While I dance, I have no problems.

I feel like myself.

When I’m not happy, the thing that helps the most is to get up and dance.

I don’t know why it’s hard to do – actually when I’m down, what’s hard is starting – but that habit has saved me many a time from the machinations of my own mind.

In fact, I created a little game to play that helped and I’ll share it here with you.

I used to play an imaginary joke on the world when I danced.

On days when I felt overwhelmed, I’d get dressed up, go to the dance studio as usual on a Saturday night, pay the entry fee, put on my shoes, and dance the night away.

What I didn’t tell anyone is that I played a secret game. I’d imagine taking a great, big white box tied up with a pretty red ribbon and bow in the middle. I’d breathe all my troubles and worries into the box – worrying about getting the next contract, tracking down the customer on that old account who flew the coop, feeling pressed for time to bake for my son’s big soccer tournament the next day – I put the whole list of things to do into that box in my imagination.

I’d leave that box outside the dance studio door in hope someone would steal it away.

Then I’d dance, and while I danced someone else was holding my woes.

At midnight, I’d go outside and it never failed; there was that box, waiting for me to pick it up.

Dancing worked its magic, though and the box was somehow always lighter, easier to carry, somehow I felt bigger and the troubles felt smaller.

Dancing still works for me that way, even though I’m training in ballroom dance rather than social dancing. It takes my entire attention to dance with the whole of me and still pay attention to the parts. It’s a happy world of endless exploration. I’ll never be good enough yet somehow…just being there… I am.

Dance is a journey I take with my whole self and so is the Alexander Technique. AT helps me feel at home in my body and more alive. And THAT is a gift I love to share.

Here’s to aliveness! Yours and mine.

Dana
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