I recently attended a dance conference where I was able to attend several different classes of different styles. One class that stood out to me, in particular, was a modern dance class focused on mindfulness. We were asked to follow our breath in our movement and to connect our minds and bodies. I remember thinking “now how the HELL am I supposed to do that?” Connecting my mind and body is something that I’ve been struggling to do for quite some time.
I didn’t think this connection was something that I could achieve, however, by the end of the class I started to get the hang of it. I left everything on the dance floor; the burdens and worries that were holding me down at the beginning of the class were no longer there. I just let my breath carry and sustain me without focusing much on the movement itself, letting it exist naturally. It was in this moment I have finally let go of the thoughts that had been holding me down for years. It was in this moment that I’ve realized I’ve been focusing a little too hard on trying to connect my mind and body, so much that I had made it hard for myself to do so.
I felt that I was dancing beautifully, but I also didn’t care if I was dancing beautifully. My body as it exists is beautiful. The dance instructor reaffirmed this for me; at the end of the class, she said “Just take a moment to thank your body. Without judgment, notice where it is today. As dancers we strive for perfection, always reminding ourselves of the things we need to fix. But take a moment and refute those thoughts. You danced beautifully, but what is even more beautiful is that your body is sustaining you. You’re here today, and that is truly remarkable.”
This was the first moment in a long time that I had an appreciation for my body. This body has been put through so much, but still works to sustain me and supports me with all I put it through. This body is amazing. To have a body is amazing. To be here is amazing.
Our bodies deserve so much credit that we aren’t giving them. So take a moment and thank your body, it deserves it.