I recently read an interview with Alanis Morissette and she shared that she no longer uses the word wellness – she uses wholeness. To quote, “I like looking at a human being from all aspects: the spiritual, the sensual, the somatic, the intellectual; all the pieces of ourselves that have been hidden or lost, or that we’ve lied to ourselves about or swept under the rug.”
After I read this, I realized that this is a resonant place of where I am right now. I have been engaged with the wellness industry for over a decade and have become disappointed and disenchanted. Disappointed with the claiming of health and well-being when some wellness practices are not healthy or well. Disappointed that all bodies are not seen with equity and care. And disappointed in the lack of financial sustainability.
I of course understand that I operate under the auspice of this industry but I have shifted how I want to show up. I’m not interested in belonging to, promoting, or becoming a brand. I want to do what I love and bring other humans along for the somatic ride. I want to move and be moved. I want to get stronger. I want to be more fluid. I want to continue on the path of body neutrality. I want to dance. I want to sing. I want ritual.
As I integrate this in my life I have made some significant changes. In the last six months, I have left the Nia Technique, trained to become a Steel Mace coach, and (with the exception of a few classes) decided to let go of the online platform of inSpirit in September. I am integrating my training and education in somatic practices, song, and ministry and bringing it to inSpirit in four realms: dance, strength + empowerment, song, and ceremony.
This is all in a quest for wholeness in my life: wholeness of values, integrity, and independence.
I now see all of my practices as spokes to the wheel of my life with the hub not being a practice. The hub is me. I am committed more than ever to sharing wholeness through my own experience and lens and to encourage others to not let a practice become an identity but rather to bring their identity to a practice.
And…with all of these shifts I realize that I am going back to what I always believed. There is no one practice that is the ideal. It is through each person showing up and resonating where the meaning occurs. Whatever the practice is – the hub is you.
As I explore “all of the pieces that have been hidden or lost,” I also decided to take a sabbatical to be with my mom and family in the Midwest. I haven’t spent an extended period of time with my family for quite some time and as life increases in its velocity this feels more important than ever.
I will be gone most of August and return in September. While I am gone, I am incredibly blessed to have three teachers stepping in to offer inSpirit Dance: Minna Aalto from Finland, Vanessa Lowe from California, and Randy Miller from Florida. Minna and Vanessa will be teaching live in Santa Fe and online. Randy will be teaching in-person only. All three teachers bring a unique creativity that is enlivening, inspiring, and authentic.
I hope you can join them at the Railyard or online. They are ready to welcome your wholeness to the dance floor.
