“As we move we change, and change is thus fundamental.” (LeFeber, 2014, p. 135).
I believe that the practice of mindful movement is one of the most beneficial, integrative and informative arts practices I can offer as an expressive arts therapist. I believe this primarily because movement has proven to be an effective modality for expressing myself, healing old wounds and becoming more integrated and present on all levels.
Complimentarily, research and scholarly knowledge give strength to my personal empirical evidence, beliefs and narrative about the use of movement for bringing about positive results:
“Conceived as an holistic approach, it [movement therapy] is grounded in the percept that ‘human reception, processing and response inextricably link the mind and body into a functional whole’ (Fitt, 1988, p. 278), (Berrol, 1992).”
Furthermore, author Kronsted claims that “through the acquisition of new bodily skill and bodily awareness, DMT [drama movement therapy] can cause changes to the participant’s narrative self-understanding (Kronsted, 2018, p. 1).”
Additionally, strong evidence supports the connection between movement and learning. “Evidence from imaging sources, anatomical studies, and clinical data shows that moderate exercise enhances cognitive processing. It also increases the number of brain cells (Jensen, 2005, Summary).”
“Inner connectivity breeds outer expressivity”
- (Barteineff & Lewis, 1980 as cited by Wiley at all, 2014, p.133)
What is the practice of movement as a healing art?
The practice of movement as a healing art is the use of movement and/or dance for self-expression, integration and healing. Movement as arts practice could include physical exercise as well as other arts-based modalities such as drawing, painting, sculpting, crafting, acting, writing, singing and/or playing music as well as any arts-based modality that involves movement. Guided imagery with music can also be considered movement therapy, since in that framework, the “client’s relationship with music is [the] prime mover of therapy (Maack, 2006, p. 4).”
To continue defining movement as a healing art practice, it is important to distinguish between movement as performance and movement as therapy:
“Dance teachers take a directive approach, while dance/movement therapists clinically intervene using a patient’s personal movement repertoire (Imus, 2015).”
Impact on of the arts on my identity as a practitioner and scholar
This resistance to moving in a prescribed manner has since informed my adult decisions to participate in movement-based communities that allow for the freedom of individual physical expression within a safe group container. The 5Rhythms method allows participants to be free to express themselves with movements that are authentic.
“The 5Rhythms… are states of Being. They are a map to everywhere we want to go, on all planes of consciousness – inner and outer, forward and back, physical, emotional and intellectual. They are markers on the way back to a real self, a vulnerable, wild passionate, instinctive self.” (Roth, G., unknown date)
I see movement as a primary method for integrating new learning and ways of being. Even as I am writing this, I am taking frequent breaks to get up and move and do something different. Then each time I resume my writing, I have a fresh perspective and fresh energy to lend to the task at hand. Every moment is an opportunity to breathe consciously.
I am also becoming aware of the effects of authentic movements on returning to movement patterns I may have had as a child before I was influenced by a culture that pathologizes neurodivergence. Nick Walker, my professor for Human Development, gave a presentation on Neurodiversity and Spiritual Emergence in 2015 where he speaks to the need to find how our bodies like to move, regardless of neurotype. In his presentation he asks:
“How did you move when you were 2… What did you learn not to do and where do you learn it? Can you find your way back to it? What are the benefits of finding your way back to it?” (Walker, 2015 @38:54)
And he also gives the advice:
“Move, find how your body really likes to move. Touch things, touch, play, smell, taste, indulge in the sensory pleasures of movement and touch. Let yourself rock back and forth, and wander… Find those impulses and follow them and amazing things will happen in your brain. It’s all connected and new neural pathways… will wake up… and that’s your true self waking up.” (Walker, 2015 @45:52)
Pursuing this into practice
Following Nick’s advice, my day begins with daily mindful awareness of what my body wants to do at any given moment and if I can, a commitment to honor that impulse in my body to move when and how it wants to. Of course, there may be times when I have an urge to move, and it may not be the right time or place for that movement. So I must also bring in an awareness of right timing and right place.
Currently, I am part of our local 5 Rhythms Dance Community and look forward to once again attending their “sweat your prayers dance church” at least once a month. I have also joined the Association for Music and Imagery (AMI) as an associate member and have started receiving their monthly newsletter full of inspiration and guidance for the journey to becoming a GIM practitioner someday.
Additionally, whenever possible, I try to incorporate yoga and movement/dance into my personal individual practice at home. For example, as I am writing this, I am listening to a playlist on Spotify called “Celtic Relax” and I am rocking my body in an undulating, snake-like motion from my sacrum to my crown. Sometimes I feel the urge to get up from my computer and do some stretching on my yoga mat. However, I prefer the practice of yin yoga which involves long, sustained poses for a minute or more. What are your movement practices? Please leave me a comment below.
Desired new skills/capacities and/or outcomes of Mindful Movement Practice
- Increased capacity to express oneself freely through any modality
- Increased mindful awareness of thoughts, emotions and behaviors
- Increased ability to manage anxiety and/or other distressing emotions
- Increased ability to harmonize with ourselves and those around us
References:
- Barteineff, I., & Lewis, D. (1980). Body movement: Coping with the environment. New York, NT: Gordon and Breach.
- Berrol, Cynthia F. (1992). The neurophysiologic basis of the mind-body connection in dance/movement therapy. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 14, 19–29. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00844132
- Fitt, S.S. (1988). Dance Kinesiology. New York: Schirmer Books.
- Imus, S. (2015). Continuum of dance approaches. Retrieved from https://adta.org/2015/07/25/the-difference-between-therapeutic-dance-and-dancemovement-therapy-an-adta-talk
- Jensen, E. (2005). Movement and Learning. In Teaching with the Brain in Mind, 2nd Edition (Chapter 4). Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
- Kronsted, Christian. (2018). The self and dance movement therapy – a narrative approach. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences, 1-12. doi:10.1007/s11097-018-9602-y
- LeFeber, M. M. (2014). Working with Children Using Dance/Movement Therapy. In Wiley et all, Integrating Expressive Arts and Play Therapy with Children and Adolescents. (pp. 125-147). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
- Levy, Fran J. (2005). Dance/Movement Therapy: A Healing Art. 2nd Revised Edition. Reston, VA, American Alliance for Health Physical.
- Maack, C. (2006). Institut für imaginative Psychotherapie und Musik. The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (BMGIM) and its Adaptations in Psychotherapy for Patients with Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Presentation at the Australasian Music & Imagery Conference 2006, Auckland, New Zealand. Retrieved from: http://www.gim-therapie.de/new-zealand-imagery-and-music-association.pdf
- Walker, N. (2015). The Neurodiversity Paradigm and the Path of Self-Liberation. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3513&v=wXXFeKwVQeQ
- Walston, J. (2018). Healing Now. Retrieved from: http://jeanninewalston.com/integrative-cancer-care/mind/movement/5rhythms/
‘‘Perhaps it is a dream, but I like to think that dance, along with the study of movement and human emotion, can help us in the pursuit of world communication and peace. For us as dance therapists, it is a dream worth contemplating’’ (Levy, 1992, p. 306).