Want Mind-Body Health? It’s Time to Dance!

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           Women in our society tend to make ourselves smaller.  We typically care for other people better than for ourselves, and often believe we are “too big” physically.  Healthy self-expression is often suppressed because it takes up “to much room” or “too much time,” allocating resources to ourselves instead of other people.  It is a rare experience to feel at home with oneself, comfortable enough with the space you need to actually let your energy expand. 

            If you are a new mother, most of your time and energy is undoubtedly spent caring for your baby.  This is perfectly appropriate and as nature intended for the survival of our species.  And yet, there must be space for you. 

            One thing you may not have considered is that you are a role model for your children from the day they are born.  As such, you have a responsibility to show them how to care for themselves by taking care of yourself.  Mothers have wept over the realization that they had modeled a lack of self-care for their daughters until it was nearly too late.  Our children learn far more from our actions than from our words.  If you want your children to take healthy time and space for themselves as adults, you need to show them how.  Even if you are not a parent, this is your chance to be a powerful role model for healthy awareness and self-expression for the people you care about!

            Belly dancing increases your sense of space in the world.  Whether you consciously intend it or not, a type of sacred space is created when you dance.  It begins the moment you choose to take some time for yourself.  When you begin to warm-up, aligning your feet and lengthening your body, you increase your awareness of your connection with the earth and become more grounded.  Then you move into the sphere around you, stretching and moving 360 degrees, from heaven to earth.  You can feel genuinely good inside your own skin, knowing you are perfect just as you are.  You might be surprised that you feel beautiful again, or maybe for the first time! 

            Whenever we cut off a part of ourselves, we lose energy.  Depression or some other type of “dis-ease” is the natural result of the unnatural act of disowning an essential aspect of ourselves.  Many addictions have their origins in the unsuccessful attempt to fill the hole that is left.  A vital step in alleviating depression and anxiety is to re-member (put back together) and reclaim what was lost.

            How many of us have tried to ignore or get rid of our bellies because of cultural “ideals”?  How much energy do you think we can we bring back into our lives by giving a voice back to our centers? 

            Belly dance is a rare gem that encourages us to honor and embrace our life-giving, energy rich bellies!  This allows us to move forward as strong, complete beings, ready to share with the world. 

            As you surrender to the call of the dance, you will boost your self-confidence and your capacity to move more fully into action in other areas of your life.  In fact, while you are having fun and celebrating life, you will unknowingly increase your ability to flow through your entire life with greater ease.

            As we dance, we tap into energy larger than ourselves, increasing our power and passion for life.   Even if you never thought of it before, you may notice a sense of support and connection with women throughout history and throughout the world – our sisters, mothers and grandmothers in dance. 

            Your entire sense of possibility in the world is likely to open up.  Indeed, your vision and knowingness in all areas may increase as your awareness broadens.  I highly recommend that you keep a journal to record insights, emotional releases, and any other life changes as you journey into belly dance.  No matter what else goes on in your life, the magical time and space you create as you dance can fill you up and give you strength as you go back into the world at large. 

            It took me a long time to move back into belly dance after my pregnancies.  I didn’t have a role model to encourage me.  Nothing in my body was where I had left it.  Even when I regained my pre-pregnancy weight, I was once again uncomfortable in my own skin.  I had no idea that belly dance could have been a saving grace in those dark moments of my life, but I am telling you now. 

            Belly Dance is for all sizes, all shapes, all ages, all women.  By moving back into our bodies, even when we’ve been rearranged by life, we can literally “re-member,” put back together, our own essential selves.  We can rediscover our own intrinsic value, our strength, our confidence, our passion and our own beauty.  So don’t wait.  It’s time to dance!

            For a great place to start, check out The Belly Dance Prescription: Shake Your Hips AND Depression, available for instant download, right now.

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Tagged as: Belly Dance, bellydance, born to dance, the belly dance prescription