Sacred Movement Medicine: Embodying healing through Odissi

Stress, tension and even trauma have way to get stored in the physical body. It can be a huge challenge for many of us to try to move through our pain, physically and emotionally.

Yoga, Going to the gym, Calisthenics, different forms of dance are powerful ways to release emotions that have been stored in our bodies. In today’s world of constant exposure to technology and many stuck at a desk in office jobs, it is imperative that we get back in our bodies and move in a loving way.

For me, the sacred and devotional movements of Odissi, originating from the sacred temple dance in Odisha, India has been a profound part of my healing process. Supporting me to get out of my “head” and into my body Dancing Odissi has a way of gently pushing me to bring awareness to all the stuck parts of my body and naturally release stagnant and negative energies stored inside. The stomping of my feet onto the Earth (Odissi and other Indian Classical dance are practiced barefoot) the sounds of the musical accompaniment, the gaze of the eyes and fluid motions of the torso and engagement of muscles in the body that are only activated while dancing (such as the finger muscles using hand mudras) is unlike any other body movement.

Moving with the rhythm and surrendering to the unique sculpturesque movements in Odissi can bring one to a state of “flow” where self-consciousness fades away and allows for the free expression of emotions and inner states.

Most importantly, learning this devotional art form has connected me to learning about and portraying the pastimes of the Lord and His devotees in an all encompassing way that only Odissi can do. They say “Dance is the highest form of meditation, as it engages the whole body and mind in a stte of unified movement, allowing for deep connection to the present moment.”

Please visit my guru Sujata Mohapatra’s website to learn more about this sacred form of dance, Odissi.

To inquire directly about learning Odissi please visit my website Deva Dasi Mandira

Often times during my journey through motherhood I have reacted to high stress situations that in retrospect looked like hormonal 16 year old with unmet needs. Through the last 10 years of my journey into self introspection and “shadow work” I have worked hard to invite healing to many of my younger parts who were crying for attention. If there’s one thing I learned, The longer we ignore the cries, the louder they get.

When my darling little children scrape their knee or have their feelings hurt they still run to me for comfort. Most of the time, I take a moment or two to acknowledge their pain, give them a band-aid or a hug, and their off! Back to their play like nothing happened. But those times when I’m “busy” and unable to get on their level to acknowledge them, the cries amp up and do not stop until they get the comfort their seeking. It is the same for us adults, who are harboring many versions of inner children within that have been pushed to the side for many years that are screaming for our attention.

When we take a moment to pause and listen to the parts of us that need to be heard and practicing whole listening to those inner parts we feel more balanced. This sense of self acknowledgement will begin to radiate into our other relationships also.

Inner work is unavoidable when raising a conscious family. We have to be the adults. This is THEIR childhood. And it is our responsibility to do all the work necessary to re-parent the parts of us who are crying for attention. Fortunately the term Self-Care has become a popular word in our culture today. When we show up for ourselves, we can show up for our children.