Shambhala Yoga & Dance recently interviewed me about “wellness” for one of their newsletters. Sharing the article here as well!

The way I think about wellness has changed many times over the past twenty years (which is when I started to seek and pay attention to this term/approach/way of being in life). At this point in my journey wellness to me means relationship. In that wellness is relational; not transactional. Being in relationship with your organs, body, breath, thoughts, behaviors (or, in other words, relating to the “me”) is often an initial step of wellness and one that is never complete. As the “me” evolves and becomes more and more well, then start to see yourself in relation to others–plants, animals, humans, situations, the ecosystem in which you live or the “we” because wellness expands beyond the individual and into the whole collective. Wellness is about being in balanced relationship, or relating, with all that is around and accepting while also nourishing and tending to what needs tending at the same time. 

Lately, the practice that has been helping me get into alignment is to go swing dancing! 

This practice of swing dancing nourishes my need to co-create in the present moment which is incredibly energizing and uplifting. It also activates deep listening to myself, the energy, the music, and other people. Whether I’m dancing with another person or by myself, the practice of dancing with both established patterns or steps combined with improvisation creates new pathways in my brain and body. It also nourishes new connections and ways of relating (to myself and others) while tricking myself into doing active cardio (which I avoid otherwise). I couldn’t even move my foot into a position ten years ago and now dance is a key to my wellbeing. After ten years of showing up, the “me” is starting to turn into a “we” as a multitude of healthy connections have been made in the swing dance community and are now flourishing. 

As a former “non-dancer” I promise it’s possible to learn! Just like yoga, or learning how to offer reiki, dance is all about repetition and to keep showing up for yourself. If you’d like to start, have someone show you a step, try it, adjust, try again, realign, try again, take a break, come back, try again, see what happens. There are many free outdoor dances in the summer (at least in NYC but in many cities) and they almost always include a lesson.