The Sedona Yoga Festival dance program, led by the dynamic Krista, was a recent escapade that my wife Tina and I embarked on. As carriers of tension and anxiety in our bodies, we were thrilled at the prospect of exploring the therapeutic effects of dance. It was reminiscent of the day Tina and I first crossed paths. She had reached out to me to discuss the topic of anxiety disorders, but the conversation meandered to the captivating subject of belly dancing. Tina had just commenced practicing it and was taken aback by my surprising interest in it - a rare occurrence amongst men in the North Dakotan habitat. Growing up in Bosnia, I had harbored a fascination for belly dancing since childhood, so naturally, I was drawn to Tina's newfound interest. It was as if we both intuitively understood the relationship between the constriction caused by anxiety and the freedom the rhythmic movements of belly dancing could offer as a panacea.
Over the years of our togetherness, I heard from Tina about her desire to be a dancer. Despite her interest in classical ballet and other avenues, her weight as a child prevented her from indulging in it, and subsequent injuries have further hindered her pursuit. Her dedication to exercise has not been enough to alleviate the physical challenges of chronic back pain and a neck injury sustained in a car accident. So anxiety related to pain, avoidance, and aging took their toll on her body and mine too.
Balkan music
At home, dancing after dinner was an occasional ritual Tina and I relished. We both shared a love for the art of movement, but my fondness for the invigorating beats of Balkan music was enchanting. So much so that I was inspired to encapsulate the essence of its spirit in a poem that I enclosed.
Sounds of Music.
Echoes of Balkan.
Power of Rhythm.
Passionate Souls.
Melodic Words.
Invoking Love.
Vigor and Force.
The Flesh is Pulsing.
Drums are Loud.
Spirit is Willing.
Body in Trance.
High Feelings.
Being Alive.
And Dancing.
Every line of "Sounds of Music" echoes the energy and passion that the rhythm and melody exude. It invokes feelings of love, vigor, and force. As I peruse each line, a delightful sensation travels through my body becoming attuned to the memory of the entrancing rhythm. Dancing to Balkan music is not just about moving the body but about becoming one with the music.
The poem celebrates the freeing and therapeutic benefits of dancing offering an avenue to liberation from anxiety and body tension. The physicality and intensity highlight dancing’s ability to invigorate and empower the soul. This poem is my attempt to inspire us to let go of our worries and fully embrace the present moment.
Sometimes when I dance or wish to dance, I imagine myself as a bird, soaring high in the vast expanse of the sky. I feel a sense of freedom and weightlessness, unburdened by the worries and fears that hold me down. I live fully present in the beauty of the world around me. I frequently have a flying dream similar to this Icarus-like desire to exceed the bounds of gravity that chain me to my life circumstances.
Krista at Sedona Yoga Festival
As I walked into Krista's program at Sedona Yoga Festival, my senses were heightened by the buzz of energy in the air. Tina was by my side, and we were both excited to see what Krista had in store for us. The space she created was more than just a physical location. It is a sacred space for people to connect with themselves on a deeper level, tap into their innermost being, and bring prayer into their lives in both motion and stillness. She infused this space with a sense of play and creativity, to encourage people to approach their spiritual practice with a sense of joy and lightness. In this space, people were free to explore different modalities of prayer as they approached the altar.
For the occasion Tina and I found ourselves enveloped in an inviting soundscape curated by Krista. She had carefully selected music that resonated with the seven chakras nestled within our bodies - those pools of vital energy, shimmering with life and light. As the music pulsed through us, we were transported to a realm where the boundaries between the physical and spiritual world were thin or transparent.
The chakras themselves were like lakes - each with their own distinct depths and shapes. They were the containers that held our connections with the earth and sky, with our desires and the potential for growth. And within these containers, we found the key to unlocking our connections with others and with the world, empowered by the force of love and compassion.
Initially, Tina and I approached the program with hesitancy, our feet tentative as we gingerly stepped onto the dance floor. But with Krista's encouragement, we gradually shed our inhibitions and began to move beyond our usual comfort zone. The music was invigorating our bodies, igniting a desire to break free from the shackles of tension and restriction.
Images of the past
As we swayed to the rhythm of the beat, our bodies became extensions of the melody, fluid and graceful. Our movements evoked images of ancient Persia, where dancers weaved stories with their limbs, transporting the audience to another time and place. We time-traveled to classical Greece, where the gods themselves danced with abandon. It was as if our movements had opened a gateway to an ancient world, a realm where the spirits of our ancestors danced alongside us. The atmosphere crackled with an electric aura. I felt a connection to something elemental, a force that existed beyond the confines of time and space.
I moved to the rhythm, my body becoming a conduit for the vibrations emanating from the very heart of the music. As I swayed my hips and lifted my arms, I could sense the energy rising up from the earth and into my body. It was as if the very ground beneath my feet was alive, vibrating with a primal power that stirred the chakras of sensuality, creativity, and self-expression.
The embodiment of freedom of the body
My eyes were fixed on Krista, the embodiment of freedom. She moved effortlessly, her body an extension of the music itself. I longed to be like her, to let go of all inhibitions and dance as if no one was watching. I wanted to surrender myself completely to the music, to become one with the rhythm.
And so I danced. I let the music guide my movements and lead me down a path of self-discovery. With each step, each twirl, and each dip, I was free. Free from judgment, free from fear, free to be whoever I wanted to be.
After the program ended, most people left, but one young woman stayed behind. As I waited to be introduced to Krista, this young woman Isabell approached me, and we started talking. She told me about her love for dancing and how it helped her escape the trauma-based program she had been participating in all day. The program had left her feeling drained and disconnected, her body and mind weighed down by the heaviness of the conversations. But when she danced, she felt alive and reconnected with herself. It was the best way to regroup and release the tension of the day, a way to reclaim her body and her agency.
The program allowed Tina and me to experience the art of dancing. We were able to tap into a fountain of physical and emotional release. It was an opportunity to connect with our bodies, our energies, and the universe. Krista's program reminded us that there is a certain magic to the dance. Our worries and stresses melted away as we allowed our bodies to express what words could not.
Inner dancer
For Tina, this dance program was a chance to rediscover her inner child, who had always loved to dance. As she moved her body, she felt a sense of joy and freedom. She was able to let go of the fear and embrace the beauty of her own unique dance. Thanks to Krista's program, Tina and I rediscovered our inner dancers and connected with chakra energies freely flowing through our bodies.
We realized that the music was not merely an auditory experience - it was a spiritual journey, a conduit that bridged the mundane and the mystical, the earthly and the divine. Its celestial vibrations echoed deep within our beings, resonating with our every fiber, evoking a sense of oneness with the universe.
As we basked in the radiant glow of the harmonies, we were liberated from physical limitations. The tensions in our bodies dissipated, and the worries in our minds vanished, leaving us in a wave of inner peace.
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