The Power of Conscious Movement

When I first stepped foot into a 5 rhythm space, I remember both feeling uncomfortable, and like I had finally come home.

I felt at home because this was a place to dance, to dance freely, without conventions or choreography. The way I had been dancing no matter the crowd, whenever there was space and the right music. Except that here, rather than being the only one sober, everyone was. And the whole thing was unfolding bare-feet, whilst wearing the most comfortable clothes you own. Talk about paradise for me!

Imagine a warm and cosy space, with candles and artwork, that is tended to with care. Imagine walking in, finding a space to sit or lie down, as the music begins. Imagine gentle guidance from the facilitator, inviting you to move in ways you didn't know you could, to shake off what you know you should not hold onto any longer, to come back to your body - again and again.

The music starts gently, and over the course of the evening builds in a crescendo, before ebbing down again. You get to move through many different rhythms, a so-called 'wave', with whatever is present with you that day. As someone with a busy mind (*cough* adhd *cough*), silent sitting meditation just never was what other described it as. Rarely have I experienced such a state of presence, of totally being in the moment, and of zero thoughts, as when I am dancing in such a context.

I'm not going to pretend it's like this always, meaning every single time I go or every single minute of the evening, but it's a regular enough occurrence to have me convinced dancing is one of the best ways to practice mindfulness and be present for me. It's blissful, and I don't say this lightly.

It's a magical feeling, and one that is present more and more often as I deepened my practice. When I first stepped foot into a 5 rhythm space, I remember both feeling like I had finally come home, and uncomfortable. Uncomfortable because it was a new setting, one with such profound freedom that I was unaccustomed to. But also because it was a held space, one where talking is not allowed, and in the silence of my movements, I came face to face with myself.

It was glaringly obvious that in my first 5R waves my mind was busy thinking about how I was being perceived. I had thoughts about how I would look dancing certain ways, about other people and their interpretations of me, and of our interactions. I was overly self-conscious, still in hiding. For large parts of the evening, I was in my head, thinking about this and that. The moments of full presence stood out through the absence of thoughts - only after a self-critical thought would rear its head again would I realise I had just gone without thinking for a few minutes. What a miracle.

The magic of conscious movement, for instance dancing the 5 rhythms, is that it is a process that can hold it all. A process that is a mirror, that you will experience the way you are, and that gives you the opportunity to move if what you see is not what you wish to embody. You can move with what is, you can move through it, and you can move into a new potential. And all of this happens not because you think it, but simply because you move. Because you dance. That for me is magic.

Practice doesn't make perfect - moments of thinking still occur every now and then. But practice does make progress. I am not the same person as when I first set foot in a 5 rhythms dance space in 2018. I am more settled in who I am, more accepting of both myself and the world, and more present. More present in my body, and more present in the moment.

I will forever be grateful for the power of movement, the power of dancing. Over the last few years, I have been blessed to take part in magical gatherings, countless different practices, and occasionally to hold a space for conscious movement myself. I'm so thrilled to now welcome my dear sister, friend and fellow dancer into the ranks of the well's teachers: Jelena Devi.

Jelena is an intuitive dancer, yogini, and empowerment facilitator with 15+ years of experience guiding others into a deeper connection with their bodies and embracing their essence. Jelena's journey is influenced by her Jamaican and Swiss heritage, which instilled her with a love for rhythm and diverse cultural expression at an early age. Today, she shares her philosophy of "Embodiment & Empowerment as Medicine" globally through a variety of workshops, retreats, and training programs.

Together we will host a workshop on October 21st, titled 'Empowerment through Embodiment. In this live online workshop, Jelena will guide us through a dance practice centered on moving with and through emotions such as grief, despair, and anxiety, towards regaining our sense of agency and empowerment. Embracing what is, moving with it rather than against it, as a pathway to reclaiming both our power and our right to continue to hope, to strive for a better future for all.

See you there, maybe?

Empowerment through Embodiment

When: 21st of October 2024
Time:  18:30 CEST to 20:30 CEST
Where: Zoom link will be provided after purchase