Since forever dance has been a source of my wellbeing and happiness. When I move, I feel connected to my essence, my soul, my superpowers. I usually don't copy any movements dictated by a teacher but would allow my body to move as it needs to move. Sometimes I need to shake it off. Sometimes I need to stretch beyond my limits. Sometimes I need clear directions. Sometimes I need trust and confidence through connecting with the earth. My intuition tells me which music to put on and naturally, my body takes me where it needs to go. Energy moves within me. As emotions are also one kind of energy, they transform while we dance. Know that feeling of a heavy sadness sitting on your chest? Why not rolling with it over the floor and be curious what this does to you? 

The important thing is to not fight against your emotions, but integrating them while you move, otherwise, your movement won't be organic. True transformation happens when we accept what is FIRST.

What are the benefits of movement?

1) Consider dance as a new form of meditation: when we move, we think less. We don't hold on to resentment of the past or worries about the future because we focus more on the present moment. 

2) Lets our brain regulate our emotions: The mind and body connection is reciprocal. How we feel is expressed through our body, but also our brain has the ability to regulate emotions via changes in body postures and movements. This is one of the reasons why yoga & meditation are so popular, but there is way less hype about mindful dance practice, for example, Dance Movement therapy. If you jump up and down with your hands up high for five minutes you'll smile eventually...(Try it out!)

3) Helps with depression and anxiety: Dance has been used as a tool in various aspects of mental and physical health treatment. To deal better with depression and anxiety, Parkinson, Alzheimer, with elderly people to prevent falling & help with stiffness and pain, Cardio health etc.

4) Feeling are acknowledged and released: We live in a society where we often repress our feelings, we don't want to show our vulnerability, disappointment, anger, or depression. These feelings get stuck in our system, they "eat us up" from the inside. Through expressing them in our movement we give them the chance to be released and transformed, we clear our inner space and make room for new emotions.

4) Dance activates us and stimulates positive sensations: Joy, confidence, power, vitality, creativity, connection, love, trust, passion and many more. 

Get your tango on - The benefits of dancing with a partner:

If you are lucky and live with other people during quarantine: get some hugs! A daily dose of 12 is recommended. When we hug each other, a true hormone cocktail kicks off in our body (endorphins, serotonin, oxytocin and dopamine), we boost our immune system, have an impact on our cardiovascular system and practise anti-ageing! And now imagine to dance AND hug at the same time....!! 

This is why I dance the Tango and moved to Argentina. Tango gives me this sensation of being held, protected, taken care of. And, simultaneously, being seen in my playful, elegant and creative self-expression. 

Now you can imagine that NOT moving and NOT being with other people is not good for our physical and mental health. 

Humans are hardwired for connection:

Brené Brown, a researcher and storyteller I admire a lot, says that we are "hardwired for connection" and people who are lonely are more likely to have a lower life span than those who smoke a pack of cigarettes a day.

So let me get this straight: in this quarantine, we stay at home in order to not get sick physically but it makes us sick mentally and therefore backfires on our physical health...

The only thing we can do is making this collective trauma we're in as pleasurable as possible. Let's choose to see the potential in the crisis - reconnect to yourself and reach out to others. The internet is an easy place to make friends, you don't have to stay isolated communication-wise.

So: there are plenty of possibilities to dance together online. Check them out! Shift your energy together with others. It REALLY works! (You can do this with me too if you like!)

An easy guideline for your solo movement practise:

1) Set up a sacred space: close the doors, light a candle and an incense stick. Anything that makes it "special". Make sure to not be disturbed by anyone.

2) Either stand or lie on the floor on your back: Close your eyes. Take some deep breaths. Let go of your thoughts and be present.

3) Tune in to your body: How does it feel? Where do you hold some tension? Is it stiff? 

4) You can put your hands on your heart: Send a message to your body that you are listening.

5) Allow yourself to move: If you have no clear movement impulse yet, use your breath to guide you. Anything is allowed that wants to show up: rolling over the floor, swinging your arms, stomping on the ground, shaking...

6) Don't worry about how your movement or dance looks!! This is not about matching a form but about diving into an experience.

7) Open your mouth and make a sound if you wish.

8) Include touch in your movement: You can tenderly caress your face, give your limbs a firm and grounding touch or wash something off your body.

9) Move to music: You can stay in silence or put on some music that supports you.

10) Do this for 5 minutes or 2 hours: As long as you need.

11) After your session, take some time to tune out: It might be helpful to write. 

You may want to reflect on questions like:

What feelings showed up? 

What shifted? 

What surprised you? 

What felt really good? 

How do you feel now compared to when you started your session?

Did your body have a message for you?

I hope these tips are useful for you and help you to get in touch with your body - the messenger of your soul. If you would prefer to be guided personally, you can book a session with me as your private dance coach, taking care of your specific needs. If you have any questions about this practice or would like to share how you felt, please reach out! I'd be thrilled to hear from you!

About the author:

Valerie Kattenfeld is a Tango teacher and Online Dance Coach based in Buenos Aires. She offers guided improvisation dance as a tool of personal transformation, stimulating positive emotions like joy, motivation, confidence and connection for better mental health. She loves Papaya for breakfast, is passionate about human unity and rooted in Biodanza, Tango & Tantra.

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