We’ve all heard about the mind/body connection, that thinking a certain way can affect your body. You can visualize your cancer cells getting eaten up, and it works! But did you know it also works the other way around? That you can move your body in a way that affects your mind? Yoga is a great example of this, but there are other movements that can help heal your mind. Today, we’re going to try Sign Dancing.
How I Discovered Sign Dancing
I learned this Sign Dance from Rachel Naomi Remen, MD, author of Kitchen Table Wisdom and a woman I deeply admire. In my opinion, Rachel is a living saint. She works at Commonweal in Bolinas, CA, running retreats for people with cancer and founding The Healer’s Art, a curriculum now taught in most medical schools that teaches medical schools to connect, with their patients and themselves. She’s also single-handedly trying to heal the wounded physicians that make up our broken health care system. Amazing woman- really. Uber Pink Goddess status.
Rachel says she uses this Sign Dance whenever she needs to open her heart. You can try this simple exercise whenever you’re feeling closed off after a challenging work experience or after a fight with a family member. When you’ve just received bad news or when are just having a really mojo-less day. Try it! You might be surprised by the power of this dance. Rachel says she does it in public restrooms when she needs to, but she recommends against doing it in public. People might look at you funny, if you do, but come on! Who cares? This dance is based on American Sign Language, so theoretically, if you do it in public and someone knows sign language, they can you’re your dance. Come on, let’s sign dance!
Step 1: Find a place you can move around and state your intention for the sign dance. Maybe it’s “I’m going to open my heart.” Or maybe it’s “I’d like to forgive my boss.” Whatever it is- say it.
Step 2: Clasp your hands over her heart and say, “Love.”
Step 3: Sweep your arms out front in a semi-circle and touch your shoulders with your index fingers, and say, “Yourself.”
Step 4: Bring your crossed hands to your heart again, and say “Love” again.
Step 5: Throw your arms up in the air, flinging your arms to the side and looking to the sky, saying “All!”
Step 6: Moving your left hand into the shape of an “L,” hold the L above your heart, and then fling your arm out as if scattering seeds and say, “Let Go.”
Step 7: Sweep both outstretched arms from left to right, saying, “Move on.”
Step 8: Make a C with your left hand and hold it parallel to the ground. Then lift your right hand through your left hand, as if it is a sprout growing out of a flower pot. When your right hand reaches the top, extends your fingers all the way out like a beautiful blossom and say, “And Grow.”
Step 9: Moving your left hand around your face in a semi-circle to the right, say, “In Beauty.”
Step 10: Sweep your hand straight across your face and say, “And Wisdom.”
Step 11: Bending all the way over into a yoga forward bend, hold your thumbs together with your fingers outstretched and lift your hands all the way from the ground up to shoulder height and say, “Feel.”
Step 12: Flexing your biceps like Popeye, say “Strong,” shaking your fists to reinforce it.
Step 13: Step your right foot to the side and put your hands on your shoulders before saying, “Stand.” Then fling your arms all the way out and look up to the heavens, saying “Tall.”
Step 14: Altogether, it goes like this. “Love yourself. Love all. Let go and move on, in beauty and wisdom. Feel strong. Stand tall.” Do it ten times, until you’ve got it down. Now Sign Dance like you mean it!
How do you feel, Pinkies? I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling all open-hearted. If nothing else, you probably laughed and feel a little goofy, and you gotta love that!
How was that for you? Can you think of some occasions when that might come in handy? Post your comments and let’s chat about it. And keep Sign Dancing!
Letting go and moving on,
Lissa
Thanks again, Fred. You rock, brother!
