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NDEO鈥檚 Guest Blog Series features posts written by our members about their experiences in the fields of dance and dance education. We continue this series with a post by Rachel Kutner, Group Fitness Instructor, Passionate 麻豆视频直播 the Benefits of Movement for Mental Health.听 Guest posts reflect the experiences, opinions, and viewpoints of the author and are printed here with their permission. NDEO does not endorse any business, product, or service mentioned in guest blog posts. If you are interested in learning more about the guest blogger program or submitting an article for consideration, please click here.听听听听

R E L E A S E

Somatic Experiencing to Release, Renew and Heal

There is something extremely cathartic and transformative about using the body to release stuck energy and emotions. As humans, our life experiences can cause difficult emotions that we often don鈥檛 know how to fully process. When we deal with things that are stressful or produce negative emotions, our bodies hold onto those experiences, creating tension, tightness or pain. Through the body and movement, we can find a powerful way to clear and release stuck emotions to make space for healing.

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Moving meditation and dance are both powerful tools to transmute energy. Dance and somatic experiencing helps us to not only embody joy and play, but also release and move energy. Dance and somatic experiencing can effectively help us to let go of stagnation in our lives, move stuck energy and embody our true nature. When we are fully embodied, we are magnetic.

Facts about shaking and somatic experiencing:

• When you do a somatic (body-based) shaking practice, you allow your body and nervous system to return to safety, by releasing the energy of fear and negative emotions, stored within the body
• Shaking and dance can release and move stuck energy and stress, which helps to regulate the nervous system and address trauma
• Somatic shaking is a trauma releasing exercise that involves movement to release muscular tension and stress. This is a natural response often observed in animals and a positive way to discharge excess energy, stress, process intense emotions, and restore the nervous system.

We sometimes go through life without being fully present to how our emotions and thoughts affect our body, mind and spirit. Our bodies and minds are interconnected. When we experience negative emotions and trauma, our body is right there, listening to what鈥檚 going on and responding. Have you ever heard the phrase, 鈥渢he issues live in the tissues鈥�?

When we are in a meditative state- which can be achieved through dance, somatics and different types of moving meditation, we can also allow our intuition to speak. The mind is so busy and noisy most of the time, but movement allows us to tap into the present moment, where our intuition becomes more clear and easier to hear. This is the same principle of why we do yoga. We expend energy doing yoga and ground ourselves using the body, so that it is much easier to hear our intuition.

From the state of dance, movement and somatic experiencing, we also have the opportunity to rewire neural pathways. This allows us to form new neural networks in the brain to improve thought patterns. We can literally rewire our brains, because it is a multi-sensory activity that stimulates neuroplasticity. Dance also lowers cortisol (the stress hormone) and increases serotonin and endorphins (feel good chemicals), leading to reduced stress and an improved sense of well-being.

Here is a simple somatic practice:

1. Find a comfortable place where you can move freely.
2. Ground yourself: Notice how you feel in the present moment, notice any sensations
3. Start to move: Allow yourself to start moving. Let your body move naturally.
4. Go deeper with visualization or sound: add elements like audible sounds (sighing or humming), deeper breaths, or more vigorous movement - incorporate the hips, shoulders, or hands. Imagine that whatever is holding you is being released with every movement as you continue to move
5. End: Slow down and close your eyes: simply notice the sensations in your body. Maybe visualize a protective white light surrounding you as you seal in the therapeutic movement exercise

When movement feels good and we connect to it in a palpable way, that鈥檚 when healing occurs. If this specific way of moving doesn鈥檛 resonate with you, there are many ways to create a somatic practice that works for you. Try different things- blast your favorite songs. Move your body, visualize whatever is keeping you stuck leaving your body as you shake and move. There are many ways to develop a realistic somatic practice that works for you.

Dance and somatic experiencing continues to be a healing modality for me. It helps me to be present, embody joy, transmute energy and raise my frequency. More importantly, it allows me to feel. On a neurochemical level, it changes brain chemistry and helps create new neural networks. Dance is a therapeutic way to express ourselves creatively, but also, it helps us to move energy that keeps us stuck. I hope you create a healing movement practice for yourself - whatever feels supportive to you. Make it your own! The world can be so heavy- it is so important to have regular practices for self-care and emotional well-being. Dance and somatic experiencing is my #1 way to cope with what life throws my way.

Rachel Kutner is a passionate, empowering and experienced instructor who loves the power of movement. She believes that movement is medicine for our bodies, minds and souls. She is interested in somatic practices that support mental health and loves to share the collective joy of movement through her classes. Rachel danced competitively growing up, was a student choreographer in the dance program at her high school, and choreographed for Rutgers Performing Dance Company. She took Mason Gross dance classes while at Rutgers and after college, she started teaching dance and fitness. She values providing a safe space for individuals and groups to explore the benefits of movement. Rachel works with children of all ages, teens and adults. Wellness is her biggest passion. She鈥檚 also completed graduate coursework in Counseling.

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The 鈥淒ance Education鈥� blog is brought to you by The National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), a thriving non-profit membership organization that supports YOU as a dance educator! NDEO works with and for dance educators of all backgrounds and in every setting and genre. We work for equitable and accessible dance education for all through advocacy, research, and support for the dance educators who are making a difference for their students. As a membership organization, we rely on dance educators like YOU to join us in this important work! When you become a member of NDEO, you align yourself with our vision of dance education for all. We invite you to become a part of our vibrant community that offers support, resources, advocacy, and research you need to make a difference for yourself and make an impact on our field. Now more than ever, we need to come together to celebrate and share the dynamic, affirming, community-building, transformative power of dance. Join the movement - become a member of NDEO today!

Photo credits (in order from top to bottom): Rosebud Photography, Lily Szabo

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