A powerful way to regulate your nervous system and shake off accumulated stress
I have a friend who's gone through a series of life-changing events.
And not the fun kind.
Since I'm a coach, I've tried to help by offering a wide range of tools. Together we've used inquiry, tapping, breathing exercises, and visualizations.
But what's really working for her is MOVEMENT—riding her bike, walking to her favourite coffee shop, boxing at the gym.
She's finding her own way by noticing what gives her relief.
Lately she’s been sending me texts with her newest inspiration.
I’m dancing!
Nothing classical (like I had imagined)—but free-form dancing for FUN.
Whether she's at a studio, or in the basement of her house, moving her body to music has been therapeutic and healing.
I'm not surprised.
Dance is a powerful way to regulate the nervous system.
It connects us to our bodies and helps us process our feelings and emotions.
James S. Gordon (a research psychiatrist for the National Institute of Mental Health and the author of Transforming Trauma) recommends movement for biological and psychological balance.
Swaying, gyrating, and shaking can help us move through past pain and get out of the freeze response.
If the idea makes you uncomfortable, that's normal.
The inner critic is always afraid of looking foolish.
But don't let that stop you!
To free yourself from its voice, just focus on the music and let your body move.
The inner critic’s rigid nature is just a survival strategy. Don't let it keep you from your capacity to heal and grow through joy.
As Oscar Wilde once famously said . . .
Some things are too important to be taken seriously.
We need to lighten up, loves.
We need to get back into our bodies.
We need to belly laugh and let go and shake off past pain and stress.
Not despite our troubles, but because of them.
If you're going through something heavy right now, you might not be ready for any deep internal work and that's perfectly fine.
But if you're faced with the option to care for yourself or do nothing at all . . .
I hope you dance!
Sending you so much love,
P.S. James S. Gordon is the leader of the world’s largest program for healing population-wide psychological trauma. He's also the Founder and Executive Director of The Center for Mind-Body Medicine.
I've participated in his classes and especially loved when he led us through shaking and dancing exercises to help us connect with our deeper selves.
If you'd like to try his practice at home, here are his simple instructions:
Stand up straight and spread your feet shoulder-width apart.
Close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths.
When the music starts, begin shaking.
Shake from your feet up through your knees and hips.
Let the shaking move into your chest, shoulders, and head until your entire body is shaking.
Do this for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, stop, relax, be aware of your body and your breath.
Breath for 2 minutes. Finally, allow your body to move to music that energizes and inspires you.
Note: You don't need to be able-bodied to benefit from this. Even waving your arms while sitting (or laying in bed) will work. So, give it a try and if you'd like, send me an email to let me know what your experience was like.
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