Power of one candle to light the darkness
Power of one tree to give shade
Power in one smile to change the mood
Power of one hand to feed the hungry
Power of one kind word to change hearts
Power of one heart to ignite hope in the world
Power of one touch to lift the soul
Just one heartfelt move… makes all the difference!
Life reflects itself through the things you do, the people you meet as well as in your passions and perseverances, in so many intriguing yet enthralling ways.
One such beautiful reflection I experienced in my travels earlier in France.
A sense of deja vu, a throwback to the fond memories of teaching dances to people in the different places, all thanks to the Dance & the magic of movements.
While visiting France I met my colleague from the world of dance, Celine Maheo who resides in Rennes
Celine is a practicing clinical psychologist and an Argentine tango dancer.
What’s beautiful is that she is a dedicated professional who uses the dance therapy for helping Parkinson’s patients with their movements through Tango dance sessions.
My interest was piqued, as earlier I had been conducting very similar dance sessions as well, especially remembered our Seniors Dance for Wellness workshops back in India.
So over a beautiful meet and greet sipping cups of hot herbal tea at the Les Grands Gamin at the heart of Rennes, ensued a free flowing conversation where we exchanged notes on each others life. Our passion for dancing was the visible to see as we hardly knew how moments passed by.
To dance is to sense connections beyond the dancing bodies.
To dance is to honour life and its unique expressions in the movements.
Savvy Raj
And when Celine invited me to her next Tango Therapy Workshop, it was an offer I could not refuse. I was actually keen to understand whether and how the cultural differences change the way of conducting and experiencing workshops here.
Dancing can improve the mobility and balance in senior adults.
Adapting the dance to suit the requirements of the group, like simplifying the steps, the placement of the feet, improves their coordination, mobility and balance.
The dance session was deeply engrossing & truly inspiring to witness and participate as well. The music played that day stayed with me well after the session.
So the next step turned out to be me conducting a Chacha session for them. The challenges of language barriers were surrmounted easily as Celine offered to translate my teaching from English to French.
Everything fell in place beautifully and voila time flew again.We danced a bit of Chacha that day and also some more in the next few sessions as well. I was told later by the learners how much they enjoyed it!
It was an amazing experience sharing the joys of movements and I thank Celine for her inclusivity in requesting me to conduct the dance sessions as well. And I deeply appreciate all her beautiful learners that I met,connected and danced with. It was a truly warm and wonderful time spent with them all.
After the sessions we would gather together and discuss opening many facets of the learning and imbibing. It was a beautiful way of empathising and understanding each other.
Some of the beautiful souls I got to interact with in the few months I was there.
Dance has a way of soothing your entire being and bringing forth and connecting you with the depth of who you are. That is when dance begins to feel meaningful and transforms life.
The dance connects established, in those sessions is a beautiful memory etched in my heart, that I will cherish forever.
I chanced on these beautiful moments again as I found the photos I clicked back then and I decided to give them a little artistic effect.
All across the world April 29th every year is celebrated as International Dance Day, although every day is a great day to dance!
I dedicate this post to all my dance friends and colleagues and all the dance educators in the world who are making the world a better place, with every step in time.
Savvy Raj
‘Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children‘ Kahlil Gibran
A life well lived
Includes experiences
That makes us who we are.
We are not set in stone
Or cast in iron that cannot mould
Our emotional being cannot be suppressed
We are life living breathing and exploring possibilities.
Our infinite ways of expressions is unique to our being
We surf the tides of changes and flow
And we learn as we go.
Savvy
Keep the Spring in your heart
Then no Winters are too harsh
Or Summers too hot to handle
As Seasons change around you
You sense it all from the hope of your heart.
And hope springs forth eternally…
Ssvvy
There is more to speaking than what we simply hear.
And the power of positive speech cannot be underestimated.
Speak as you would like to be spoken to
Speak clearly with confidence & certainty
Speak to convey the message than try to control.
Speak using positively affirming words.
Speak politely and avoid sarcasm.
Speak with empathy and avoid criticism.
While speaking to children…
A child hears and understands the tone of your voice well.
Keep it balanced as far as possible
Use it well to convey the messsge without yelling.
And most of all
Speak with words that appreciate than admonish.
It makes all the difference.
Savvy
If ever you feel the need to be uplifted
Simply bring yourself
To look around and within
To consider all the things
That gives you real joy!
There is so much more to living
Even the ordinary day
Can turn extraordinary
If you choose to see it so.
Savvy
D
Our expectations are our internal picture of what we anticipate will happen in future. When our expectations are met we are happy but when not, they set us up for disappointments.
Setting the expectations and giving clarity can be effective in a professional environment. Yet when we do not communicate it or when we set unrealistic expectations it can lead to anxiety frustration & loss of trust.
A few traits to develop that help in handling our expectations better.
Communication : Acing our internal and external communication establishes an understanding of the expectations.
Adaptability : An art of change management. In being adaptable to a new and different reality we learn to manage our expectations.
Kindness & compassion : Both help us hone our attitudes. The way we feel and emote during a challenging moment helps us manage and alter the situation.
Patience : A virtue that helps us to not be too exacting on ourselves and others.
Equanimity : Being non judgmental helps in being less edgy and more balanced in our expectations.
After all…
Less you expect
Less you worry
Less you stress
More is the faith
More the love
More life
Savvy
Live with authenticity
Pretense falls flat some time or the other
Steer clear of dependency,
Dependency create inequality.
Prudence is being always on guard
It is a better form of defense.
Listen to understand
Without trying to prove anything
Avoid the attack mode of offense
Choose to communicate better
Converse calmly create peace
Wherever you are …
Savvy
To all my caring, giving nurturing friends the lightworkers , the mentors and spiritual guiders, the motivators and healers on their special journey stepping in tandem with their calling!
Keep going … you are on track!
Savvy
When you love deeply
You begin to respect life
In all forms that you see
You revere the omnipresence
You wonder about abundance in awe
Your life becomes more meaningful
For there is so much more to understand
About Life in the living
You become more present in the moment
Every now has immense potential
And you begin to live than simply exist
Live life lovingly!
Savvy
We are all part of change
Speak of
Changing brains and body
Changing minds and hearts
Changing needs and wants
Processing change…
Is about letting in and letting go
There is a sense of giving and receiving
A sense of gain and a sense of loss
In acknowledgement and acceptance
Of the course of nature
In the circle of life
Our body intelligence
Helps in evolving the self awareness
To be adaptive and amenable to change
For change is the only constant
Savvy
A little bit of freetime and a mobile phone art app in your hand can make the moments come alive…
I started to paint the screen with all my favorite colors… but then somehow somewhere in between I sensed a face pop and I continued to sketch away at leisure and found a face staring righton .
Now the face was somewhat serious and I just could not gel with that, as the moment was anything but that, so I just had to play with my fingers on the screen just a bit and lo and behold that face was more appealing to me now.
It’s a work in progress…Yes I could have gone on refining this piece,there is a lot of room for it, but somewhere I just stopped adding more to it ,perhaps I might pick it up in posterity and paint some more.
P.s Must mention I used no stylus, just my fingers for this one. I thoroughly enjoyed creating this piece of art.
How did you like my mobile art ?
Which face resonates with you today?
Savvy
How intuitive are you?
Do u sense the subtlety
In nature and its mystical ways
Of sending signs and symbols your way?
For you to understand perspectives
Beyond assumptions & notions
To create an insightful vision
Of the unfolding realms
Of the possibilities in the potential.
There is always a reason
Why you are gifted with intuitive intellect.
Consider ways to use it for goodwill
Think larger, widen your perspectives
For the world at large
Can you use this subtlety of knowing
And leave heartprints of Serendipity?
Savvy
The Antwerpen Christmas Market is spread out over several streets and squares lighting up the entire historical centre of Antwerp beautifully into a huge and happening zone to stroll around in…
Glowing in the night!
Beating the winters chill
Sitting by warm fire pits…
Sipping hot glühwein!
And the mistletoe?
Well its no small branch
But a giant one indeed!
Fit for all the crowd that gather under
Just to share their love for each other….💞
Savvy
#reminisces #travels #inspiration #life #journey
In deepest turmoil
Choose the power of Gratitude
For in its positive intentions
And glory of goodwill
Life turns harmonious
Every things aligns perfectly
And music resounds its magical melodies
All is well once again
Gratitude is gratefulness
In acceptance & acknowledgement
Of the grace in goodness
Bestowed upon us
No storm is too strong in its wake
Glory to the Gladiator of Hearts
The chaperone of connectedness
That seeks to invoke the strength
In these interconnects in life & living
For no man is too strong
As much as all of us together
I bow to the grace of Gratitude!
Savvy
Savvy Raj 