What is the significance of the book’s title?
Dancing Mindfulness: A Creative Path to Healing and Transformation. My editor, Emily, and I played around a lot with the subtitle because you can say a lot about what is going to happen in the book with the subtitle itself. We ultimately decided on using transformation because of Emily watching the video. After Emily watched it, she told me that she noticed transformation in the people on the video. She said that when she read my words and saw the practice in action that transformation described perfectly what she saw. The thing with transformation is it does not have to be this big scary process; it can occur in different intervals. You can have a huge transformation in your life that occurs over a series of months or years, or you can have a small transformation that happens within an hour. One small thing that you work on. That’s really what I encourage here, those micro-moments, those micro-movements of wonder. You don’t have to tackle the whole thing at once and I hope that some of that gentle encouragement comes out in the pages of the book.
Dancing Mindfulness: A Creative Path to Healing and Transformation. My editor, Emily, and I played around a lot with the subtitle because you can say a lot about what is going to happen in the book with the subtitle itself. We ultimately decided on using transformation because of Emily watching the video. After Emily watched it, she told me that she noticed transformation in the people on the video. She said that when she read my words and saw the practice in action that transformation described perfectly what she saw. The thing with transformation is it does not have to be this big scary process; it can occur in different intervals. You can have a huge transformation in your life that occurs over a series of months or years, or you can have a small transformation that happens within an hour. One small thing that you work on. That’s really what I encourage here, those micro-moments, those micro-movements of wonder. You don’t have to tackle the whole thing at once and I hope that some of that gentle encouragement comes out in the pages of the book.
What is the aim of the book?
The aim for the Dancing Mindfulness book is really to encourage people to explore what it means to have a personal Dancing Mindfulness practice and to build a practice of their own. One of the things that those of us who do this regularly have come to believe is that Dancing Mindfulness is a way of life; it’s a way of being in the world. I am not saying that people who read the book have to go out and adopt that, but I would like them to start exploring some of what it means to move mindfully, not just as a separate practice, but perhaps as part of their life. The book is set up towards the general reader, so whether or not the reader has come to a Dancing Mindfulness class, the hope is that they can benefit from the contents.
The aim for the Dancing Mindfulness book is really to encourage people to explore what it means to have a personal Dancing Mindfulness practice and to build a practice of their own. One of the things that those of us who do this regularly have come to believe is that Dancing Mindfulness is a way of life; it’s a way of being in the world. I am not saying that people who read the book have to go out and adopt that, but I would like them to start exploring some of what it means to move mindfully, not just as a separate practice, but perhaps as part of their life. The book is set up towards the general reader, so whether or not the reader has come to a Dancing Mindfulness class, the hope is that they can benefit from the contents.
How do you explain Dancing Mindfulness in light of the more traditional forms of mindfulness and meditation?
Dancing Mindfulness fits into the larger genre of conscious dance. Conscious dance is the idea of using your dance to reach a place of greater awareness. A lot of conscious dance forms do not rely on prescribed steps; it’s more about following your own intuitive movement. That is something that is very vital and important to me and it was critical that I include that freedom in Dancing Mindfulness classes. A lot of that encouragement now appears in the book. A lot of traditionalists, whether they are dance, meditation, or yoga traditionalists, may look at what we do as weird and I invite you to come with that kind of criticism and skepticism. I know that a lot of members of our community started from that mindset. It’s not saying that I am trying to convert you to the Dancing Mindfulness way of life, because I really believe there is a practice out there for everyone. What we do may not be a fit, or may not be a complement, with your existing practice, but I encourage you to give this a try, whether that means coming to a class or reading the book. I know in my spiritual journey that the practice of looking for similarities, as opposed to differences, has really benefited me. Even if you are looking at this and thinking that this really isn’t meditation because it’s movement, or it’s not meditation because there is music, perhaps it can serve as a good complement to what you already do because our spiritual intent is the same. There are so many different paths home.
Dancing Mindfulness fits into the larger genre of conscious dance. Conscious dance is the idea of using your dance to reach a place of greater awareness. A lot of conscious dance forms do not rely on prescribed steps; it’s more about following your own intuitive movement. That is something that is very vital and important to me and it was critical that I include that freedom in Dancing Mindfulness classes. A lot of that encouragement now appears in the book. A lot of traditionalists, whether they are dance, meditation, or yoga traditionalists, may look at what we do as weird and I invite you to come with that kind of criticism and skepticism. I know that a lot of members of our community started from that mindset. It’s not saying that I am trying to convert you to the Dancing Mindfulness way of life, because I really believe there is a practice out there for everyone. What we do may not be a fit, or may not be a complement, with your existing practice, but I encourage you to give this a try, whether that means coming to a class or reading the book. I know in my spiritual journey that the practice of looking for similarities, as opposed to differences, has really benefited me. Even if you are looking at this and thinking that this really isn’t meditation because it’s movement, or it’s not meditation because there is music, perhaps it can serve as a good complement to what you already do because our spiritual intent is the same. There are so many different paths home.
Is Dancing Mindfulness accessible to those with limited mobility?
There is a section of the book entitled “You Can Dance Mindfully While Seated.” One of the big teaching foundations I have built upon from the beginning is to do what you can do and don't judge yourself if you cannot go further. Don’t push your limits or push your expectations. I also talk in the book about being with your breath in a mindful way and how your breath is your life dancing through you. You are dancing, even if breath is the only element you can bring to a practice in that given day.
There is a section of the book entitled “You Can Dance Mindfully While Seated.” One of the big teaching foundations I have built upon from the beginning is to do what you can do and don't judge yourself if you cannot go further. Don’t push your limits or push your expectations. I also talk in the book about being with your breath in a mindful way and how your breath is your life dancing through you. You are dancing, even if breath is the only element you can bring to a practice in that given day.
How does this book resonate with the LGBTQI community?
One of the values of the Dancing Mindfulness community is embracing all paths and creating a safe space for people to be who they are. As a bisexual woman, I did not set out to make this an LGBTQ practice, although because of who we are, we meaning myself and a lot of the early contributors to the practice, we just naturally, organically created this community of acceptance. It has warmed my heart that a lot of people within the LGBTQ community have resonated with Dancing Mindfulness as a practice, as a way of life. I look forward to continuing to explore different avenues and different ways to bring this practice to people who really need and want that gift of acceptance; who need and want that place where they feel embraced for who they truly are.
A story that warmed my heart from this summer, as I was getting the book ready, was a conversation with my ten year old stepson. One day we were in the pool and I was wearing a rainbow-colored pride bracelet and he asked, “is that a dancing mindfulness bracelet?” We do like to use a lot of varieties of color in our promotional material, but I told him “no, honey, it’s a bracelet for gay pride.” And then he asked me “well what’s gay pride?” I gave him a little bit of insight on my working definition of it, which is really a movement that claims your right to be who you are, to marry who you love, to be who you want to be, and deserve to be in the world. I went on this great explanatory rant to him and then he comes back with “how is that different from Dancing Mindfulness?” At that moment I just smiled. To me it was, wow, if he can get this, I really hope this is something the larger community embraces, too.
One of the values of the Dancing Mindfulness community is embracing all paths and creating a safe space for people to be who they are. As a bisexual woman, I did not set out to make this an LGBTQ practice, although because of who we are, we meaning myself and a lot of the early contributors to the practice, we just naturally, organically created this community of acceptance. It has warmed my heart that a lot of people within the LGBTQ community have resonated with Dancing Mindfulness as a practice, as a way of life. I look forward to continuing to explore different avenues and different ways to bring this practice to people who really need and want that gift of acceptance; who need and want that place where they feel embraced for who they truly are.
A story that warmed my heart from this summer, as I was getting the book ready, was a conversation with my ten year old stepson. One day we were in the pool and I was wearing a rainbow-colored pride bracelet and he asked, “is that a dancing mindfulness bracelet?” We do like to use a lot of varieties of color in our promotional material, but I told him “no, honey, it’s a bracelet for gay pride.” And then he asked me “well what’s gay pride?” I gave him a little bit of insight on my working definition of it, which is really a movement that claims your right to be who you are, to marry who you love, to be who you want to be, and deserve to be in the world. I went on this great explanatory rant to him and then he comes back with “how is that different from Dancing Mindfulness?” At that moment I just smiled. To me it was, wow, if he can get this, I really hope this is something the larger community embraces, too.
How does this book relate to the addiction community, and the recovery community as a whole?
My hope with the Dancing Mindfulness practice, and now the clearer breakdown in this book, is to give people a path where they can intuitively, at their own pace, connect with their bodies. I know in my own recovery journey, and in working with others on their recovery journeys, I really encountered this theme of being cut off from the body. Not being able to listen to the body’s internal wisdom; the body’s sacred wisdom. My hope is that we can teach people how to listen to their body’s sacred wisdom. I have a lot of respect for traditional recovery paths, they certainly helped me to get sober and sane in my early journey. Yet I discovered that I really needed outside help to be able to listen to my body and notice those messages and work with them in order to grow in my recovery, as opposed to just staying sober.
As I talk about in the book, yoga was my first gateway to discovering that practice of listening to my body. Then conscious dance really just opened up everything for me. It has always warmed my heart from the beginning of Dancing Mindfulness that so many women were drawn to it. My hope with this book is that it can inspire even more people to give a practice like Dancing Mindfulness a try.
My hope with the Dancing Mindfulness practice, and now the clearer breakdown in this book, is to give people a path where they can intuitively, at their own pace, connect with their bodies. I know in my own recovery journey, and in working with others on their recovery journeys, I really encountered this theme of being cut off from the body. Not being able to listen to the body’s internal wisdom; the body’s sacred wisdom. My hope is that we can teach people how to listen to their body’s sacred wisdom. I have a lot of respect for traditional recovery paths, they certainly helped me to get sober and sane in my early journey. Yet I discovered that I really needed outside help to be able to listen to my body and notice those messages and work with them in order to grow in my recovery, as opposed to just staying sober.
As I talk about in the book, yoga was my first gateway to discovering that practice of listening to my body. Then conscious dance really just opened up everything for me. It has always warmed my heart from the beginning of Dancing Mindfulness that so many women were drawn to it. My hope with this book is that it can inspire even more people to give a practice like Dancing Mindfulness a try.
What is the link between movement and trauma?
I think the link between movement and trauma is that unhealed trauma can cause such a stagnation of energy in our bodies. It can either sit there or be moved and movement is a solution. That’s not to say that it can’t be triggering and activating for people. It’s one thing we really do discuss in Dancing Mindfulness, especially in trainings, is how to work with people when it’s too much.
I think the link between movement and trauma is that unhealed trauma can cause such a stagnation of energy in our bodies. It can either sit there or be moved and movement is a solution. That’s not to say that it can’t be triggering and activating for people. It’s one thing we really do discuss in Dancing Mindfulness, especially in trainings, is how to work with people when it’s too much.
What do you mean when you say "opting out is always an option?"
The phrase “opting out is always an option” is a phrase I learned many years ago from a drum circle facilitator and it has always resonated with me. One of the sections in the beginning of the book is called “Things to Keep in Mind Before You Get Started.” It really is a safety guideline where I talk about things like how to keep yourself emotionally safe as you journey through the book. How to keep yourself physically safe as you journey through the book, by paying attention to your surroundings, footwear, physical ability, while trying this practice. The idea of opting out always being an option is discussed in this section. In a class, that means you don’t have to experience every part of the class in a moving way; you can sit out or even step out if it is becoming too overwhelming. For the book how this translates is that you can put the book down if you need. I also encourage a slow read through the book, instead of feeling it necessary to rush through and try all the practices at once. Taking your time while reading and trying is an important way to keep yourself safe. Another way I address the safety element is by encouraging people to seek support. Especially with certain practices that can be very emotionally evocative, there is a warning given throughout to keep in mind that if you want to try the more emotionally stirring practices, please have support in place. For example, in the addiction community that could be your sponsor and support group. For those who have a therapist, it could mean following up with your therapist as you read through the book. It could mean reaching out to friends or other people who are reading through the book with you and are willing to give support.
The phrase “opting out is always an option” is a phrase I learned many years ago from a drum circle facilitator and it has always resonated with me. One of the sections in the beginning of the book is called “Things to Keep in Mind Before You Get Started.” It really is a safety guideline where I talk about things like how to keep yourself emotionally safe as you journey through the book. How to keep yourself physically safe as you journey through the book, by paying attention to your surroundings, footwear, physical ability, while trying this practice. The idea of opting out always being an option is discussed in this section. In a class, that means you don’t have to experience every part of the class in a moving way; you can sit out or even step out if it is becoming too overwhelming. For the book how this translates is that you can put the book down if you need. I also encourage a slow read through the book, instead of feeling it necessary to rush through and try all the practices at once. Taking your time while reading and trying is an important way to keep yourself safe. Another way I address the safety element is by encouraging people to seek support. Especially with certain practices that can be very emotionally evocative, there is a warning given throughout to keep in mind that if you want to try the more emotionally stirring practices, please have support in place. For example, in the addiction community that could be your sponsor and support group. For those who have a therapist, it could mean following up with your therapist as you read through the book. It could mean reaching out to friends or other people who are reading through the book with you and are willing to give support.
Can a clinician recommend this book to their clients?
I see the Dancing Mindfulness book fitting into that canon of literature on yoga and meditation that is presented for the general reader. You do not have to have clinical, religious, or meditative training to benefit from this book. My hope is that a clinician would be able to read it first, maybe work through some of the practices themselves first, and know if a book like this may resonate with a certain client. Then the clinician could recommend the book for the larger recovery picture, the picture of growth and wellness that the client may be seeking.
I see the Dancing Mindfulness book fitting into that canon of literature on yoga and meditation that is presented for the general reader. You do not have to have clinical, religious, or meditative training to benefit from this book. My hope is that a clinician would be able to read it first, maybe work through some of the practices themselves first, and know if a book like this may resonate with a certain client. Then the clinician could recommend the book for the larger recovery picture, the picture of growth and wellness that the client may be seeking.
Did writing the book change your view of your own personal practice?
The short answer to that is “yes.” In writing the book, I felt even more deeply connected with the seven elements of Dancing Mindfulness, which are: breath, sound, mind, body, spirit, story, and fusion of these elements. The elements are something I really brought into the practice from its beginning, yet writing the book took me on a whole new journey with those seven elements. It also helped me to understand the interfaith aspect of it. So many of the great global traditions of faith, of spiritual practice, have already written on and drawn on these seven elements as a way of spiritual practice. Writing the book helped me have a greater sense of appreciation for what we do in Dancing Mindfulness practice, whether that is in a group or individually.
The short answer to that is “yes.” In writing the book, I felt even more deeply connected with the seven elements of Dancing Mindfulness, which are: breath, sound, mind, body, spirit, story, and fusion of these elements. The elements are something I really brought into the practice from its beginning, yet writing the book took me on a whole new journey with those seven elements. It also helped me to understand the interfaith aspect of it. So many of the great global traditions of faith, of spiritual practice, have already written on and drawn on these seven elements as a way of spiritual practice. Writing the book helped me have a greater sense of appreciation for what we do in Dancing Mindfulness practice, whether that is in a group or individually.