As the world grapples with the current scenario of a pandemic, we need to support one another to be emotionally stable to deal with the challenges ahead.
Often the fear of being infected by being anywhere near a quarantine area is scary for most of us. We overthink of infections of many kinds that are looming large around us.
Our inner demons surface and we need to put to rest our internal fears of panic to survive through this all.
We are all unique individuals and are differently motivated. But in these difficult times, we need to rise above our individual perspectives and opinions and think about how we can be more responsible from where we are.
First of all we need to update ourselves of the changing times and educate ourselves as to what measures we can begin to adopt. Like home quarantine or self isolation. If so then we need to know how to effectively manage our existing resources and most importantly efficiently use our time at hand.
The initial euphoria of unexpected holidays will soon wear off as after all humans are social beings. They will begin to miss the sense of community and interaction in time.
What is important…
We need to come up with, how we plan to structure our day. Each of us in different parts of the world is affected in one way or another.
But acceptance of what is, and adapting along the way helps us tide through to be more positive and productive instead of getting depressed and demotivated.
Our immune system needs to be cared for by the intake of healthy hygienically prepared food. We need to stay hydrated.
Besides that, we also can ensure we are able to set aside some time for movement and physical exercises be it in the form of yoga pilates dance or workouts.
The importance of sleep and play in keeping us healthy cannot be stressed enough.
Exercising consideration and care in expression becomes paramount in these times.
It is necessary to stay motivated and empowered in empathy in these difficult times.
In case of lockdown situations if applicable besides working out on self-sufficiency to survive, we need to make an effort to create amicable situations at home as emotions can be highly strung in time.
If we are working from home, then a bit of forethought and planning can help better the entire experience for you as well those you live with.
If there are broken links and spaces created all of a sudden, remember light enters through them all to reset everything to alignment.
And despite all the gloom and doom that we are experiencing at this moment remember there is always something positive that springs forth in time.
In the meantime let’s be grateful enough to appreciate the blessings we already have and pray for those who need them most now.
To all those who seek perfection in every little thing that they sometimes drive themselves and others crazy…. ease in and let go for a bit, see others as they are , not as you want them to be. We are all vulnerable beings. We are humans after all, let us be supportive and celebrate the power of humanity to overcome challenges that appear along the way. We are powerful in acknowledging our respective situation from where we are and working amicably towards finding resolutions. After all besides every thing else,the world needs humanity to overcome the challenges of being human.
To write is to express life from your perspective. To read is to understand life from another perspective.
Both interweave in the joy of expression and explorations Of discovering the truth of life in the magic of words.Respect to the writers & readers who can spread unspeakable joy And leave a positive impression through mere words.
To the writers who have mastered the art of story telling Keeping the world safely engrossed in these troubled times Gratitude to all those who write and share with care Ensuring to share words and thoughts And make the world feel a little better than before My deepest appreciation For, in the darkest of spaces Even a little light of positive words & verses Leaves the place a little more lit. And every word can leave a lasting impression!
Have you had moments
Where you have nothing to feed your soul
Except your own listless mind.
Have you experienced days when minutes seem like hours?
When every second drags endlessly
Have u wished you were somewhere else far away from the familiar
Just to see what that might rustle up?
Have you longed to dance with unknown
To sense the spectrum of what lies ahead.
Have you felt the days come and go
Bringing nothing but monotony?
Have you wondered if this is the will of God
That you must endure with no one to share.
Have you wanted to dance in the wind,
Be free as a feather and flow light and easy?
Without freedom we are stifled souls
With nothing to look forward
Suppressed emotions all bottled within
Rebellion bursting at the seams
A breakdown awaiting itself.
Feeding the soul
Begins with freeing the soul
Unshackling it from self limitations.
Of fear and repression.
Freedom is that which frees up the spirit of the soul.
Enthuses enterprise and initiative.
Values expression & creative spirit
To honor the life in the being.
Life is unique and cannot be boxed in frames
We cannot be a confined statement, as we are so much more.
To accept to be defined, is a defeat of possibilities.
As we are unpredictable in spontaneity,
As much as we are disciplined in character.
But we cannot be one without the other.
There is much of everything in us
That is how we are born
As a cosmic expression
Of creation asserting itself as a
being.
Each individual needs space and sound in the right balance.
To each his own
The choice to speak, share
And stay silent
Rests within us.
In every shy person there is a voice and opinion waiting to speak.
In every gregarious person there is a need for quiet and silence.
There are shades and tones hues and gradients in every one.
Every one is best the way they are.
When dance lessons are adapted to suit the requirements of a specific group there is greater relevance in dance education and its application.
Here are 6 Valuable Tips while conducting Adapted Dancing workshops.
1. Empathetic Communication
Communication is a very important part of any dance education. Especially so in dance workshops in special groups. When addressing a session it is important to keep a clear and empathic tone to establish a sense of connection and care. Whatever the language of communication, maintaining appropriate eye contact provides the necessary connect of being spoken to in the session.
2. Simplicity of Steps
Breaking a pattern to teach by dividing it into simple steps or simplifying it all for every one by choosing easy to do steps makes it more relatable.
In case of dancers with balance issues it is necessary to initially modify / alter steps or reduce directional changes to suit these parameters and progress from there.
Ideally starting of with simply the foot work without working on the arm movements helps focusing on learning one thing at a time. The progression must be gradual in time.
Photo& Artwork credits Savvy Raj
3. Matter of Repetitions.
It is necessary to do a number of repetitive movements of the same steps in order for the muscle memory to form. Hence repetition helps more than switching to other movements.
Depending on the groups capacity to continue, taking a pause, interspersed with explanation or some motivation in between is also a good idea so that it does not get too challenging or monotonous.
4. Ease ofFormations
There are different dance formations like the square circle and line etc. However conducting the dance workshop in circular formation is known to bring about a sense of community.
Adapting other dances creatively to this formation initially helps when the participants can see the instructors movements in the center.
5. Slower Music
Besides choosing appropriate songs even decreasing the tempo of the music aids in keeping up with the music Especially for new group of dancers and dancers with special needs.
6. Value ofInclusiveness
Most importantly ensuring everyone in the group is feeling included & addressed to, is positively impactful.
Coaching another and transferring skillsets is an art.
Dance, it feels wonderful when you do.
Dance for your life to feel at ease.
Dance when you feel like and dance often!
Dance makes it all worthwhile.
Your body feels light and easy, as you dance.
The trick is to keep flowing
With the moves and continue dancing
As long as you enjoy the feeling…
Dance is not meant to harm the body.
But to heal your body and mind.
Integrating the spirit within you
So keep dancing …whenever you choose
For the body likes it best when you dance!
Whether at work or in family or socially we all may have encountered people who are extremely difficult in behavior to the point of putting people down, having arguments and fights in every interaction.
Often in the first meeting with another, within seconds our brain is gathering information creating its impressions on them and we seem to be convinced somehow on many things about the person. Our intuitive instincts comes to play .That is where our system involuntarily associates pieces of information and puts it all together. We may be right or wrong but that’s another story.
But the truth is we know how we feel about the person. Most importantly.
when we are put in a situation, we simply know, we cannot see eye to eye with the person at all and feel we just cannot handle them.
Our body often gets into a flight or fight mode . Our stress hormones increase and our nervous system is on an overdrive. This can be often a cause for major health issues in the long run.
Clearly we feel we are not equipped to handle such a person’s energy and we may come away angry or depressed in every meeting with such people.
It is time then to read more into the equation.In such moments of frustration one thing is very clear no matter what we say or do we cannot change the other person.
They could exhibit any of this range of behavior from being non cooperative, uninterested, dominating & aggressive dismissive, prejudiced, overpowering, controlling, overwhelming, angry , and even too powerful.
There is one thing however that is still within our abilities. If we cant change them then take a look at how we can change the way we perceive them as a threat to us. And why would we want to do that?
Well we owe it to ourselves. It is our body and it is the one that is getting affected in every such situation.
So what do we do when we have to deal with such difficult people?And what can we do to reset our system.
The truth is that it is not easy facing and encountering such an environment on a regular basis. Every thing said or done seems to backfire and there is unreasonable behavior and even simple communication seems to get difficult by the day.
An immediate countermeasure is that we start with taking deep breaths.
This shifts the bodily reactions and resets it from fear to relaxation. It actually works on calming our frayed nerves and easing the body inside out by reducing the state of panic and pressure on the body to react in such circumstances. Simply put, it distracts the mind and body to channelling the rhythm and flow of energy.
Secondly we take a moment to pause and rethink how we are addressing situations ourselves.
At times we are not very inclusive.
And perhaps may have unknowingly hurt someone by our own assumptions and actions.
We need to start with using, more of ‘us’ and less of’ you ‘ when we speak.
That way we show we are in it together.
Thirdly we need to disengage and keep healthy distance if possible with people that are negative and volatile. They are simply not worth the effort or time.
Choose to see if the situation is even worth engaging and indulging in.
Counting slowly to ten still works when situations are reactive, as it would give you time off to respond mindfully and space to assess the circumstances.
And lastly ensure we give the benefit of doubt and try seeing things from their perspective and check if perhaps we could be more reasonable.
Our abilities to observe us as part of process, will help in minimizing any misinterpretation on our part. That way we become more proactive than being negative about communicating with the person.
However,there are extreme scenarios at times, when we are faced with bullies who actually are very insecure within and may also perhaps have been victims at one point of time. We then need to adopt measures that ensure personal safety and that there are witnesses before interacting with them.
So let us always remember… we are the ones who need to take the necessary steps to change for ourselves because we are the ones who are getting affected.
For ultimately we owe it to ourselves and our health is most important to us.
Savvy Raj 
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