“Change is the only constant in life.”
Heraclitus, Greek philosopher
Change
Life sometimes brings challenges. Our lives change, people drop out, our work stops, or we have to stay at home because of a pandemic. These changes force us to let go of things or people we love and reinvent ourselves. Personal loss can confront us with deep sadness and despair. Something that is dear to us disappears, we have to say goodbye. As we grow older, we begin to realize that everything we try to hold on to will crumble and change shape over time.
Experts in change
When I dance, my body is constantly changing. I shift my weight from one foot to the other, my pelvis moves with it and my head has to do something again. My dynamics change according to my form and the environment in which I move. In a way, by dancing we become experts of change! Being an expert does not necessarily mean that we are better prepared for unexpected changes in our own lives. But perhaps we can better understand change on a physical level and transpose the knowledge of movement into our lives.
Being exactly where you are
One of the keys to change is to try not to linger in the past or anticipate the future. The present moment provides us with everything we need to take the next step. You can only find the information for your new path if you are in the HERE and NOW. You do not have to do anything, just feel where you have ended up. Trusting the HERE and NOW can be deeply comforting, you can reconnect with how life is now.
Survival and stress
Our time demands quick action, so we often do not realize where our needs lie. We go on and on. Many people are not aware of the fact that they are actually living in a survival mode. For example, if we have been working in front of the computer for a whole day, we sometimes ‘relax’ by watching a series, instead of exercising. We no longer know what we actually need. In the long run, our body and mind can become very exhausted. Then, when a challenge comes into our lives, we are not resilient enough. We become exhausted, over-stimulated and can no longer cope with life. The balance is lost, and we are less able to cope with the blows of life.
Consciousness through movement
Our movement reflects thinking, feeling and intuitive aspects of ourselves. There is a clear relationship between how we move on a physical level, and how we move through our lives. Our way of moving reveals our own story, if we know how to look. Once we become aware of our tendencies and preferences in movement, we begin to recognize these patterns in our lives as well. Then we can start to play with them creatively.
Change is movement and movement is change. New movement experiences in the studio allow us to make new choices in our lives. By literally “practicing” ways of moving, these alternative patterns become available to us when we need them. We become more resilient and mobile in our lives. It is a wonderful vibrant circle.