Is Dance a Yoga ?

Is Dance a YOGA ?

The story of an ordinary dancer turned devotee.

For the whole of my early childhood and into my teens, twenties and early thirties I studied the beliefs of ancient civilisations. I searched for long lost texts, stone circles and temples that may be able to share with me a secret. A secret I was longing to hear. The answer to that age old question. Why are we here ? I was sure that somewhere out there, in the world the answer existed. None the less the question tormented and teased.

 I travelled far and wide in search of this answer. It may sound corny but it makes it none the less true. I sat on edge of so many shores, on the peaks of mountaintops. I saw many wonders and just as many horrors. Eventually I bowed my head and sighed in woe. For all my travels, for all my research, for the accumulated knowledge gathered over many years I was still to find the answer.

Disillusioned with the world, the apathy of society, the greed of man and the suffering of so many of earths creatures. I was not truly happy. Did I even believe in spirit anymore ?

Happiness is love and love is spirit in it's most divine form of existence and absolute.

For moments I had found happiness. For brief moments I had found peace but something was still missing. I had only grasped at spirit.

I thought I had failed. I had not found the answer and was sure now I never would.

I bowed my head and from somewhere I heard a voice. As clear as any voice I had ever heard.

The voice said to me, ''Of course you have not failed. Of course you know the answer. You have devoted your life to prayer.''

''But I no longer pray,'' I answered the voice in defiance.

''Oh you do pray child,'' the voice replied with such confidence. ''Every time you dance. Every time you bare you soul in movement unabashed without thought or care. You ask for nothing and you receive all. You tell me you do not know this ? ''

'' I do know it, I know how I feel when I dance.'' I answered.

''Well then dry your tears, they are a gift from God as are the feet you bare to the earth and the palms you hold to the sky. Every time you dance your question disappears. It no longer exists. It was a part of your mind and not an absolute. Your devotion to spirit, your knowing is clear for all to see. The trees see, the birds and animals see, your sisters and brothers see. This is how you teach them. This is why you are here.''

The lord of the dance had spoken to me, from whence he came I do not question.

Shiva's divine dance or Tandava as passed down from ancient Indian scripture and displayed in satue form in Hindu temples globally is said to be the source of the cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution. In Shaiva Siddhanta tradition, Shiva as Nataraja (lit. "Lord of dance") is considered the supreme lord of dance.

I had been dancing for as long as I could remember, I was a teacher of dance but on that day I became a student once more. First observing and then suspending observation to allow the dance to take me over.  This is how one truly becomes a dancer. The dancer must learn how to become the dance.

I studied dance ethnology. Global, folkloric and temple dances. I discovered the importance placed on story telling in dance culture and ceremony in many of our oldest societies. Enthralled by the connection to nature and spirit people find through dance.

I started to understand that dance was an integral part of culture the world over. And to many a form of prayer and devotion.
In yoga we would describe this as a form of bhakti or worship. 

In mystical dance and when we whirl [Sufi whirling or Sema] we worship at nature's altar. We dance to become one with the earth, the elements. We dance the same dance as the birds and butterflies tracing ancient and sacred circles.

In folkloric and temple dance we tell a story. We can share the wisdom and pain, the glory and gain of our ancestors. Each dance belongs to a lineage we as dancers represent. We echo those people who danced the earth hundreds and even thousands of years before we arrived. They can feel our feet upon the earth and see the golden strands we weave with our hands. They stand behind us.

Dancers depicted on ancient Greek vases.

People have danced as long as we can remember. Ancient cave paintings from east to west, hieroglyphs and vases bear the images of humans dancing.

Belly dance was used in ritual preparation for birth.

Babies have been shown to respond to music and the beat of a drum even before they recognise their mothers voice.

Movement therapy has seen hugely beneficial results in patients suffering with degenerative brain diseases.

There are sill places on earth where dancers live in temples devoting themselves to years of mastering intricate madras or hand postures and sequences. Tribes who enact the movements that represent the life cycle of maps of the stars from whence we came. People dance in night clubs to forget their worries. The ritual of a wedding dance has held stead fast regardless of religion in most parts of the world.

Old Batik art piece portraying a Persian wedding dance.

We dance to the beat of a drum. We dance when we feel happy and when we come together in large groups. We have danced since the dawn of time and we will dance until the end of it. Of this I am certain.

In today's world dance programs such as zumba© saw huge success bringing different styles of dance and world music to new audiences. By keeping the choreography simple and fun many people who would have been intimidated to attempt mastering a whole new dance style were able to experience the joys of these global dances and get a glimpse of the rhythms and flavour of different ethnicities .

Through teaching zumba and later my own dance fitness program I would witness first hand the transformational effects of dance on large groups. Most of these groups were dominated by woman. I would see a sisterhood developing between dancers that extended far beyond the dance floor.

One of my lovely Let's Dance© groups from Bejing.

As I begin to share the arts of mystical and folkloric dance with groups around the world through performance and  workshops I relish sharing with my sisters the power, grace and beauty they have access to and how they are supported in their actions by those who have danced before them.

In my sacred dance workshops we experience the power dance has to heal the womb and bring back balance to the female body and monthly cycle.

I continue to host classes and workshops for both men and women from Asia to Europe where we explore different dance styles for fun, fitness, vitality and vigour. Because to dance is to be alive and truly I believe everyone can ! With practice and study we just develop a greater understanding of the movement and methods and our style is improved. We stop thinking about it so much, we  get our of our heads and simply do it. This is why some people seem to be much better or more natural dancers than others.

To me dance is more than a physical practice alone, is a form of devotion, a path to God or spirit and it has become the art to which I have happily devoted my body and time here on earth. 

It is my hope that one day everyone can have the opportunity to experience dance in this way and the knowledge of our sacred and folkloric or tribal dances and their beauty and power are returned to us once more.

Author

Rachel Medina.

www.rachel-m.com

Rachel Medina is an international dance teacher, yoga instructor, holistic healer and lifestyle coach. A performer and student in the art of Persian, mystical and sacred dances. Rachel has long been a student of and continues to study temple, global folkloric dance and the art and importance of story telling through dance culture and ceremony in many of our oldest societies. Enthralled by the connection to nature and spirit we find through dance. Rachel considers dance as a form of devotional or Bhakti yoga.