"There are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them." - Vicki Baum
Given our current world difficulties, keeping a positive outlook, orienting towards gratitude, and embracing the wealth of goodness in and around us can become challenging or lost altogether. And yet without these resources, we can lose hope and succumb to the doom spirals all around.
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to drift to the one negative comment in a sea of positive responses? To dwell on one doubt in the face of overwhelming support? To miss the sweetness of a moment as your mind contemplates climate change.
Our brains have what neuropsychologists call a “negativity bias,” making sure we don’t miss any dangers that may threaten our life. This bias makes it essential that we mindfully practice embodying the full spectrum of human joy, to counterbalance evolution's survival directive.
In Open Floor, we use our dance practice to discover the many different textures of embodied joy, like generosity, appreciation, vitality, and exuberance. As well as sensitizing ourselves to notice and enjoy the quieter forms of joy, such as presence, health, connection, belonging, kindness, ease, and well-being.
All these qualities of joy can be enhanced in our everyday experience of life on good days and tough days. We can strengthen these neural pathways – we can dance ourselves into being happier people – at least more of the time.
- 40+ years experience in the field of somatic psychotherapy, bodywork, dance, yoga, and mindful movement practices.
- Trained hundreds of movement teachers, psychotherapists, and health care professionals in the fundamentals of body awareness and embodied movement practice.
- Licensed Marriage and Family Psychotherapist and have a Ph.D. in Dance and Movement Therapy
- Co-founder of Open Floor International, a non-profit organization that is committed to sharing conscious movement and dance to ignite creativity, community, social justice, health, and well-being.
Workshop Schedule
Friday March 31, 2023 - 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Saturday April 1, 2023 - 12:00pm to 6:00pm
Sunday April 2, 2023 - 1:00pm to 6:00pm
Registration
Workshop Registration is $225 until February 28, 2023, then $250 after.
Location
Fusion: The Integrated Body, 302 Columbia St NW, Olympia, WA, 98501 located near the waterfront in downtown Olympia.
What to bring
Bring several sets of loose, breathable, comfortable clothing to dance in, a water bottle and, if right for you, high energy snacks/food.
Visiting Olympia
If you are joining us from out-of town, Welcome! To start, we suggest you make your travel plans as soon as possible. If you are flying in, you will want to arrive at Seattle International Aiport (SEA). Olympia is about an hour drive south from there. There are many wonderful lodging choices in Olympia. Click Here to go directly to the Accomodations Page of the OlyWaves website. Many of the lodgings listed, as well as many fine restaurants, are within walking distance of the Fusion. Another lodging option, that is available on a first-come basis, is to stay with a local host-dancer. We do ask guests to share some monetary love with their local hosts as a way of saying thanks. For more info and to request a home-stay contact Ronny Temple. Please note that we will do our best but we do not guarantee that we can find you a home-stay.