[Spiritual SoundBite] Dance Like No One’s Watching

Freedom…liberation…This is what I wish for everyone. Not just social, religious, economic, and political freedom but also liberation from mental, physical, and emotional pain. Part of my motivation in becoming a yoga and massage therapist is to help guide others in releasing unpleasant sensations and feelings in their body. When pain in the body is freed up it also liberates the mind. When your mind is no longer distracted by pain, it can focus on more pleasant thoughts.

Often times, we expend energy we’re not even aware of. For example, when students find a yoga pose challenging, I notice their jaws clenching, eyebrows furrowing, and breathing has ceased. That is precious energy being used and wasted. So what unnecessary energy are you exerting? Sometimes it’s difficult to identify which areas of your life are taking up excess energy when you can’t “see” or “feel” it. These are things in our lives we’re avoiding or resisting with our own justifiable reasons and that have undoubtedly take up more mental space than we realize.

One invisible “energy zapper” I’m beginning to let go of, and one I think most people can identify with, is letting go of what others think of me. I may have mentioned before that dancing has aided this new found freedom mainly because having others watch me dance has had to force me to “not care” and get out of my head and into the moment. As a result, I’m less self conscious and am freer to express myself. It has helped me to be more transparent about who I am without worrying too much about the judgment of others. And most beautifully, this is allowing me to BE in the inspiration of each moment.

“You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching.

Love like you’ll never be hurt,

Sing like there’s nobody listening,

And live like it’s heaven on earth.”

-William W. Purkey

Heart Shaped Pizzas & My Funny Valentine…

Ever since I wrote that post yesterday about taking photos in my wedding dress and with today being Valentine’s, I can’t help but think of my first husband. I got that term “first husband” from shoe designer, Taryn Rose when I had lunch with her after my E! Makeover 2 years ago. She was telling me about her ex-husbands and how she refers to them as “first” or “second”. I don’t have a second (yet!) but I thought how “first” sounds much better than “ex”. AND I want to honor and acknowledge the fact that he was an important person in my life… for 6 1/2 years of my life in fact.

So being that today is Valentine’s, I have to share 2 things about my “first husband” and that is…it was my tradition to send him a heart shaped pizza every year during his lunch time at work for Valentine’s. I thought it’d be the perfect way to say “I love you” through feeding him and having his favorite food delivered to him.

The second thing I associate First Husband with Valentine’s is that our wedding song was Chet Baker’s rendition of “My Funny Valentine”…still one of my favorite songs from Chet. Enjoy…

 

my well meaning wedding dress (continued)…and PLEASE for god’s sake, just wear the damn thing post-wedding!

I just realized that I didn’t post the link to the photos that Robert took of me in  my wedding dress from the Spiritual SoundBite I wrote a few weeks back. This spontaneous photo shoot in my wedding dress I wore 6 years ago (whoa, that sounded crazy!) inspired me to write this: http://yogagals.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/spiritual-soundbite-my-well-meaning-wedding-dressphotos-and-interview/

I remember slipping on my dress and remembering why I loved it so much. It fits me like a glove, it’s simple yet elegant, and I absolutely love how the shear train gives it its lightness–it would be the dress’s wings if it could take flight! It was fun stepping out onto the street wearing this gown and not caring if it got dirty…it was time to have fun with this dress again!

Below are a few of the best shots Robert took. It was about 5 in the afternoon and the colors of the sunset as well as the headlights from LA traffic hour gave us great lighting.  I like my elegant white gown juxtaposed with the dirtiness of the chain linked fence and the hustle and bustle of city life.

What do these photos symbolize or mean? I’m not sure. Here’s 1 thought though!…

Wear your wedding dress just because you like it! How much money and time did you spend finding that thing? You deserve to enjoy it at the grocery store, the dog park, your birthday party, cleaning your house…any where and any damn time you feel like wearing it.

[Spiritual SoundBite] Dream…Dare You?

I enjoy doing things that scare me. I don’t enjoy the “scary” aspect of it but I do enjoy tackling the part of it that feels scary. I’m not talking about bungee jumping or free falling out of a plane…although those adventures would certainly help tackle my fear of heights. I suppose when I say scary, it’s something that challenges and stretches me beyond my comfort zone.

 

I think it always starts out as a desire: whether it’s a desire to paint, play music, dance, or travel to a foreign place. There’s something inside of me that wants to do it but I resist it due to my own self-judgments and criticisms or for the fear of making a fool of myself and chancing ridicule from others. Recently a teacher of mine said, “Fear comes in the form of better judgment.” How many times have you talked yourself out of trying something or have let others convince you it was not a good idea? Have you noticed that others don’t seem to have a problem unloading their own fears onto you? They may not intend to discourage you, but the sight of you going for your dreams reminds them of their lack of courage to go for their own. They may truly worry about you getting hurt and advise you of reasons not to do it, but this just causes more harm because it makes you second guess your dreams when they’re the one who’s not ready to tackle their own yet. So keep your dreams to yourself. Share it with those whom you trust and who believe in you and can truly encourage you.

 

“Do or do not…there is no try.”

-Yoda

 

 

Cheers to a Healthy. Happy. Sexy. You.

A Glimpse into my “Wet Wednesdays” dance class (I’m the one in the aqua top)

[Spiritual SoundBite] That Invisible Dance You Do

Lately, my body has been yearning to move differently and so I’ve been taking different dance classes. It’s also helped me to creatively express myself in a different way too. It’s been about a month since I’ve started these classes and aside from chassés and relevés I wasn’t expecting to learn some life lessons such as:

#1 Learning anything new just feels foreign. Not only to the brain but also to the body…especially something like dance. It’s almost like learning a new language. Of course there’s terminology but it’s also the brain recognizing what needs to be done but the body not cooperating that makes it a bit awkward. It’s a new language for the body to move and express itself differently.

#2 Dancing is a way to express yourself without saying a word. It comes from inside and extends out of you. Just like any other art form like music or painting, there’s a message, an emotion that is trying to be conveyed and expressed…a kind of communication that is probably more intimate and vulnerable than words could ever express.

#3 I’m not only dancing in these classes but I’m dancing throughout my day with students, friends, and strangers. I call it the invisible dance. There’s a give and take of this energetic dance we do. For example, when I’m teaching a yoga class, I take cues from my students with what’s needed in the moment and where I’ll lead them next. I give them a pose, they go into it and show me what they need and give me feedback. I take it in, and I give the next needed action. It’s a constant swirling of giving and taking…a playful invisible dance we’re doing in the room.

#4 Dancing has shown me not to take myself so seriously. Having no dance background, I was petrified to go to these classes, but knew I had to overcome this fear by continuing to go. I found myself judging and criticizing myself for being clumsy and feeling stupid when I couldn’t follow steps. But I learned that I needed to let that go. No one is judging me but me AND I’m there for myself and no one else. Do I still get self-conscious? Sure but I just have to let that go and keep moving!

#5 I am more open and accepting of myself and my body since I’ve started dancing. And because of this, I can be more fully present with what I’m feeling and thinking. I see it coming through my teaching…being more expressive with my words and also encouraging students to explore what’s going on within their own practice.

Notice how you’re “dancing” with those around you: coworkers, your partner or spouse, strangers, and friends. What’s being expressed through you? Is there a lighthearted playfulness or is it more reserved and cautious? One is not better than the other but you get to choose the kind of invisible dance you’d like to be having with others.

Cheers to a Healthy. Happy. Sexy. You.

Wordless Expression

I’ve got it and I’ve got it bad. Dancing has been the closest thing if not THE thing to get this “itch” inside of me OUT. The best way for me to describe this itch is a yearning and longing to burst into expression. I can’t recall a time in my life when I’ve needed to express myself creatively so badly. As a kid, playing the passionate pieces of Beethoven and Chopin on the piano was my way of expressing myself. These days, it’s through movement. This longing to move in a different way (other than yoga) has taken center stage.

Dancing is an expression of someone that originates from the inside out. Just like playing a musical instrument, it’s learning how to use the body to convey a message and to express thoughts & emotions…using the body as an instrument.

I find that the most powerful way to connect and communicate (besides kind words) are those moments in life when there are no words to express what is felt. It’s an experience that can only be described if feelings could speak for us. That which can be felt and known without words is most powerful and touching.

Spontaneous Divine Chakra Intervention

I went to my first ‘Movement for Actor’s class at EDGE in Hollywood. I remember in college, I took a Movement for Musician’s class and absolutely loved it. We free flowed, expressed ourselves however we were moved to…we were given permission to Be and to express what that was. I’ve been yearning to find a class like this again and who knew it was in my own backyard!

I was scared to go…I’m a chicken when it comes to “first times” with anything. But the instructor was reassuring in saying, “I don’t care what you look like. Get into your body and out of our mind. Love the ugly duckling stage. The first time with anything or anyone is awkward.” The instructor Cindera Che was inspiring in her own way of expressing not only into words but with physical movements what she was feeling and attempting to convey. There was always a story…a purpose behind what we did and how we did it. We warmed up with some yoga moves and then she had us write our names with various body parts. It was fun trying to write my name in cursive with my ass! She said, “Pretend there’s a brush stuck up your ass! Now write your name!” We moved and expressed our bodies and she’d say “FREEZE!” and we all froze, no matter how awkward the postion. She’d ask, “What’s the story behind this?” Then she led us through what I would call mini story routines with red folding chairs as our prop. It was super fun…no right…no wrong. It felt like home.

She started class by saying that our bodies are instruments and we must learn how to use it and express it. I think my years of yoga practice has given me good awareness with my different body parts. So the brain to body connection is pretty good. Although, I would like to move my limbs gracefully like a dancer

I left class feeling absolutely happy and *free*…liberated. I walked passed the Gold’s Gym next door and for some reason, turned back around, went inside and asked if they needed any more yoga instructors. The guy behind the front desk said I could speak to the manager who happened to be in. She came out and said, Oooh…you’re cute!” I felt like I was hired already. I told her I was a yoga instructor and asked if they were looking for any more teachers. She said, “Absolutely! Come back Tuesday or Saturday and speak to so and so.” She gave me her card and told me to email her.

It felt like deja vu…I dreampt about that moment before. I’m glad I listened to my intuition–spontaneous chakra expansion and divine intervention at play! I love it.

Wet Wednesdays Rule!

I went back to Wet Wednesdays at The Sweat Spot on Sunset in Silverlake. It was my second time and some of the moves were very similar to last week’s. So I didn’t feel so clumsy and stupid. It just gets more and more fun!

The class is pretty huge…probably 40-45 people. So it’s hard to see what Ryan’s instructing sometimes. But there are some really good dancers there and tonight I followed a guy with red socks on. He knew all the moves so every time we split up into groups, I made sure I stood behind him so that I could follow. I met him after class and he says he’s been coming to this class for 6-months! That’s so awesome. I hope someday I’ll be someone that’ll be followed

I want to be a dancer *sigh*. This is all allowing me to express myself creatively. I was a bit sad today, thinking about all that’s happened in the last 2 weeks. I almost didn’t make it to dance class. But with any thing that’s good for me, I always say to myself, “I won’t regret if I go, but if I don’t go, I probably will.” So I went. And it was the best thing I could’ve done for myself.

I heart Wet Wednesdays!

Wet Wednesdays at The Sweat Spot!

I think I found my class…my dance-fun-express yourself-let it go-class. Who knew the class I was searching for was in my own backyard?! The Sweat Spot in Silverlake is behind Tarascos Tacos on Sunset Blvd. and Ryan, the instructor and founder of The Sweat Spot is an awesome dancer and teacher. This class was full of girls and boys—equally talented and supportive. I’m bit a envious of those long legged Silverlake boys who can dance.

We started out with some warms ups…some yoga…and then some easy dance moves to get us moving and to get those of us (eh-hem) who are NOT dancers to loosen up and have fun. We strutted our stuff, balanced on our toes, lengthened our bodies, and then BAM!…we were dancing. Before I knew it, it was the kind of dancing I’ve been looking for…expressive, non-technical, and fun. I stumbled through the choreography, danced my heart out, and even got my first dancers’ blisters. Ouchy but I’m quite proud of them.

This class isn’t called WET Wednesdays for nothin’. I was drenched with sweat and had to peel my clothes off when I got home. Now that’s what I call a good class! I walked outta there feeling like I was on top of the world. This will be my weekly “date” with myself.

The Sweat Spot
3327 Sunset Blvd. in Silverlake
323.953.8089