Hi there dancers!
I hope you are having a beautiful day! This month I am excited to explore the idea of going with the flow and how to make flowing, graceful, grounded Turns when you Dance!
Now Going With the Flow has it's roots in Zen meditation…it's the idea that you first need to embrace everything that is happening in your life in order to create the fertile ground for magical new doors to open up…and to have the perspective to recognize these new doors when they do!
Going with the flow can also mean accepting the "status quo" and just happening along in your life, without making any real waves.
I prefer the first definition, because the idea of accepting and going with the flow will lead you to BEING in the flow…being in a place of inspiration, energy, creativity, pleasure, and peace.
Oh wow, the joy of being IN the flow…and when we are OUT of the flow, it can feel really challenging to "get back in!" Below are some resources that have helped me time and again get back in the flow of creativity and energy in my life. I hope you enjoy them!
And of course the ultimate way to get into the flow is to stand up and dance for 10 minutes (or an hour or two). Move your arms like a big giant wave. Use your entire arm, and don't leave any part of your shoulders, elbows, or fingertips out when you dance. Twirl to some music, and let the music replace any thoughts you have. Get into your body and into the flow!
I know that being in the flow is one of the greatest gifts I can give myself and everyone around me.
Lots of love! Enjoy!
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| Get a Good Night's Sleep |
Now I believe that one of the most important tools in going with the flow, is getting an awesome night's rest. Personally for me, when I feel tired and challenged in the evening, I try to remember to go to bed a little bit earlier, after a hot shower or reading for a bit…and then I find that the next morning I feel so refreshed and inspired! Whew! What a difference a good night's sleep can make on your attitude and joyful perspective of the world!
One way to help yourself get a great night's sleep is to make your bedroom a sanctuary, a haven for peaceful rest and playfulness! :) You can Feng Shui your bedroom (yes, I do like that that term has become a verb nowadays! :)) to get the most out of your night's sleep!
I love the idea of creating symmetry in your bedroom (like the photo above) if you are looking to create a new romance, or a beautiful partnership in your life.
It can be a really great experience to block out some time to get rid of clutter in your bedroom…clothes you haven't worn in a few months, any stacks of paper and books, overflowing piles of shoes. :) I do believe you have to actually schedule some time to do this, and not just leave it until the end of the day when you are feeling low-energy.
And I love adding objects to enliven my senses in my bedroom: live plants or a vase of flowers, soothing colors, soft blankets and rugs, a table or two for tea, a candle and my favorite books. What objects enliven your senses? How could your bedroom become even more of a sanctuary?
Enjoy blocking out a little time to add some Feng Shui peace and romance to your bedroom this month! |
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| Drink Lots of Water Baby! |
Now going with the flow, and being in the flow, requires a full embracing of the present moment. And when your body is dehydrated, there can be a little feeling of irritation and impatience that lingers in your mind, making you feel slightly to majorly uncomfortable.
Hydrating yourself every day is one of the best gifts you can give yourself for being in the flow. It seems difficult sometimes to drink a lot of water. Everyone has their own reasons. I hate feeling cold after I drink it myself!
I have been challenging myself to start my day with more water. So before I have any yummy coffee or black or green tea in the morning…I challenge myself to drink two cups of herbal tea right when I wake up. I personally love Passion Flower tea, with a little bit of raw honey…delicious! I have found that I start my day off with drinking water, then it is much easier to keep drinking it throughout the day.
And I love fizzy water! I love squeezing some fresh lemon or lime in my carbonated mineral water…now that is a delicious drink that I love to sip on throughout the day! It's like a tasty mix drink, but without the alcohol. The only problem is that I hate all of the plastic and glass bottles…Click Here to check out this make-your-own sparkling water kit! The carbonation cylinders are reusable…and you can add fresh fruit and herbs in place of any corn-syrup-laden flavors. Enjoy the presence that water gives you now. |
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| Laughter is the best remedy |
Now Laughing is such a great way to go with the flow. The stunning "be here now" philosopher Eckhart Tolle says, “Life isn’t as serious as the mind makes it out to be.” And when we get stuck in our minds, and taking things too seriously, it can really take us out of our creative, inspirational flow!
Laughing can release a lot of tension and refresh us with an entirely new perspective. I have really enjoyed reading Tina Fey's memoir, Bossypants. She is a very witty writer and an extremely powerful and creative women. The book details her journey of following the creative flow of her life: from falling in love with being an improv actor, to writing for the hit TV show Saturday Night Live, to producing her TV show 30 Rock…all while championing women, being in love, and raising her first child.
Her journey unfolds in a magical way, and I think her story is an awesome example of following your heart and saying YES to opportunities as they come…Very inspiring and laugh out loud funny!
Click Here to get your giggle on and feel refreshed!
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Noticing Magic |
I love taking the time to notice all of the amazing things in my life that are already happening. It gives me that serene feeling of being full of gratitude…And whenever I do stop to appreciate all of the amazing things in my life, it allows me to realize that focusing on the positive is a daily, hourly, minute-by-minute choice that I can make.
And I especially love appreciating all of the "magical" thing stat happen in my life…you know when a new door opens up for you all of a sudden, where once before there didn't seem to be any pathways at all. I love appreciating the magic! Because you know, I am always excited for more! :)
What are you appreciating in your life now? When has "magic" happened for you recently? :)
Want to experience a little magic in your life right now?
Click Here to check out the movie "StarDust." You can watch it on Amazon Instant Access. (Yes! I love instant access to magic! :))
It has awesome performances by Michelle Pfeiffer, Clare Danes, and Robert De Niro and it is a gorgeous magical love story about a fallen star and a magical kingdom. Beautiful costumes, hilarious jokes, and heart-warming romance…this is a great rainy day evening treat.
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| Tapping Yourself Present |
A beautiful way to connect with the wisdom of your body and step fully in the present moment, is a technique called EFT, which is short for Emotional Freedom Technique.
This is a practice of physically tapping on your body's energetic meridian points while saying positive statements out loud, to release old limiting beliefs and emotions that are stored in your body. The science of EFT is based around Chinese Acupuncture meridian points in the body, although acupuncture focuses on physical health while EFT focuses on emotional health.
Now a lot of people may find this very woo-woo…but let me tell you that it just straight up feels good! There are a lot of free EFT videos on YouTube, but I highly recommend checking out the Founder's website, and watching Gray Craig's free introductory videos. I think that when you learn the ideas behind the techniques, it makes it much more powerful when you do experiment with tapping. Click Here to see Gary's introductory videos, and you can find the menu for his entire free course here.
I am experimenting with tapping in my own life right now…for me, I know that my desires and dreams can be very big, and that I do get stuck in old ways of thinking about myself. Dancing, Foam Rolling, and getting a Massage are all awesome ways to release old emotional energy that is stored in my body, and EFT is potentially even more powerful because it combines powerfully positive statements to replace the old beliefs. If you are inspired to try tapping, write me back and let me know what you think!
And enjoy!
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| New Dance Class Video! |
NEW DANCE CLASS VIDEO! Your monthly subscription comes with a new Samba Booty Dance Class Video! This month, we are going to focus on Going With The Flow…with learning how to Turn while you are dancing.
This month's Samba Booty Dance Class introduces you to 3 hot Brazilian-inspired Turns, and a fun choreography to practice them with! I hope you enjoy the class and please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
To access the Video:
1. First log-in to the We Love BodyJoy site HERE
2. Then CLICK HERE (after logging in) to view the new Samba Booty Dance Class!
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How To Make Turns |
All right! So in this month's Samba Booty Dance Class, we are going to experiment with making turns when you dance--so that you can have a lot of flow and grace when you turn, without getting dizzy!
Now there are two main techniques for busting a graceful and grounded turn:
1. You need to Spot. Spotting means picking a spot on the wall at eye level, and staring at that spot right before you start your turn, and then finding that same spot again right when you finish your turn. This is the key in not getting dizzy or falling off your center when you turn. Find a spot and meet it with your eyes. And be sure this spot in not on the ground…it needs to be directly at eye level.
2. You need to Go Down To Go Up. That sounds like a philosophical statement…but truly if you want to make a tight, grounded, hot turn when you dance…you first need to bend your knees, and actually lower your body. Then, when you stand up tall on your leg to make the turn, this momentum of going Down to Up creates a force that actually carries you all the way around the turn with no additional effort. And, it makes your dancing look amazing to have these "level changes."
The turns I am sharing with you in this month's Samba Booty Dance Class come from the dance style of Samba Reggae from the north of Brazil. We'll also practice a little samba, and get you in the FLOW with making precise, sexy turns when you dance. With no dizziness! Promise. :)
Come check it out, take 10 minutes to dance with me, and let me know what you think!
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Going With The Flow Samba Dance Songs
Here are some Eye-Catching Samba Axe Dance Songs to enjoy:
"Farao Divindade do Egito" by Olodum
"Charles Ye" by Daniela Mercury and Carlinhos Brown
"Na Beira do Mar" by Timbalada
You can purchase these songs on iTunes, or try making them a free radio channel on Pandora.com! And enjoy shaking what your momma gave you!
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