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30 Apr

Known throughout the Earth’s civilizations and cultures by various names; mind's eye, eye of the soul, eye of divinity, eye of intuition, and so on, all relating to the same ideal of one-ness, of spiritual perception.  Physically, (and as agreed by modern western medicine ? ) this centre resides behind the space between the eyebrows, behind the forehead and includes the pineal and pituitary glands. The pituitary gland is known as the master gland as it controls the production of the majority of hormones to be distributed through the body. The pineal gland (named for its pine cone shape) regulates the control of...

26 Apr

The third chakra is in the most vulnerable part of our system, we bare this section to the world. We expose our tender bellies and many of our vital organs, especially our guts and with them our feelings. ...

04 Aug

The image of belly dance in the west is one of male gaze and seduction In the west we know it as Belly Dance and it has a somewhat seedy sexy connotation, but I would like to address that image of the belly dance in today's post. In the Middle East, Belly Dance is called Raqs Beledi (and other variations) meaning folk/regional dance with the word Raqs also translating to celebration or joy. There are a number of modern western dancers who would like to revert the name back to Oriental Dance to move away from the western legacy of the name Belly...

23 Jun

Reconnect to Mother Earth through dance   India is a land of ancient dances; dances that are as much a part of the culture today as they were thousands of years ago. Barefoot dancers still pound the earth in reverence with each meaningful step they take as part of their classical dance form, whether practising the art of Odissi originating in India’s eastern state of Orissa, Kathak from the north or Bharatanatyam in the south. Separated by hundreds of miles, these dancers are all united in Bhumi Pranam, a salutation carried out before they begin to dance in earnest to honour...

19 May

Give into the shake   Sat around the flickering flames, the women clap and sing, filling the air with melodic clicks. Then the men begin to dance, rhythmically circling the fire, rattles around their ankles shaking with every step. This is the healing dance of the San people. A dance that has played out across thousands of years. The San have been living at one with the land of southern Africa for at least 20,000 years, only discovered by Western eyes less than 400 years ago. Sadly their timeless way of life was far from revered by the colonists and the San...

22 Apr

How breathing better can heal your body and mind   Every minute you take almost 20 breaths, in and out, without a thought. Breathing is so innate, such an essential part of our existence that it is hardwired into our biology and starts the moment we are born. So surely by the time we reach adulthood, we’ve mastered the art of breathing and tapped into its power. Unfortunately, more often than not, no.   Laboured breathing   The fact is for many of us, our breaths are burdened by the stresses of life. Shallow, fast breaths hardly ever reach down into the depths of...

22 Mar

The tunes of Ecstatic Awakening Dance™   First you hear it but then you feel it. That’s when the true power of music takes hold. Music is entwined in the fabric of every culture across the globe. Long before mp3s, radio and record players, it was already an integral part of society, binding communities together. You can still see this today, from the drum beats of the healing ceremonies of Ghana’s Ashanti to celebratory songs of Morocco’s Gnauoa as they honour Nature’s gifts.   The music of Ecstatic Awakening Dance™   While many of the world’s tribes continue to live with music and dance at the heart...

22 Jan

It’s everywhere you look. In glances between young and old couples. In the caress of a mother to her child. In the embrace of friends reuniting. Even in the kindness of a stranger. Love is what binds us together as a community, whichever community you belong to. Love is so intertwined with human nature that people of every culture strive to fill their lives with it and with every kind of it. The language of love reveals how it pervades every aspect of our lives. From Sanskrit’s sneha, the love of a mother and Greek’s agape, a selfless love extended to...

19 Dec

Holding a sacred space Emotions rise up. Feelings overwhelm. And in this moment of vulnerability, true transformation is possible. This experience is not uncommon for those who take part in Ecstatic Awakening Dance™, a nurturing process that is all about helping individuals reconnect with themselves and the universe. In doing so participants are able to feel love and joy by releasing pent-up stress, tension and emotions. Holding a sacred space where this transformation can take place is the privilege and responsibility of an Ecstatic Awakening Dance™ teacher. As raw energy and emotion flow freely, our teachers create a safe space to guide participants...

23 Nov

An ancient practice in modern times   She stands in a woven cotton caftan, snakes of coloured material flowing from her shoulders, a brass mirror against her chest to ward off evil spirits. Her appearance belies her connection to Mother Nature, to the spirit realm. Her drum, the shaman’s drum, beats to a rhythm that resonates within us all. She is an ugdan, a Mongolian shamaness. This is not a description of a woman resigned to the history books. Mongolian shamanism is as alive today as it was thousands of years ago, as far back as recorded history can take us and likely...