What is Inner Dance? Inner Dance is a deep and slow “movement meditation” in which we allow ourselves to be “danced through” by the Spirit within. It is about surrendering deeply to the Present Moment, letting go of self-judgment, and giving ourselves permission to just relax completely. With music as a gentle backdrop, we sink deeper into our physical/emotional experience and allow the body to move (or not move) in whatever way it naturally and effortlessly wants to. Various feelings or emotions may arise during the dance, and we try to allow them to arise fully and without judgment so that they may “wash through“ us. As we move deeper inward through this Inner Dance practice and release the layers of self-judgment, our experience becomes more and more that of being the Still Observer within. From that peaceful perspective, we find ourself simply watching the body movements happening without any sense of being the one making the movements happen. In other words, we undo the sense of being the “doer”, and thus learn that we are not the dancer, but the Awareness in which the dance is experienced.
What is required to practice Inner Dance? Nothing is required to practice Inner Dance except a genuine curiosity for discovering Who You Are in truth, and a willingness to open up to an experience of total non-judgment. It is about releasing everything you thought you knew about dance, and learning to surrender into your True Nature. The practice of Inner Dance can guide us through the layers of our false self into a deep inner Silence, which we are invited to explore and accept as Home.
What is an Inner Dance session like? Generally, we start the Inner Dance session with a short prayer or a guided meditation to help come in touch with our “inner body” and any feelings there. We then turn on some music, which is usually of a soft, instrumental type such as New Age or Classical music. Sinking into the music, we merely surrender and allow movement (or non-movement) to arise in whatever way feels effortless and helpful. The sessions generally last 45 minutes to an hour, followed by a brief period of deep silence and meditation in order cherish and nurture the state of Stillness that was discovered during the dance. We then end the session with an “expression session“ (group sharing circle) in which everyone is invited to express anything they feel moved to express.
How can I participate in an Inner Dance session? I offer several different ways for you to participate in or experience an Inner Dance session for yourself:
- One-on-One Inner Dance session, where the Inner Dance can be used to come in touch with any feelings that may want to arise so that they may be released. Through our shared Purpose of healing, any and all feelings or emotions are deeply welcomed into awareness, so that they can be looked at with Love and transformed into Light.
- Two Hour Inner Dance Gathering - You may host an evening gathering at your home or elsewhere, as a way of discovering Inner Dance for yourself and introducing it to others. The gathering would begin with an informal talk, and end with a group “expression session” to encourage the sharing of any thoughts or feelings that arose during the dance.
- Inner Dance Group - If you are several persons who are interested in organizing a regular (i.e. weekly) Inner Dance group in a set location, simply contact me and we can explore that possibility together as well.
- Inner Dance retreat lasting anywhere from a weekend to several days - These retreats have as their purpose a deep communion with our Essence through the dance and through a willingness to honor the Silence within. The combination of dance and Silence allows whatever inner blocks or repressed emotions to arise and be released. In the retreat, we are lovingly encouraged to recognize that difficult emotions cannot be escaped; they can only be faced directly and allowed to dissolve in the light of our awareness. No effort is required other than a willingness to experience our emotions and let them wash through our consciousness. Throughout the retreat, several talks and “expression sessions” will be also be held to encourage and accelerate the healing process.
- Skype Inner Dance Joining - Wherever you happen to be in the world, we can transcend all time/space differences and have an Inner Dance session via Skype! This is possible both for one-on-one as well as group sessions. Just call or email me if you are interested and we can set up a time to talk about the details. My Skype user name is: armellesix.
I love you!
Armelle
Armellesix@yahoo.fr
1-707-364-0957
