The power of dance to heal your pain

Health Fitness

When pain numbs your shoulders with its weight, there is one thing guaranteed to change something, in 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 an activity with a purpose, the benefits multiply. Particularly during times of extreme stress, such as when we are grieving, that movement has the ability to release knots of tension stuck in our grooves and give the pain captured in our hearts a way to escape.

There are many types of movements 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 of movement. There may be sweetness, there may be debauchery. Whether we run it alone in our living room or dance with others. Whether we express ourselves through free movement or dance to step, we are energizing ourselves from within. We are getting into the rhythm of the music and letting ourselves 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 a magic of our own, all ours.

I have tried many different forms of dance, but there remains one that I return to again and again. Wu Tao is a harmonious dance that enriches the physical, emotional and spiritual parts of myself. It touches each one giving me the opportunity to bring energy and flow, not only to my body, but to my life. Through the dances of air, water, wood and fire, I release my pain and dance my joy. I let go of my past and I am present in my future. I light the flame of promise and possibility and in the dance of the earth I finally find myself at home and bring peace to my heart. I come out balanced and at peace.

Wu Tao has been described as:

“A dance-based therapy that balances and harmonizes the flow of Qi (vital force energy in the body). It has its foundations in Oriental Medicine, and similar to Tai Chi and Qi Gong, it is a healing system, with a philosophy and practice that restores balance to the person at all levels “. © Wu Tao: The Dancing Way.

I feel very fortunate that Wu Tao is so available in my region of Western Australia, because it really improves 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 talk to you about how wonderful it is now, there is a very real possibility that it has arrived or that it is coming your way. Many people are recognizing the benefits and enjoyment of dancing 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.

Whichever form of dance you decide, let your flow begin and lead you to the place where music and movement merge into one.

“The journey between what once was and what is now becoming is where the dance of life really takes place.” ~ Barbara De Angelis

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *