"Dancing Your Way to Health and Fitness"

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"Dancing Your Way to Health and Fitness"," Wu Tao is proving to be a potent healing therapy suitable for many people including children and the elderly. Wu Tao Dance brings together a number of components that create a powerful energetic change within the body/mind. (channels that Qi energy flows through). Refining and perfecting the movements of the dance helps to increase the natural flow of energy. The Hara (belly) is brought into awareness and engaged through deep breathing, and core strength is developed. When Qi is flowing correctly there are a numerous benefits. She will feel more balanced and even in her emotional responses, and difficult emotional states can be moved through with greater ease. When energy has been unblocked and is flowing normally, a person will feel positive, energised and less stressed. On occasion emotions will surface and these can be expressed through the dance. All these things can be taken into the dance and expressed through Wu Tao. This frees up stuck emotions and energy in the body. There is no need to get caught up in a story or emotional drama. Energetic changes happen more quickly when awareness stays grounded within the body and the energy is allowed to move freely without being limited or controlled by the mind. Meditation is the act of quieting the mind and allowing the stillness and peaceful nature within to arise. Embodying positive emotional states such as gratitude has a healing effect on the body/mind. Wu Tao helps us to embody these higher thought processes. Energetically, when we have embodied the highest qualities of each of the elements, we have embodied Life, as it is meant to be lived through us. Change is natural and normal. This is normal! The ElementsThe Air element (Metal in Chinese medicine), is related to the Lung and Large Intestine organs and the season of Autumn. Through the Lungs we take in life energy in the breath. The Large Intestine has a similar function in that it's the organ through which we eliminate our waste. It can keep us looking backward into the past, grasping and holding on and manifest as symptoms of unresolved sadness, grief and depression. Sadness tints our perception and our bodies can be closed to receiving and welcoming our greater good. They can cause a whole range of physical symptoms such as breathing problems, asthma, reduced immunity and intestinal problems. It is natural for things to change form just like the leaves change colour and drop from the tree in autumn. Our bodies and every cell in our body is then able to do what it is meant to do. Emotionally we can maintain equilibrium while still allowing ourselves the full expression of our grief and sadness (which are the natural emotions that arise with change). It is responsible for building and storing our energy or Qi. The water element is the deepest Yin time and like winter, it is the time to hibernate, build our energy resources, rest and dream. It manifests fears and phobias both conscious and unconscious, which can play out as a nagging unrest with Life, lack of motivation, and control issues. We rest when we need to. We take time to imagine and fantasize about what we desire to create. Physically our body rejuvenates itself during this period, rebuilding our structure and beliefs into forms that serve our highest Self and increase our potential. It relates to the season of Spring and governs the Liver and Gall Bladder organs in our body. In Wu Tao we use the image of the tree. We grow ourselves up as the young plant into the sapling, expressing ourselves into our leaves and branches. Through this dance we embody flow, vitality, self-expression and purpose. This element is particularly important for us, as in western society, as we tend to live our lives using force, effort and ambition. Out of balance, this element manifests in the emotions of anger, frustration, depression, irritability, competitiveness and ambition. The dance frees up this energy and gives it space to find its natural flowing nature. The Fire element follows the Wood. In Chinese medicine the Heart houses the spirit, the aspect of consciousness known as Shen. The light of our inner nature shines through our eyes, and the Fire energy is what gives rise to our passion, the ability to radiate our essence and to transform the dross of our ego mind into a true reflection of our spirit. We know ourselves as consciousness and our naturally peaceful and joyous nature radiates from our heart. Or it may burn out of control, destroying everything in its path by inflicting heat, consuming energy and eventually reducing us to nothing. Out of balance the fire can manifest as egocentricity, mania and anxiety. When we dance the fire, we shed the illusions we have about ourselves, freeing up our hearts and connecting again with our inner nature and source of real passion. It is always wonderful to see the smiles erupting and joy shining though on people's faces as they dance the Fire dance! The Earth element is the final element of the five. The Earth is our physical home. It is the manifestation of life force in form and as such it embodies the feminine principle completely. In Chinese Medicine it relates to the season of Late Summer, the time of harvest. The benefits of embodying this element are profound. Gratitude allows space for deep connection through trust to emerge. This is where we realises our oneness with Life and can open ourselves completely to her expression through us. This imbalance shows itself in how we nourish ourselves in all areas. Emotionally, we may give ourselves away through unhealthy nurturing of others or not offering enough love and support. Love is what Life Energy feels like when it flows from our heart and spirit. As we do the simple movement sequence to each direction we surrender to the river of Life and open to receive her gifts, as they flow to us through every opportunity, challenge and manifestation of experience. We are one with the very flow of Life Energy itself. . click and learn