Category: Health

Longtime Sun

12/20/2016

On the last night of this semester's class, the dancers in my class spontaneously made a circle. Instead of holding hands, we held each other in our arms. And we sang:

May the long time sun shine upon you
All love surround you
And the pure Light within you
Guide your way on
Guide your way on

It was a perfect closing prayer for our 10 weeks together.

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Shimmy Mob!

4/5/2015

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Last week, bellydance teacher Joanna Marie was a guest teacher in my class. She is the local coordinator for Shimmy Mob. To be held on May 9, World Bellydance Day, Shimmy Mob is an international event to raise money and awareness about domestic violence, as well as elevate the status of bellydance.

Joanna Marie did a marvelous job of teaching us the choreography for the bellydance flash mob chorus. There's a LOT to it! Two other dancers in class are among the 13 local dancers registered to participate in the May 9 event. Our event will be part of a women's health and wellness annual event at Mingus Park. Our tentative time to perform is 10:00 AM.

Rocky so aptly suggested, when we perform at this event we'll be The Whirling Shimmylelaghs.

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Dancing saves lives

10/29/2014

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A cute picture, isn't it? The truth is, for me and many others, dancing can turn around a mood, an outlook, even a situation. We have dancers in class who arrive tired after working all day, and leave less tired. In fact, dancers report being happier after class than when they arrived - they are more energized after exercising. Isn't that something!?

Last night in class, we gathered for the first dance. I started the line (open circle) with a typical hand hold (hands held relaxed at our sides). Dancers joined the line and held hands with the person next to them. But, instead of launching right into the first dance, I started talking about other things. Remarkably, none of the dancers let go of each others' hands. There we were, a group of adults, holding hands. Comfortably. Leisurely. It was wonderful!

From health.com: Whether it's a squeeze of the hand, a big bear hug, a kneading massage, touch is shaping up to be the ultimate mind-body medicine. From lowering blood pressure and heart rate to increasing immune function and relieving pain, getting touched or doing some touching makes you healthier -- not to mention happier and less anxious.

I believe that unless we intentionally create them, there aren't many opportunities during the course of a typical day to touch another person. Dance gives us a safe place to connect with other people, to hold hands, to hold people in our arms and smile at them. Dancing -- going to the Hokey Pokey Clinic -- gives us exercise AND physical connection with other people.

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Longtime Sun

Shimmy Mob!

Dancing saves lives

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