What drew you to Ecstatic Dance?

I didn’t know much about Ecstatic Dance as a transformative moving meditation, when I first stepped into a class. I was invited to attend a class 8 years ago. I worked at the front desk and was invited repeatedly to attend, Robin Parker ( the former owner of the Studio) wanted me to have a deeper understanding of the class, so I could introduce it to new studio clients. I was a little apprehensive but tried it. I was hooked. I’ve always loved to dance, but I had never experienced a practice that combined free expressive movement with meditation.

Ecstatic dance is an off-shoot of The 5rhythms Moving Meditation practice created by Gabrielle Roth. Unlike 5rhythms, there is no teacher training program for Ecstatic Dance, I rely on my years of experience dancing, a yoga and meditation background and the various work shops I’ve taken over the years with Helen Terry and Amara Pagano (certified 5Rythms teachers). The beautiful thing about this movement modality is that their is really nothing to learn, we need only remember what it felt like to move without inhibition to the music and dance.

Why should you come to a class?

There are many reasons to attend; For one it’s a great cardio workout, but I would also invite you to attend if you are struggling with body image issues and feeling comfortable and safe in your own skin as you are invited to move mindfully honoring your body’s limitations and possibilities. Similarly to most meditation practices, over time you will experience a profound sence of wellbeing and inner peace.

What if the idea scares you?

If you are curious about Ecstatic dance you should try it at least once. It’s a very personal and individual experience, no two participants experience it the same although we practice in a group, thus I would invite you to try it so you may know for yourself if it resonates with you. As the facilitator I make it my priority to hold a safe space for your ecstatic dance experience. Their are no moves to learn or directives to follow in this class, so you can’t go wrong.

What else do you want people to know about Ecstatic Dance?

Ecstatic Dance is suited to all ages and sizes, it helps lubricate joints opening the body to a greater range of motion. If you’re the type that dances alone in your living room you will love Ecstatic Dance.

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No one said you had to have a life purpose. So what’s the big deal? There are workshops, books and studies about life purpose aimed at helping people who don’t have one find one. And, it seems, that those who do not have a defined life purpose are envious of those who do. They are attracted to the experts, gurus and guides in hopes of finding their true path.

I believe you don’t have to have a life purpose. There are plenty of people on this earth who live and die without aiming for an overall point of their existence. But then, you may not be one of those people. If you are not, then keep reading.

So, what is a life purpose? Dr. Patricia A. Boyle, a neuropsychologist from one of the studies reviewed for this blog, defines living with a life purpose as “the tendency to be intentional, to engage in behaviors that one wants to engage in and thinks are important.”

So, why have a life purpose?
Scientific research points to several benefits. Studies have shown that finding a purpose in life:

o Lowers risk of mortality above and beyond other factors that are known to predict longevity
o Is linked with a lower risk of stroke
o Serves as a protective function against debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s disease and related cognitive disorders
o Is predictive of better quality of life despite levels of physical and mental impairment in polio survivors
o Protects against Cardiovascular Disease

Dr. Patrick Hill PhD, a lead researcher at Carleton University in Canada, says, “Our findings point to the fact that finding a direction for life, and setting overarching goals for what you want to achieve can help you actually live longer, regardless of when you find your purpose. So the earlier someone comes to a direction for life, the earlier these protective effects may be able to occur.”

Wow, that’s a lot of tangible benefits. What else should I know and how do I go about getting a life purpose?

You already have a life purpose. You may or may not know it. There are, of course, books, workshops and exercises to guide you in uncovering your life purpose, but it doesn’t always have to take long to find one’s guiding star. I did it. Let me tell you my story.

Debbie Rosas Stewart, co-creator of The Nia Technique, was conducting a Nia 5 Stages of Self-Healing workshop at MoveStudio. She just flat out asked the group, “What is your life purpose?” She encouraged us to not think about it, to just say what comes to mind. I figured, what harm could it do? It’s not like a signed contract. I can always modify it. It’s not like someone is going to judge me for creating a new life purpose. Besides, don’t people change throughout their lives? So, I reached inside, did a very brief overview of my life to that point . . . my history of being an artist, a dancer, a wife, a mother, a counselor, a Nia teacher, a professional coach. I realized that I have always created beauty or helped others create beauty in their lives and that these words ring true for me. My life purpose is to create beauty. A second thought was that I could very easily have a life purpose of eating dark chocolate, but after a while, I probably wouldn’t feel very beautiful. (smile)

Awareness and finding my life purpose are just two of the many gifts from Nia that I have received over the years. Awareness comes from the practice of connecting with my body so that I can sense what it needs and feels. Doing this has made me more intuitive and in touch with my emotions. Movement and sensing your body is a way to gain access to your truth. Emotions don’t lie and emotions are felt in the body. The words we use to describe emotions are symbols. Emotions are preverbal. What is wonderful is that our bodies are with us all the time. So we can always have access to our truth. I love being practical and I have found that staying connected to my body and to the present moment is a very practical way to live, as long as I have a sense of direction.

Working with a professional coach has helped me translate my life purpose into actions that are just right for me. What I have discovered is that having a life purpose and living it through my actions connects my internal world to the external world in a very effective way. Having an overall intention helps me make each day have meaning. I know that all I have is now and I want to make now count.

Having a guiding star takes me FROM being lost in the moment, getting distracted, letting others direct my life and reacting to situations TO finding myself in appreciation of the moment (even if it is a challenging one), creating and selecting my environment and my approach to my environment and connecting to the desire to make a difference; having a purpose for that moment. Having purpose for the moment doesn’t necessarily mean action. It may mean that rest is needed to create beauty in my life (aka “beauty sleep”) and to empower others to create beauty in their lives.

The practical benefits of living a purposeful life are overwhelming. A life purpose will enable you to live life with more passion, cutting the unnecessary and derailing tasks from your fabric of life. Awareness and life purpose can enrich your personal life as well as create more drive and efficiency in your professional life. They are very useful tools.

As I said, I don’t believe you have to have a life purpose, but then who is driving your train? If you are not living your life purpose, then whose life purpose are you living?

~Lisa Krishnan MEd LPC, Professional Business and Personal Coach
lisakrishnan.com

List of sources available upon request.