Dancing Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the ancient practice of noticing without judgement. Whether it is used as a gateway to higher spiritual growth or as a path to more balanced living, the applications of mindfulness are various, as are the ways to achieve it. Dancing Mindfulness uses the art form of dance as the primary medium of discovering mindfulness in motion: breath, sound, body, story, mind, spirit and fusion (of all elements) with a respect to the attitudes of mindfulness, participants tap into their body’s own healing resources and realize that we all have a unique creativity just waiting to be cultivated.
The dancing mindfulness practice is an expressive arts experience open to everyone regardless of previous experience with dance, yoga, music, meditation, or spiritual practice. Originally developed as a community class, the dancing mindfulness practice continues to evolve beyond the class only format. Dancing Mindfulness is a channel for accessing mindful awareness that can be practiced individual with a group, in the confines of a space like a yoga studio or treatment center, or in the daily arenas of your life. Dancing mindfulness honors the invitation to “come as you are”.
Dancing Mindfulness classes range from 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the venue and purpose for the class, and various forms of music are incorporated to create a welcoming, integrated container. In a typical Dancing Mindfulness class, participants will be able to realize the rhythmic qualities of their breathing and heartbeats; to discover the healing, lyrical properties in even the most simple movement; and quite literally, to be able to express their own, personal story through dance.
Many practitioners of dancing mindfulness also experience a deepened connection to other outlets of creativity through their practice, including but not limited to writing, music making, art making, and photography. If you are the kind of person who likes to dance like no one is watching or at least would like to try the dancing mindfulness experience is for you.
