Changing Lives through Dancing by David Woodbury
Arthur Murray Santa Monica
Many years ago I was competing in a professional dance competition. Our own professional teachers were competing at the same event and they were the reigning United Stated 10-Dance Champions. Talk about pressure. When we came off the floor from our first round, our teacher came right up to us and said, “You weren’t breathing! You didn’t take one breath!”
I remember just standing there and we began to deep breathe and when we went back out onto the floor for our callback, we were so relaxed, and our dancing flowed from us.
Also, in the beginning of my professional dancing career, my pro dance teacher said to me “Stop dancing 100%. Only give it about 60%”. I could not believe this since I was such a focused overachiever. It took me a couple of tries, but I then went out on the dance floor and did not try as hard. I let the months of preparation, all the lessons, the muscle memory take over and I focused on my partner, the music, the expression and character of the dance, the partnership and connection as we danced together. It was a revelation and truly changed my life.
I am writing this blog exactly two weeks before Christmas ’23. I have just worked two wonderful signature events on back-to-back weekends and I’m on 3 weeks in a row. What the heck is breathing? What is 60%. Where are the holidays? How did I get so busy?
The answer is that I don’t know. I just know I’m swept up in more Yuletide preparations than Yuletide cheer. I’m in the same tidal wave of activities that everyone else is in. Yet, I am practicing two things this year. First, taking some deep breaths during every day. Secondly, I’m practicing moments of silence every day.
In the mornings, I rise very early. I just wake up. Even after just a few hours of sleep if I have stayed up late, I wake up and I get up. First, I pray the Shema, then my morning prayers. Then I go through all my daily readings and listen to my faith podcasts, and then do my readings. After I’m all caught up, I sit in silence for a few moments and focus on being absolutely still and quiet and I not only close my eyes, but I look down with my eyes closed and become so silent that all thoughts cease.
Funny, just writing about this gives me a peace and slows down my heart rate. My breathing just changed, and I felt a great calm come over me.
Now, I am trying to apply this to my normal day. To think before I speak and tame my reckless tongue. When something happens that has pushed all my buttons all at once, I pause before erupting. I just wait and keep the peace inside of me and try to show that peace on the outside of me. Believe me, as a small business owner, taking these breaths is very valuable to me.
On the dance floor during a party, sometimes my partner will ask me what step we just did. Often, I will say I have no idea and share with them that I’m in the dance zone where I am at peace, loving every moment of dancing with them, and I’m free in mind, body and soul at that moment. I don’t mean it as a compliment, it does sound lovely, but it is really sharing that the joy of dancing has just taken me over, head-to-toe.
In a couple of weeks Christmas and Hanukkah will be over. Then New Year’s Day! And then January begins. Make a promise to take a breath every morning. Have a moment of quiet solitude and silence daily. When your day goes Topsy-Turvy, find a secluded spot and just close your eyes for a moment. Put your phone away for a moment and even silence it. I am powerless to my phone now and at times, I just turn it off completely for a few minutes.
Let’s end with an exercise. Wherever you are reading this, if you are safely able to, close your eyes and breathe out and then breathe in. Repeat this a few times. Then let your body relax from your toes to the top of your head. If you can, take a moment of absolute silence and let your thoughts relax. Then take three of the deep breaths again. Slowly open your eyes and reconnect with your surroundings.
You will find that, even if for a moment, you are at peace, you feel a sense of serenity and calm. You are ready to move forward and you have taken care of yourself.
I just finished my 2024 Dream Sheet Planner, and my January Arthur Murray calendar is up and ready, but for just now, I am present, relaxed, and feeling some love, joy, peace and hope.
Enjoy your holidays!
Thanks for reading!
Here’s to dancing in 2024!
David Woodbury