Ecstatic dance is the practice of listening to and trusting the body's purest inclinations through free-form movement to music. It is the unfiltered, unmitigated movement that we train ourselves at an early age to ignore. It is the dance you do "when no one's watching.” It’s movement for the sake of movement, and there’s no "right" way to do it. The only parameters, apart from bearing in mind the physical and emotional safety of themselves and others, are that the participants follow through with precisely what their bodies naturally want to do. That sounds scary. Why would I want to do that? "Ecstatic dance with Rachel opened something within me that perhaps only the soul can express. I had never experienced ecstatic dance before, but I trusted Rachel that she would lead me into the unknown of a unique expression of spirituality. She set the tone for an inviting, expressive integration of the body and soul that few can facilitate. I enjoyed this style of spiritual practice and would absolutely do it again. No matter your comfort level with dance, this is truly the place to let your soul and body intertwine and let go in honest, vulnerable, ecstatic expression." -Christine H. • Body-Mind Connection Ecstatic dance is a joy-filled end in itself. Dancing is a receptive, harmonizing, and responsive act. In dance we embrace our bodies, interact with the musical, human, and spacial blessings around us, join these blessings on their own terms, and contribute new creation in return. I believe that dancing is one of the greatest human behaviors, because it seamlessly unifies the body and spirit. My hope is that through ecstatic dance, the conversation between your body and spirit will inspire even more avenues of spiritual growth. • Mood Booster Physical movement boosts mood. This type of bodywork allows you to connect with the movements your body wants to do, but our rigid daily routines may not allow. Free movement is a way in which the body can release endorphins and improve mental wellness without the physical demands of more challenging exercise. • Connection with Nature In the same way you may go on a reflective hike to marvel at nature, in ecstatic dance the dancer may marvel at the work of nature that is their very self. Through this practice the dancer may better understand and luxuriate in their natural self and better understand and luxuriate in their ecological context. Yeah, but I don't dance. ​"Dance" is a beautifully loose term. Dance is simply movement, so if you have a pulse, you're dancing. At the end of the day, ecstatic dance is about getting in touch with your body. While you'll be encouraged to not hold back from any movement you feel inspired to make, the final product does not have to be proper dance per se. To quote an ecstatic dance attendee: "Ecstatic dance does not necessarily require dancing. During my session, I sat, stretched, and took a short nap. Leaving my session, I felt refreshed and that I had reconnected with my spirituality in a physical way." -Sam W. The beauty of ecstatic dance is that it removes a lot of the factors that would make you nervous to freely dance. By nature of the virtual format, you will practice from the comfort and privacy of your own home, so you won't have to worry about people watching you while you dance. You are welcome to turn off your camera if you wish. Also, in the same way that it's less nerve-racking to sing in a choir than to sing a solo, the fact that I'll be focusing on my own movement makes the entire experience feel less conspicuous. Ok, so what happens during an ecstatic dance session? I will invite you to share anything about what brings you to the session or to discuss anything you'd like to explore or get out of the session. I will guide the session accordingly. I will then lead a guided meditation to help you turn your attention to your body. I will then put the music on, and it will play for about an hour. During that hour, there is no verbal communication. The only instruction is that you follow through with exactly what your body would like to do while remaining conscious of your safety and that of others. That can mean repetitive movement, dynamic movement, lying on the floor, anything! After an hour of free movement, we will speak again, and if you would like to share or discuss something about your experience you may do so. I will send you home with some questions to reflect upon in the moments or days following the experience. By embracing your body as a core element of your humanity, you have a unique opportunity to learn more about your essential self and to spiritually connect with every part of your being. Individuals of all spiritual backgrounds and abilities are welcome and will be accommodated.