Having worked for Sutter for 10 years, educating the medical and general public community about end of life care, I will always have roots in health care here in Sonoma County. With many more years spent in the corporate world in the SF bay area, I became keenly aware of the disconnect between our work/business world and our personal lives. I wanted to bridge this gap.
With years as a travel photographer, I experienced an incredible cultural diversity that brought with it the understanding of the many modes of moving in our body, for many different reasons, but underlying it was the desire, even need, to be more in my body, and doing so with community. I realized the body had its own wisdom and sought to cultivate a practice that came from within. An introduction to Conscious Movement when it was in its infancy, 10 years ago, became my focus. I now teach Conscious Movement classes and workshops in the bay area and continue to seek ways to integrate this practice into peoples lives- wherever, however, and whoever they are. One of my favorite places to play with this is Friends House. From the man strapped to his wheelchair only able to move his eyes, to the GingerRogers wannabes dancing gracefully around the floor, this group was in their body more than any group I had ever moved with.
Moving your body is one of the most important keys to growing older gracefully. Each of us has a different awareness and interest in this. Often many of us take our body for granted, until we have pain. What about cultivating daily habits that encourage us to move? What would make this fun and one more motivated to do this? Music, of course!
No set steps, no expectations, no judgement, no reason not to. Connection within, connection with that person sitting next to you, connection with that guy across the room, connection with the whole room, or simply being in the moment. The quality of life to which we aspire.