SOUL DANCE Changed My Life
“What time is the Yoga class you were going to try?”
“I think it’s at 7:00, let me double check. Oh, no it was at 6:00. But there is something called ‘SOUL DANCED’ at 7:30.”
“You should go to that!”
“Yeah that sounds like something I’d really hate! [In the interest of personal growth] I should probably go to that.”
I drove to the new yoga studio in a hurry, stressed out about being barely on time, and completely unaware that I was about to experience one of the most transformational hours in my life. Susanna Weber was teaching class that night, subbing for the regular teacher, Christiel. She sat us down in a circle and explained that, “I’ve been practicing Kundalini Yoga for 5 years, but some of the most powerful changes in my life have happened after a SOUL DANCE class. It may not happen that day, but if you pay attention on the days to follow you’ll notice breakthroughs, you’ll see the changes.” She went on to explain that sometimes emotions and energy get stuck in the body and during SOUL DANCE you learn to quiet the mind and move intuitively so that things can come up and out quickly and accurately. She said we might feel like laughing or crying during the practice and if so to let ourselves go there and let it all out. We sat quietly for a minute, set our intention and began.
Now, I like dancing, but only choreographed hip hop classes where my brain is occupied the whole time. Turning my mind off and letting my body move how it wanted without judgement was not an easy task for me. But I was in serious need of a breakthrough and so I surrendered my ego, my self-consciousness, my fear of the new…and danced. I moved in ways I never had before, I experienced the purest joy I’d felt in decades. I cried. I cried a lot. By the end of the class I felt completely cracked open, in a good way, as if I was experiencing life for the first time. Somehow, through this class, I got in touch with the Divine within myself in an unshakable way.
I drove home slowly. I felt almost high except I was perhaps the most sober I’d ever been; it felt like I was seeing things as they really were for the first time ever. I was aware of everything around me, listening to one song on repeat in total awe. I was suddenly aware of how I’d been lying to myself, dulling myself, hating someone who was actually an incredible, powerful, beautiful person. When I got home and my partner asked me how class went I had no words. But in the days that followed I was able to be more honest with him and with myself than I’d ever thought possible. I stopped drinking. I signed up for Yoga Teacher Training. I called up old friends to apologize for things I did to hurt them that I’d never noticed until that moment. I changed in more ways than I can list. It was a powerful step for me on the road to complete transformation.
I have to admit, even with all the work I’ve done I’m a little apprehensive about practicing SOUL DANCE at OM FEST. Outside in the light? In front of all those people? It’s the ultimate test for stepping away from my ego and into true joy and gratitude for life. There is a reason so many spiritual traditions include dance, a reason it’s an important part of every culture in the world. You don’t have to teach a child to dance, it’s already in every human. It is one of the most powerful tools we have: to get in touch with our inner wisdom, to learn to trust ourselves, to feel the feelings that have been holding us back, to let go, to celebrate, to grow. So, I’ll surrender my superficial fears and self-consciousness in exchange for happiness and growth if you will, this Saturday at OM FEST from 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Hope to see you there!
