When we dance with Spirit, an envelope of pure love, peace, and joy washes over you. To be able to immerse yourself in the rhythm of dance, it activates happy cells throughout the body, it helps the mind to relax, the physical body to stretch and the Spirit to come alive to the beat of their own heart.
Each day I dance, no matter what is happening in my life, whenever I get the opportunity, I skip, I dance, I feel the movement of the energy that it creates, washing away any aches or pains I may have, and lifting my life to a place that no matter what is happening, to dance with your spirit is joyous.
If you both love to dance, then bring this into your daily routine, clear a space at home, put on the radio or record player, and let yourself completely go. Dance is an expression of our inner soul, the freedom it gives to allow the body to just feel the music waves move slowly across the body. Even if you can only tap your foot, click your fingers, or just smile, that is enough to enjoy dancing with Spirit, it does not have to be rigid, you can learn to dance at any age.
Many times, in my life I have had the wonderful opportunity to dance in some amazing ballrooms. With people of all ages, with disabilities, and with Dementia. When I teach dance in a group or join a weekly dance group, nobody will recognise you have Dementia when you allow yourself to just let go.
Without even doing anything the spirit will take over, and if you are in a weekly teaching group then you get the opportunity to dance with new partners. This encourages the left and right movement of the brain, teaching coordination and communication with a stranger.
Make the evening a special time to dance under the stars, before you go to bed after dinner instead of watching the television, put some music on and dance together. At first, you may feel a little silly to be dancing in your front room, but you could make it like a glitter dancefloor by decorating it with flowers, and candles creating a food buffet and drinks to celebrate you are still dancing together each day in spirit.
Sometimes we become wheel bound or bedridden and believe we cannot dance anymore; this is not true we can feel the music and ask our spirit to dance for us. Through meditation and dance, I teach somebody to breathe the music as if it is resonating completely through the body. I ask them to imagine that they have all of their senses working and that in their mind and spirit, they can still dance even if physically they cannot.
By Isabella Rose
Author & Teacher – Excerpt from the small guidebook for Alzheimer’s ” I Still Know You” available in print and ebook.