpful? Would you like to see more like it? If so, comment below letting us know!
You can also visit our blog map to find more articles, or subscribe to our newsletter or Facebook page to be the first to find out about our next post. If you'd like to learn belly dance online with us, check out our available classes here. I was thrilled to wake up this morning to a post from one of my dear students, linking to a spineuniverse.com article named Belly Dance Your Back Pain Away. Call me a pessimist, but I don't usually expect much from articles written about belly dance in the mainstream. They tend to be, at best, just fluff pieces that totally minimize what belly dance really is, or at worst they could be full of stereotypes and misinformation. This time around, I was pleasantly surprised. For once, an accurate and informative take on the dance form we love so much - and from a medical source, at that! So let's break down the many benefits of belly dance as listed on the article, and why I love them so much:
That just about covers the benefits mentioned in the article (if you haven't checked it out by now, you can read it here.) Belly dance offers countless other benefits as well, which you may have noticed if you already practice it. What positive impact has belly dance had in your life, health, or well-being? What are the benefits you've personally experienced from it? Was This Post Helpful?Was this post helpful? Would you like to learn more about belly dance? Hit "like" below, share, and leave a comment with your feedback!
You can also visit our blog map to find more posts like this, or subscribe to our newsletter, YouTube channel, or Facebook page to be the first to find out about our next post. If you'd like to learn belly dance online with us, check out our available classes here. Has the idea of joining a belly dance class been nagging you for some time, but every time you get the chance, you back out at the last minute because you are afraid of the unknown?
If so, it sounds like you are suffering from a case of "cold belly!" Like cold feet, cold belly is a doubt strong enough to prevent you from doing something you were planning on doing, in this case, going to that belly dance class you've been wanting to try! And believe it or not, this "cold belly" phenomenon is is more common than you think! Maybe you're afraid of having to bare your belly, or you think the class will be packed with young, mean women who will make you feel bad about yourself. Or maybe you're insecure about your lack of dance experience and you picture a class full of experienced dancers, making you think you won't be able to keep up with everyone else. Maybe you think you're not fit enough to try out this dance, or maybe you just don't feel like getting up and going out after you've already settled in at home for the night... Regardless of the reasons behind your apprehension and inaction, the fact of the matter is that you are not alone in feeling this way! In fact, the majority of women who show interest in belly dance classes never actually end up showing up for one! But isn't that a shame? Because the reality of most belly dance classes in the US (and certainly the reality for our belly dance classes at SharqiDance in New Jersey) is that they are a gentle, friendly and fun environment for women (and sometimes men and non-gender binary folks) of all ages, levels, shapes, and sizes to learn how to move their bodies in incredible ways and how to express themselves artistically through dance all while falling in love with Middle Eastern music and culture! Most people start belly dancing because they think it will be a fun way to exercise. But most people stick with belly dancing because of the amazing connections they make with the incredible people they meet in class and in their local community, all while challenging themselves--inside a supportive environment--to keep getting better and better at this rich and evolving art form! There is nothing to fear. You don't even need to show your belly to belly dance! In fact, most people in class actually don't. You also don't need prior dance experience to start belly dancing, and there is no age too young or too old to start. And guess what, you can become quite good even if you start late in life without any prior dance experience, because belly dance is low-impact and easy on your body! This also means you do not need to be fit to start belly dance, and you might be glad to learn that the belly dance community embraces a much wider range of looks, body types and sizes than society at large! That doesn't mean the dance is easy, it just means that with guidance from a good teacher and practice, consistency, and time, it can be done well no matter who you are or what you look like! Does that sound like something you should be scared of? We think not! It's time to stop letting the weeks, months and years go by, and just give belly dance a shot already! Just imagine where you could be in one, five, or ten years if you just take that chance and get started today! You might discover a fun new thing to do every week, or you might uncover a lifelong passion. Or maybe you'll find that belly dance is not for you, but you won't know until you've tried! So, are you ready to try out a class? Ten years from now… you’ll be wishing you had started TODAY!
Think of all the hobbies and activities you have always wanted to try, but never made the time or gathered up the courage to take that first step… Where would you be today, if you had started when the idea had first popped into your head? What’s on your mind right now? Where will you be tomorrow? If you are looking to start something new for your body or for your mind, then you need to look no further than dance as it blends the best of both worlds. With dance you get fitness (working your body) and art (working your creativity and musical ear) in one shot! In recent years, we have seen scientific study after study published that confirms what us dancers have always known: dance is not just great exercise for the body, it is also great exercise for the mind! Dancing has been linked with improvements in memory and creativity, reduced risk of Alzheimer’s, and reduced levels of stress and depression. Needless to say the benefits of dance on the body include increased cardiovascular capacity and muscular strength and endurance, better flexibility, balance and coordination, more energy, and so much more! Belly dance in particular has also been linked with increased self-esteem and positive body image in many of its practitioners. Of course all this will depend on the individual, on the genre, and on the class in particular, but you will certainly enjoy at least some of these benefits by joining a belly dance class today! What’s great about belly dance is that it provides all these benefits while being gentle on the body. You don’t need to have started as a child to ever become good at it. You don’t need to have a specific body type, as all body types are both welcome in class and even represented in the professional realm. You don’t even need to be at a high fitness level to start, and you certainly don’t need any fancy clothes or equipment! All you need is to show up and to be open and willing to learn; and learn you will! You will learn movements and steps, you will learn music and culture, you will achieve amazing things all while having fun! The belly dance community in our area of New Jersey is still small, but it’s growing fast. Don’t miss your chance to become a part of it—right now—because one year from now you will be amazed at what your body can do and how much you’ve learned. Ten years from now, well… we can only imagine! The sky is the limit! |
AuthorYamê is a Brazilian-American View Posts By CategoryIf you'd like to read more articles by Yamê or SharqiDance's guest authors, please view our blog map here.
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