Somatic movement experience

Somatic Dance Ritual

 As humans, we crave connection. Our consumerist world tells us we can fill the hole inside with things – with screens, with “omg I’m OBSESSED with this lipliner” and the perfect pair of linen pants. (PS if you know where to find the perfect pair of linen pants, please let me know. WAIT, NO! See?!) Advertisers want us empty, unfulfilled and disconnected, so they can tell us the answer is in that new, perfectly seafoam green toaster.

 Well, that toaster IS NOT THE ANSWER.

 But movement, breath, and connection is. With self, with the land, and with others.

Over my years as a human on this earth, a handful of respected teachers have passed on skills to me, skills which really help me to connect – and I’ve combined them all here, as this offering.

 Somatic Dance Ritual

 One of the ways in which I have found deep healing was with Conscious Connected Breathwork, as taught to me by my teacher Tai Hubbard of Sword and Lotus. We will be doing Breathwork techniques in class, with the intention of settling our nervous system.

The other process was initiated to me, surprisingly, in a pole-dance studio. More specifically, in the warmup part of floorwork classes, through which I found a gateway into the terrain of somatic unwinding (shout out to instructors M.B. and AJ). For me, this looked a LOT like rolling around on the floor to loud-ass music, making shapes with my body, and crying; and let me tell you, it felt. So. Good. Reclaiming pleasurable movement in our bodies is our sovereign birthright.

And in this class, that is what we are after.

 We all have a sovereign right to feel as good in our bodies as we can. Disclaimer: though the idea for this class was partially birthed in a pole-dance warm-up, it is not a pole-dance class. This class is not a sultry striptease class (though you may find it a gateway to one of the local fantastic pole-dance studios!).

 What this class IS: How to rediscover (or, let’s be real, maybe find for the first time) how pleasurable it can feel to reside within your body once you’ve shaken it all out and can settle back into the core of YOU.

 What you can expect:

Intention setting and saying “hi” circle

Talking through our props (blanket, yoga mat, maybe knee pads, maybe big stretchy tee shirt)

Opening Mayan Water Cleansing Ritual, as passed down to me by my mentor, Char Sundust

Guided breathwork and meditation for holding space for our intentions for the class to deepen

A yummy, ooey gooey warmup

Mindfully guided Somatic shapes-making with our bodies, moving about the room, shaking, maybe bouncing on our heels, rocking, stretching – all with the goal of seeking pleasurable sensations in your body.

And of course, dance, where you move how YOU are called to move; make the shapes YOU are called to make, as I call out suggestions.

Ending Breathwork and Guided Meditation

With Somatic Movements, or Somatic Dance Unwinding, the only goals are the seeking of sensation which feels good in your body and NOT what your body looks like externally. My cues are suggestions only. You do what feels right in your body, and if that means lying on your mat for an hour or rolling side to side, or rocking on your heels…that is PERFECT.

 Being vulnerable, allowing yourself to crack open, is a gift – a gift we give ourselves, and a gift we give others. What are we even doing right now out in the world if not trying to make a difference? A difference within ourselves, so we can be present for our life? To make a tiny, good-enough ripple in the pond that extends out and touches more by touching more?

Drop into the pond with me, and leave it all on the dance floor.

 Before I found recovery, I was so desperately, achingly lonely. In rooms full of people – bone-crushingly lonely. I have walked a healing path for many years, beginning with my recovery, and this style of Somatic Dance Unwinding has been one of the most revolutionary and profound healing processes I’ve found. I find healing on the dance floor. And I want to share that with you.

 Because we are ALL our own wisest healers.

No formal dance experience necessary, because we are all dancers.

Class held on October 5th, 3-4:30 pm

Dance Underground 340 15th Ave E, Seattle, 98112

Note: all proceeds from this first class, above the cost of the space rental will be donated to Human Rights Programs to get food in the bellies of children in Gaza and Sudan and The Democratic Republic of the Congo. Because in small ways, we can each make a difference.