When pain cushions your shoulders with its weight, there is one thing guaranteed to change something, inside and out, and that is movement. Movement is movement, it propels us somewhere and it has fluidity, it has life.
If that movement is channeled into purposeful activity, the benefits multiply. Particularly during times of extreme stress, such as when we are grieving, that movement has the ability to release the knots of tension stuck in our grooves and give the pain captured in our hearts a way to escape.
There are many types of movement that are beneficial to our health and well-being. We can walk, run, bike, swim, surf, go to a yoga class or do tai chi in the park. The options are endless and varied. Then there is the dance.
The ability to dance is freedom in movement. There may be gentleness, there may be savagery. Whether we get it going alone in our living room or dance with others. Whether we express ourselves through free movement or dance with fixed steps, we are energizing ourselves from within. We are putting ourselves to the rhythm of the music and allowing ourselves to forget for a moment how painful the loss of a loved one is. We are escaping and investing in the power of dance to heal our tired hearts and aching bodies. We are transporting ourselves to that place where music and movement combine to make their own magic, ours.
I have tried many different forms of dance, but there is one that I return to again and again. Wu Tao is a harmonious dance that enriches my physical, emotional and spiritual part. It touches each one giving me the opportunity to bring energy and flow, not only to my body, but also to my life. Through the dances of air, water, wood and fire I release my sorrow and dance my joy. I let go of my past and am present for my future. I light the flame of promise and possibility and in the dance of the earth I find myself home at last and bring peace to my heart. I leave balanced and at peace.
Wu Tao has been described as:
“Therapy based on dance that balances and harmonizes the flow of Qi (vital energy in the body). It has its foundations in Oriental Medicine, and like Tai Chi and Qi Gong, it is a healing system, with a holistic philosophy and practice, which restores balance to the person on all levels”. © Wu Tao: The way of dancing.
I feel very lucky that Wu Tao is so readily available in my region of Western Australia, because it really enhances my life in so many ways. Developed by Michelle Locke, a Western Australian dancer and therapist in 2001, Wu Tao’s appeal is now growing around the world. When I share with you how wonderful it is right now, there is a very real possibility that it will come or come your way. So many people are recognizing the benefits and enjoyment of dance that its reach is growing in many regions of the world, including an upcoming tour of the United States during November. All the details can be found in Wu Tao: The Dancing Way.
Whatever form of dance you decide on, let it flow and take you to the place where music and movement merge into one.
“The journey between who you once were and who you are now becoming is where the dance of life really takes place.” ~ Barbara De Angelis