Mindful Movers

Hard but helpful truths for your Saturday (and beyond!) 🤔✨️🙌🏻

1. We're all born with different skeletons, which impacts parts of how we look and how we dance.
2. There's no skeleton store where we
can get a new one.
3. We have to work with what we were born with: embrace it!

That's all something that I wish more dancers, particularly young dancers, were more aware of (or at least remembered it more consistently!). Our limbs are the length they are, our hip joints (which largely determine our degree of safe, natural turnout) are what they are, our feet are the shape that they are. We can't change much, if not all, of that. Quite sadly, the ways in which some dancers try to change their bodies become harmful -- even toxic 😣😖

Instead, can we place our focus on our strengths and what we can uniquely offer? For example, we may not have the long, graceful limbs or the "perfect" turnout of that quintessential ballerina image in our heads. But perhaps our ability to pick up choreography and the fluidity in our spines shines. Embrace that and capitalize on it! That could just be the mindset shift that can help you make the sort dance life that makes you grateful just to have it and live it 💙✨️🙌🏻💃🏻🕺🏻💃🏽

"You don't luck into integrity. You work at it." --Betty White ✨️💯👏🏻

Aaah, the incomparable Betty White...that part tho! 👏🏻💯✨️

Yoga -- in its most comprehensive form, far beyond the poses -- is on no way about "quick fixes." It's a true practice and process. That can be tough in our modern world, with expectations and pressures for quick fixes a-plenty. Yet, if we can stick with it, we can find it paying off more than we ever thought possible 🙌🏻🤩

In our artistic lives, building our values -- in integrity and beyond -- can mean more harmony and fruitful work with our collaborators. It can mean less fear, bringing more creative openness and free inspiration. When we do the right thing, even if it's hard in the moment, in the long run we can find it all coming together in beautiful ways 🤩🙌🏻

As always, shared with all possible non-judgement and loving-kindness. What do you think? Have you seen integrity working in wonderful ways in your creative and/or personal life? What did it take to get there? If you feel comfortable sharing and would like to do so, let me know in comments below or via DM!💃🏼🧘🏼‍♀️🤸🏼‍♀️✨️👏🏻🙌🏻

2022 out: "resolutions" ✖️
2023 in: intentions! ✔️

This is meant to be tongue-in-cheek; I'm not into prescriptions or absolutes. It could be that the frame of "resolutions" works well for you. If so, awesome, go get it!!! 👏🏻🙌🏻

Yet for many people, resolutions can lead to fear and then ultimately shame. They imply that there's a problem to be solved ("resolve"). If you can't solve that problem, tut tut *finger wave*. At the same time, the frame doesn't necessarily set you up with the tools to address a certain thing that you want to address. All of that considered, when you then aren't able to make a change, there's the kshame. Let's also remember that dancers are quite prone to shame and self-blame (that's the perfectionism!) 😮‍💨🙃

On the other hand, intentions are open and flexible. You *intend* to make a certain change, through [x] and or [y] action. If that doesn't happen, it's okay, you can try again. That's the frame, the approach 🤔🤓🙌🏻✨️

As always, offered with non-judgment and loving-kindness! What do you think? What's your resolution or intention for coming months? Let me know below or via DM! 🥳🎉🤔😄😎💙

#2023

New book recommendation: "Turning Pointe: How a New Generation of Dancers is Saving Ballet from Itself" by Chloe Angyal 📚📖🤓🤸🏼‍♀️

I just got this from my local library, and I'm so excited to jump into it. Yoga and mindfulness practice mostly involves personal development and how you relate with those in your environment, but yoga philosophy and mindfulness also involves awareness and intentionality. To me, that spreads out to systems in which we're a part: how they operate, their impact on the wider world, how well or not well they are are, and the like 🤔😎

Together, we can make the dance world more inclusive, more impactful, more sustainable, more vibrant. You in? I hope so!! 👏🏻🙌🏻🤙🏻

Have you read this? I'd love to hear your thoughts if so, let me know below or via DM, if you'd like to share! 📖📚

Happy Holidays, and happy rest of the week to you and yours, all! 🤸🏼‍♀️💃🏼✨️

Happy Holidays and Happy Nutcracker season, everybody! 💂🏻🩰🎄✨️

Nutcracker season can be *nuts* for dancers: rehearsing, the company season, guesting, etc (that's on top of the holiday craziness that everyone experiences) 😳😱😜

This is your periodic (clichè but true) reminder that you can't keep up with the craziness without taking care of yourself: enough rest, good food, staying connected with good socials supports, etc. I've learned that the hard way. If you're finding that a challenge (which is so so common), I'm only a DM away 🙏🏻💙

You got this! Holiday cheer and performance amazingness to all! ✨️🎄🩰💂🏻

📸 courtesy of moi, at 's 2022 "Newport Nutcracker at Rosecliff"

✨️ "Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations." --Mae Jemison ✨️

Dancer, your imagination, your creativity, your mind -- they're amazing. Why? Because they're not quite like anyone else's! Advocate for them. They deserve it 👏🏻🙌🏻

If you're in an environment where your imagination, creativity, and intelligence are not seen as it should be, perhaps it's time to find a space where they *are* seen as they should be.

Of course, that's all too often easier said than done (I won't pretend that just finding opportunities is a piece of cake, or always even possible). BUT it's good food for thought, I do think! 👏🏻✨️

Did this resonate with you? Let me know below or via DM!

Happy Saturday, all ✨️👏🏻🙌🏻💃🏼🤸🏼‍♀️🧘🏼‍♀️

New book recommendation ✨️📖 Miriam Austin's "Cool Yoga Tricks" 📖✨️

My well-loved copy of this informative and intriguing book! Austin offers many approaches for making poses more accessible and more beneficial for *you* -- and that's a huge part of the practice overall! 🧘🏼‍♀️🤸🏼‍♀️

Beyond specific exercises and prop usages, it can open your perspective on how prop supports, creative approaches, and working from an anatomically-informed lens can be fruitful -- for *you* as a dance artist and as a human 🙏🏻💙🤸🏼‍♀️

Happy Saturday, all! Happy reading, happy learning, happy moving ✨️📚🙏🏻💙🤸🏼‍♀️🧘🏼‍♀️💃🏼

Food for thought for your Saturday! 🤔✨️

Dance involves the pursuit of a kind of perfection that you'll never reach (...because it doesn't exist)....oof, harsh truth? OR is that part of what makes it exciting and worthwhile -- the fact that there's always something to work on and something new to discover? 🤔🤩

The difference is *non-attachment* to that forever-elusive perfection. The difference is the quality of our thoughts and feelings; we can be negative, discouraged, and unkind to our ourselves, or we can be excited about our continuous journey of learning and improving as dance artists 🧐😊

We step in either direction with everyday choices and micro-habits. So, the next time you beat yourself up or compare yourself to another dancer, you can make another choice. The next time you're having an off-turning day and feel like throwing something, you can make another choice (and absolutely no judgement -- we've all been there, and it's also important to move *through* our feelings rather than stuffing them down!) ✨️🙌🏻💃🏼🧘🏼‍♀️

Questions, comments, etc? What's one way that you can build non-attachment today? Let me know below or via DM! Always shared with loving-kindness and non-judgment💃🏼🤸🏼‍♀️🧘🏼‍♀️💙🙏🏻😁

"You are unique and if that is not fulfilled, then something has been lost." ~Martha Graham 💃🏼✨️

I'm not sure about you, but if Martha Graham is saying it, then I'm going to sit up and listen! 🤩💃🏼

Only you can dance like you, choreograph like you, collaborate like you, teach like you, et cetera. I'd argue that remembering that, and working accordingly, is more likely to set you up for success; no one can be better at being you than you!! But also, no one else can offer exactly what you can offer -- so share that, put it out there and see what can bloom from it 🙌🏻😄

Happy Saturday, all! Non-judgement and loving-kindness always! 💃🏼🙏🏻💙✨️

Great Poses for Dancers: Dancer Pose 💃🏼🤸🏼‍♀️🙏🏻✨️

At the risk of being a bit basic 😜😅🤣💁🏼‍♀️...yes, Dancer Pose is a great pose for dancers!

1️⃣ Challenges (and therefore helps improve) balance
2️⃣ Helps hone activation and awareness of both the front and backspace
3️⃣ Stretches quads and strengthens hamstrings
4️⃣ Refines use of gaze for physical integration and ease

Safety tips:
🔹️ With the knee that's lengthening backwards, draw that knee directly downwards. The knee going out towards the side (wider than that same hip) can harm the knee. If you can't draw that knee down, lower the leg until that knee *does* point right down.
🔹️As this pose requires significant opening in the collarbone/chest area as well as the quadriceps, make sure to warm up and gently stretch these areas before going into a deep expression of this pose.

Questions, comments, etc? Comment below or send me a DM: always more than happy to help! Non-judgement and loving-kindness always 🙌🏻🙏🏻

Happy dancing, happy practicing, happy moving! ✨️🙏🏻🙌🏻💃🏼🧘🏼‍♀️💙

Hello everyone! How's your fall going? How are you settling into your fall schedule, projects, etc? 👋🏻🤸🏼‍♀️💃🏼🍂

For me, I'm settling into being at the yoga and dance studio every day while I continue writing and other projects. It's a lot, but investing in my wellness -- in body, mind, and spirit -- fuels me through it. We're not machines, but just like them, we can't run on empty 🙏🏻🙌🏻💙✨️

What's fueling you through your busy schedule? How are you caring for yourself? If you'd like, let me know below! 🧘🏼‍♀️🤸🏼‍♀️✨️💙

I just passed 1,000 followers in Instagram (): thank you thank you!! I'm hoping that my offerings are helping some wonderful dance artists out there feel more centered and reach closer to their potential 🙏🏻✨️🧘🏼‍♀️💃🏼

For yoga lesson plans, virtual classes, blog posts, and other resources -- all specifically tailored to serve dancers -- go to the link in comments! 🙏🏻🙌🏻

Additionally, what do you want more of? If there's anything else that I can offer at the intersection of yoga/mindfulness and dance, please let me know below or via DM! 💃🏼🧘🏼‍♀️

Thank you again and happy Saturday, all! 🤸🏼‍♀️✨️😊💙