Testimony by James

I subscribe to the belief that every physical disease is inter-linked to a person's emotions, mental make-up and spiritual well-being. Our emotion affects our physical health and conversely, our physical health or lack of physical health affects our emotion. On a basic level, our physical movements affect how we feel and how we feel also affects our movements.

 When my wife was recommended to attend Elizabeth's Dance Movement Therapy, I was intrigued and hesitant. Intrigued, because I am surprised to find a course in Singapore that teaches movement as part of the healing modalities. That is certainly an enlightened alternative healing modality! Hesitant, because like any other normal, average Singaporean, my wife and I have never danced before and we wondered whether the course is "right" for us.

 But I am glad we have attended the Dance Therapy course! The trainer, Elizabeth, is confident yet sensitive in guiding us through the 4 basic sessions. Most importantly, I find the trainer credible as she herself has gone through the journey of healing via this alternative modality. In my opinion, It is always valuable to learn from those who have actually walked through the path themselves.

From the 4 sessions, I have learned some useful and "do-able" basic movements that can be done anywhere. I have also learnt to be more conscious and be more aware of my body and its possible movement (Of course, it takes deliberate effort to be more aware). The sessions have also affirmed my belief about movement being closely related to the mind.

The most important takeaway from the 4 sessions (and including the Connected-As-One couple session) is that I have gained some new realizations about my wife. These insights occur suddenly as we move (or "dance") during the sessions. I treasure such insights.

I would highly recommend "Dance Therapy" for health seekers to broaden their repertoire of healing tools. And for couples, I would also recommend the Connected-As-One session. Finally, I would like to add that I planned, initially, to attend only one session. But after attending the first session, I have signed up for the remaining 3 sessions. This speaks well of Elizabeth's skills as a trainer!

James Lew
Singapore

(Attended Embodied Self-Awareness & Connected As One)

Workshops/Sessions Sharing/Testimony 2011

Embodied Self-Awareness Part 1 to 4
'Thank you so much for your guidance and introducing DMT to me and local scene, I really appreciate it. It was an eye-opener and exciting to attend the sessions with you!'
~ Cheryl Lee

'When we let go of ourselves in movement, we feel the freedom in us.' ~ James Lew as he shared in his closure in the last session. He also wrote a testimony of his experiences.

'I'm really enjoy your session as it open up another truth in unconditional acceptance.' ~ Rini, Indonesia, read her full testimony

'I really enjoyed the opportunity to relax and reconnect with my body, and feel more grounded, give my mind a break. Elizabeth facilitated the sessions very lightly and gently, encouraging us with questions instead of answers. I recommend it to anyone who wants to explore the wisdom of their body.'
~ Francesca Mitchell, 5 Rhythms teacher in Singapore, http://www.danceyourselffree.com.sg/

Move in Art Jam Session for Children
'Fun, Happy & Exciting!' 3 words shared by the children.

Feedback from parents ~
'Sofi really enjoyed herself. She even asked if she can stay for the 2nd class.' ~ Nisa

Awareness in our Body - Slowing Down & Being Passive

Exploring authentic movement during my training and other times outside of training for the last 5 years, listening to my body with a non-judgement attitude increases my awareness of my innate feelings, thoughts and body. With the practises of silent retreats in the past have allowed me to be still and learn to listen to my body in the authentic movement. I become fully aware not only of myself but also towards the environment around me.

Being aware I was often uptight and bound in my body 5 years ago, most of the time, I was often quick and sharp in my movement, in my walk, in my speech... Gradually I noticed I began to slow down after I discovered deep breath, letting go and trusting my body instead of the need to control especially when I explored groundedness in one of the sessions in my training (as a professional) and therapy. I just love the sense of the feeling of core centre of my being and being presence with my body. Interestingly, the conscious awareness of myself has allowed me to consciously make a choice to slow down in the midst of a rat-race city wherever I happened to be there.

I was able to enjoy and appreciate and being presence at the moment. More and more I developed the conscious awareness and the conscious choice to slow down.

I begin to ponder over what is slowing down and being passive?

Slowing down & Being Passive

In Laban, we explored strong and light weight. Weight means intention (what?). Passive weight is not strong weight.

The more I slow down, the more I come to link that slowing down has elements of strong weight. The sense of strong weight gives the body a sense of groundedness and has this innate strength within. I can still remember in a dance class, we explored combinations of two efforts in movement individually. I’m not going into the technical terms now as not to confuse the general reader. To feel the difference between strong and passive weight, we explored them in movement to feel and understand them. Just thinking at the head level does not understand the real feeling of what exactly strong weight is.

When I work with participants and clients, strong weight are often seem to be missing. Developing and exploring strong weight in our body can actually help us to slow down as I discovered for myself and with my clients.

Passive is often can be seen in the body with people who are suffering from depression. The sunken and curved body and the listlessness in the spirit. I began to ponder does it only happen when one suffers from depression? Perhaps when one feels life is meaningless and a heavy burden, does the body show signs of passiveness? Does it not want to take an active role to initiate change? Maybe when the body gradually stays in this manner, it can lead to depression. It is just my hypothesis.

There is a difference between slowing down and being passive.

Being passive has the feeling of dragging your feet and body along with you. The energy level is normally low. Whereas slowing down has an energy circulating your entire being, and your body feels alive and there is an innate strength and power within you.

Even in infant, they explore the core self with strong weight at the developmental phase.

Awareness in our Body - Part one

Sharing of the awareness of our bodies from real life situations with permissions.

Taste Buds

In the food, sometimes it may contain a great amount of salt or sugar. My husband, Jeroen has been used to food that is either too salty or too sweet. Whereas, I’m raised the other way round, where no salt or sugar is added to home-cooked food but natural ingredients. We are like two opposite ends.

As we know that the taste buds recognise the four basic tastes such as sweet, salt, bitter and sour. Taste buds can be readjusted and cells for each basic taste can be restimulated. Why do I say that?

Jeroen was not able to tell whether the food is too salty or too sweet. His taste buds were immuned, ‘numbed’ and 'desensitised'. Ever since we got married, he found my cooking very blend. However, I explained that too much of salt and sugar in the diet will eventually do more harm to the body in the long run.

Slowly, throughout the years, I help him by reducing the salt amount in the food. He eventually got used to less salt and sugar and gradually over the 5 years, he cut down and sometimes not even add any salt. Recently, he shared that his taste buds have changed. He can immediately tell whether the food is salty. He can even slowly sense the different ingredients in the food which he could not do so in the past. He always told me the food tasted the same whereas now, he is able to differentiate them. When I heard it, I was amazed, how the cells in the sensory organs of the taste buds can be reactivated and become sensitive again. Now he will not even take food that contains too much salt and sugar. His taste buds will inform him that it is too much.

It just reminds me of a baby when they have the first taste of food, they can tell immediately what they need, what they taste and what their body wants. I read it in Aware Parenting, Aware Baby, by Aletha Solter, how our body has and are born with our own natural self-regulation.

Even though we may have lost it as an adult, there is still hope and possibility to develop the awareness and have the self-regulation again. Isn't that good news?

Part 2 will be shared in the next round on Body awareness of another person.