BodyJoy Links and Resources
Links
"The quickest way to still the mind is to move the body." This quote by Gabrielle Roth, originator of the 5 Rhythms dance practice, is one of many reasons this practice has continued to move me for four years. My teacher in Sacramento has been Michael Stone who now teaches in Grass Valley only.
- For information about classes and workshops in Grass Valley visit: www.welloflight.com
- For information about classes in the Bay area visit: www.movingcenterschool.com
- For information about the world of 5Rhythms visit www.gabrielleroth.com
To connect with others that are already active in the practice you can join Sacramento 5Rhythms Dance Group on Yahoo at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sacramento_5Rhythms_Dance We use this site to rideshare to classes and workshops, discuss experience about the practice, share music, whatever.
My husband, partner in life, best friend is Bob Dreizler. He is a financial consultant with a specialty in socially responsible investing. His political voice keeps on getting stronger and the evolution of his art work continues to amaze me.
- For more information about all his worlds visit: www.bobdreizler.com
I currently teach yoga at three studios. See the yoga and calendar page for information. For information about the studios visit:
An article about "conscious dance" appeared in the Sacramento Bee in February, 2006 and includes interviews with teachers and students and photographs taken at the Thursday night Clunie Body Joy Dance class:
For "Old Soul Wakeup Calls": breath and bodywork, movement and yoga, Tantra and metaphysical healing contact Satya at www.oldsoulwakeupcalls.com
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What do I wear to class?
A: Wear clothing that is loose and comfortable and will allow you to move freely. Foot support may be needed; soft-soled shoes or dance shoes are the best choice. Dancing barefoot will help to ground you, build your balance and reflexes and strengthen your feet. Many dancers slowly build tolerance to barefoot by beginning a session without shoes and then slipping them on as soon as they feel any discomfort.
- Q: Do I have to dance with other people?
A: Here is what is always true: you never have to do anything that does not feel right to you. You are always your own best authority. Please participate in the manner that feels like an absolute fit for you. Body Joy is a dance practice and the dance floor can be a way to explore how we are in the world. Many lessons include an invitation to connect with another so we can feel what that brings up for us and perhaps explore new ways to relate with others. If this is too much of a stretch for you, then it is totally OK to remain in your interior world. And if you are ready to stretch, the opportunity will be there.
Glossary
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5Rhythms: a movement meditation practice devised by Gabrielle Roth that focuses on putting the body in motion in order to still the mind, allowing the student to connect to the spiritual. The five rhythms, when danced in sequence, are known as a wave.
- Flowing - the fluid, continuous, grounded glide of our own movements
- Staccato - the percussive, pulsing beat that shapes us a thousand different ways
- Chaos- the rhythm of letting go, releasing into the catalytic wildness of our dance that can never be planned or repeated
- Lyrical - the rhythm of trance, where the weight of self-consciousness dissolves, where we lighten up and disappear into our own uniqueness
- Stillness - the quiet emptiness, where gentle movements rise and fall, start and end, in a field of silence
- Embodiment: a deep, internal perception of your own body---how it moves, feels, breathes, responds to gravity, generates power, releases.
- Core stability: your body's ability to recruit the deep muscles in the front and back of your torso that keep you responding to gravity, physical demands and motion in an effective manner.
- Lengthening: the capacity for muscles to elongate as you gently position them for stretch.
- Powering up: the ability to generate muscular contraction on demand, often utilizing breath to facilitate action.
- Letting go: the ability to release muscular contraction on demand, often utilizing breath to assist the release.
- Ground: using breath and the sensory input of contact to the floor to establish a connection from the pelvic floor to the earth.
- Center: using breath to connect with and move from the center of gravity zone that lies between the belly button and the pelvic floor.
- Open: using breath to connect with, expand and move from the heart center.
- Focus: using breath to align the head and neck and visualize the brow center.
- Integrate: using breath to fully connect from foot to crown.
- Foam roller: a firm bolster utilized to loosen stiff joints and muscles as well as exercise core stability
- Pokey ball: small balls in various sizes used to massage tight muscles and release trigger points
- Free form dance: the unique dance that emerges from your spirit's response to the beat
- Safe space: ritual space held by a facilitator that allows you the freedom for full self expression
- Self-care: you become your own best bodyworker when you learn the simple techniques to utilize breath, loosen tight joints and muscles and access core stability. This will decrease your susceptibility to injury and increase the comfort in daily life
- DJ-ed music: continual variety of music fading one track into the next without interruption. Often formatted in a musical arc that starts slow, steadily picks up the pace to a peak and then gently comes down to end quietly.
- Cardio work out: moving your body at a pace that brings your heart rate into a training zone for aerobic benefit
- Surrender: taking time to return to the breath and fully and deeply relax