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An old
chiropractor told me to KEEP ON MOVING because
that is the only way to stay healthy. Many
African dancers I know are in their late 50s and even
early 60s and they look and move like
youngsters. Movement and music helps to age very slowly.
Music and dance heals the sick and raises the
dead, says Milica.
First, human body is full
of "tough stuff" - muscles, bones,
tissue. They all need to be stretched and
exercised in order to be in top working
condition.. How will you stretch them and
exercise them in a way that is safe, effective
and fun? Music and proper sounds, including the
sounds of Nature and the sound of silence, help
us enjoy more our stretching, running, hiking,
etc.
Second, human body is full of
space - blood vessels, lungs, kidneys, sinuses,
etc. all have space in them, plus of course the
modern physics teaches us that we are mostly
space. What does it mean? It means that these internal
chambers are very conducive to music therapy.
Sounds echo in our bodies and produce certain
effects. It can help to relax us, which is
already healing. When body and mind are
relaxed, healing automatically takes place. The
body is wired that way. That's why meditation
and sleep are so rejuvenating. Technically, the
mind goes from the hectic beta state into alpha
and deeper states. This happens automatically
every few minutes in our brains, to keep us
"recharged."
Healing with music is
very profound. It goes beyond the rational mind
and reaches deeper parts of ourselves. It also
engages mind and body at the same time, as well
as feelings and higher spiritual aspects. In
short, it is a miraculous healing. And right
here at our fingertips! It is very easy to
listen to some nice music, to sing it, to play
it, to dance it - anywhere. While washing
dishes, while waiting in traffic, while in a
studio taking a class.
It is very important to
listen to the right kind of music. Impressions
are food for our brain. If we listen to the
traditional African music, to the traditional
Eastern music, etc. we give ourselves high
quality "food". If we listen to heavy
metal etc. we drag ourselves down. I know this
from personal experience, noticing how
different music affects me, what states of mind
I am in when certain music sounds good or bad
to me, and also by watching my cat. She either
stays or leaves. She stays only for high
quality music.
When I am disconnected
and edgy, then awful music like fast
rock-n-roll sounds good to me, but my cat hates
it. When I feel more centered and happy, then I
listen to things like Tibetan chants and my cat
adores it and even turns her head towards it.
Lama Tashi is her absolute favorite.
My cat stays to listen
to: Tibetan
chants, African, belly dance, Native flutes,
some classical, etc. All that music produces a
very uplifting, clarifying and positive effect
on me. I am one of the most sensitive persons
you can possibly find around, so we can use me
(and the cat) as a correct barometer.
So, here is my
youtube
list of healing music.
Here is links to African
music.
Yousuff Koumbassa was here
teaching a West African dance class for 2
days. He is an amazing amazing dancer, the
best I have ever seen. The next best dancer
imo is Chrysogone Diangouaya, Congolese
dancer, but he is a little younger and a
little less mature than Yousuff. Yousuff has
presence, very deep presence. His class is
completely about technique and completely free
of any ego. Yousuff is totally present yet he
is completely absent from the picture, and the
Art is invited and comes in. So that frees us
dancers to just Be too, and to experiment and
experience the Dance.
The directions we got from Yousuff were: take
your time; and feel, have a good feeling,
enjoy the movement. "Take
your time" does not mean "slow it
down". African dance is really fast. How
he explained it is: don't push, don't force
yourself, let the movement happen. And enjoy
it. Have a good feeling.
Dancing with this attitude is extremely
healing. I was not tired or sore anymore.
Everything just flows. I danced for hours,
stayed up late, and still was full of energy.
(Little nap in the afternoon and some good
food also helps :)
More importantly, I was free to be, and to
feel, and to experience myself. Yousuff
created space for us. Because he wasn't in the
picture but only Art, there was a lot of space
for us to engage with the Art. Somehow I got
more connected with my body and with myself,
and a lot of things became clearer.
Also, my body was "lubricated" and
healed quite well, some neck issues and
shoulder issues and pelvic issues got better
because I was warmed up and stretched out. I
also massaged it myself and got it even
better. Other dancers were reporting similar
results with their necks and bodies. Even my
chiropractor told me to KEEP ON MOVING because
that is the only way to stay healthy.
Indeed, it is! Famous
African dancers are in their late 50s and even
early 60s and they look and move like
youngsters. Movement and music helps to age
very very slowly.
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