Home Sweet Body

10/04/2023

*DANZA CREATIVA SEVILLA*
Os invitamos a nuestro evento de movimiento en Sevilla. Danza Creativa ofrece un espacio para la exploración corporal a través del movimiento, la danza y el juego. Una oportunidad única para conectar con y expresar tu universo interno en un entorno seguro y acogedor.
《no requiere experiencia de baile ni habilidades técnicas》
***
We would like to invite you to our movement event here in Seville. Danza Creativa provides a space for bodily exploration through conscious movement, dance and play. A unique opportunity to connect with and express your inner world in a safe and welcoming setting.
《No dance experience or technical skills required》

*FACILITADORES* / *FACILITATORS*
Soraya Ramos Garrido y Rozelien Callaerts
Danza Movimiento Terapeutas

*FECHAS* / *DATES*
20/04: Introductorio / workshop
4, 11, 18 & 25/05: 4 sesiones / 4 sessions
19:00 - 20:30
En español + in English

*LUGAR* / *LOCATION*
Sala19, Nervión-Sevilla

*APÚNTATE* / *SIGN UP*
T 693 054 712
M danzacreativasevilla@gmail.com
Plazas limitadas / Limited spots!

¡Bienvenid@! Welcome!

06/04/2023

Insights into your being go hand in hand with practice.

Imagine:
You are an empathic person that easily picks up on nonverbal cues that inform you about other’s needs (like your partner, kids, parents or colleagues). When you sense discomfort you try to make them feel as comfortable as possible. However, you seem to be less concerned about what *you* need. For the sake of others you stretch yourself. At one point it leaves you exhausted. You go to therapy that helps you to uncover and understand the nature and root of your behaviour. Beautiful.

The next step: How does this insight lead to actual change?
***
By practice,
In movement,
In the here and now.
***

It takes an experiential stage of learning in which you experiment with and practice your insights. Step by step. Trial and error. Assisted by a supportive therapist. It is a movement from WHAT (a cognitive understanding) to HOW (an embodied experience).

This stage can involve questions like: What are my needs? How much space do I want and need? Where does my personal space ends? How can I reach out to others without overly stretching myself?

The new experiences leave a trace in your body. The more you practice, the easier it gets to demonstrate a new way of behaving. First within the therapeutic space, later in real life. 

30/03/2023

Chameleons are thinkers. They like to ponder, analyze, and understand their inner and outer world. Their brain runs at high speed, travelling from one question to another, varying from random to existential ponderings:

❓️"Why do their words upset me?"
❓️"Why do I live life the way I do?"
❓"Will I add milk or yoghurt to my oatmeal?"
❓"How can I make a difference?"
❓️"Did I walk the dog?"
❓️"How is my best friend doing?"
❓️"Why can't they see the obvious solution?"
❓️"I wanna start classes in martial arts, baking cake, bird watching, photography and writing. What to choose?"
And so on...

You sense the intensity of your chameleon mind, right! It is a great asset to have when navigated well. But it alters when your thoughts convert into negative thought patterns or ruminations. Instead of achieving clarity these thoughts hold you captive. Sounds familiar?

The longer you're stuck in thoughts, the more alienated you get from your feelings and emotions. You may believe that you can THINK your way out, but that's a mental trap. It is a cycle that reinforces itself until you break it.

Imagine...
You're playing squash with your friend. The rubber ball represents the rapid and endless flow of negative thoughts. You want to battle and control them. You hit the ball as hard as you can. But the harder you fight, the harder the ball bounces back. Without any resolution. You get tired. And eventually your opponent defeats you. You are exhausted and don't know what to do.

How can you break the cycle?

1. Leave the squash court and take a seat in the grandstand.
2. Lean a bit more into the back side of your chair.
3. Watch your own thoughts as they are played out as a movie.
4. Observe. What do you see?
5. Notice how messy, fickle, irrelevant, dominant ruminations can be at times.
6. See how quickly they change and transform.
7. Lean back a bit more and get more centered.
8. Bring your attention to your body: Can you feel any sensation? Can you feel tension? How is your breath? Is there something shifting?

This is a great remedy for ruminations. Instead of BEING your thoughts, you start OBSERVING them.

23/03/2023

Restoring the body-mind connection means working towards an equilibrated collaboration between mind (thoughts), body (sensations) and heart (feelings). Once you understand this interconnection, you will see what part needs attention in order to restore balance (in times of turbulence, chaos or distress).

For example:
- If non-stop ruminations send you down a mental rabbit hole, you can use corporal techniques to feel more centered again. => less rumination + more emotional clarity

- If you feel overwhelmed by emotional or sensorial stimuli, you can ground yourself through your body. => less overwhelm + more mental clarity

- If you feel physically tensed, you can involve your body to release physical discomfort => less tension + more bodily clarity

It is not about prioritizing or devaluing one of the elements. It is about an understanding that they co-exist and interrelate.
***
And that is how you get body-wise! :-)
***

17/03/2023

I know...
Words such as 'therapy', 'dance and movement', 'experiential', 'body-awareness' etc can sound weird, scary or even intimidating.

I know...
It takes courage to take that first step. But once you do, you will discover a whole new world. Like in any other therapy it can feel like hard work at times. But I promise you this: it is all worth it.

Dance/movement therapy is a down-to-earth type of therapy that uses the medium of movement for the purpose of self-inquiry and self-understanding. It has nothing to do with artistic achievements or aesthetic performance. Instead, by learning how your body responds to your own thoughts and feelings (internally) and to your environment (externally) you get back in control of your daily behaviour and mental wellbeing.

You must know...
I am not a wizard that offers you a magical healing recipe. I am a therapist that stands by your side during a deep transformative bodily experience. Not top-down, but bottom-up.

***
You don't have to do this alone.
***
Please contact me if you have doubts, concerns or questions.

14/03/2023

Have you ever used your imaginary binoculars to evaluate someone's intentions, guess someone's thoughts or anticipate their behaviour?
If so, did you share your hypothetical theories with that particular (observed) person?
If so, were they accurate?
If not, what held you back from sharing?

When feeling unsure or scared of getting hurt, it happens that we monitor and analyse others' minds. Especially when having this natural inclination to observe, analyse and understand. However, not involving the other person is quite unfair and painful. By controlling the situation (as an act of self-protection) you deprive the other of sharing their truth and inner experiences.

Putting down your binoculars means dropping your guard and being vulnerable. But if you can, you no longer have to drag this burdening device with you. You'll also start noticing less tension in your body. A nice reward!

Can you remember when you last used your binoculars?
I would love to hear your story.

08/03/2023

The other day - while sipping a hot cup of coffee - I was talking with my female friend about gender equity, the glass ceiling, positive discrimination, ... We consider ourselves to be fairly progressive and feminist minded human beings. As we went deeper into the topic of gender equality though, we uncovered subtle biases in our own behavioural patterns and thought processes (and in those of women in our social circles). The way women move, flirt, speak, decide, grow, fail, raise our children, care, fight etc is still very much ingrained in and conditioned by societal (male dominated) expectations. 

YES! There is still lots of work to do on a political, social, economic and cultural level.

BUT! Let's not forget to simultaneously raise awareness among ALL women to take up our responsibility by observing and transforming our inner biases. I really believe that this parallel movement will accelerate the process of female empowerment and gender equity.

'Imagine a gender equal world' - IWD

Are you in?

07/03/2023

WEEK VAN DE HOOGBEGAAFDHEID - about yesterday:
Hoogbegaafden zijn doorgaans zoekende, bevragende, kritische en diepe denkers. De onophoudelijke stroom aan gedachten is een geschenk én een valkuil. Niet zelden lopen ze vast in hun hoofd, waardoor ze steeds meer vervreemd geraken van hun voelende lijf. Gisteren nam ik tijdens de ervaringsgerichte workshop 'WIJS in je LIJF' een groepje hoogbegaafde volwassenen op sleeptouw. Het blijft voor mij wonderlijk om toeschouwer te zijn van een proces waarin hoogbegaafden verbinden met hun veelal prikkelgevoelige lichaam en fijnbesnaarde binnenwereld. Morgen (08/03 om 14u) is de laatste kans om 'WIJS in je LIJF' bij te wonen. Schrijf je gauw in via hello@homesweetbody.com. Alle info vind je in comments.

02/03/2023

De Week van de Hoogbegaafdheid start aanstaande zaterdag!
Ben jij een nieuwsgierige, sensitieve en/of complexe kameleon die lichaamswijzer wil worden? Benieuwd wat het voor jou kan betekenen? Schrijf je dan nu in voor een online proevertje 'WIJS in je LIJF' via hello@homesweetbody.com. Je vindt alle info via de toegevoegde link in comment.

02/03/2023

As a multipotential chameleon you can feel conflicted about the different – at times contradicting – parts within themselves. The confusion that it provokes can be reinforced by people who can’t make sense of you either. It is not easy to fully grasp the richness of your being. Not by yourself, nor by others.

But what if you stop resolving these contradictions? What if you allow ALL of the contradictions to co-exist within you?

Today I am a all of these and much more:
🌾 Devoted therapist
🐬 Childfree godmother
🤓 Unstoppable student
🌈 Extraverted introvert
🦓 Complicated daughter
🧠 Analytical daydreamer
❤️‍🔥 Authentic business owner
🧐 Warmhearted critic
✍️🏼Geeky writer
…

What (seemingly) contradicting treasures lie within *you*?
Please drop a line in comments. You would love to get to know you.

May you start embracing the richness of your wild, complementary colours instead of hiding or taming them for the purpose of fitting in.

28/02/2023

“I wish there was a pill to make me feel better”, some clients say.

Resolving inner conflicts takes time and effort. Two elements that go against a dominant culture that supports instant gratification. Instead of choosing for fundamental change in the long run, we end up choosing the easy route to quick satisfaction. But how do we navigate personal struggles in a fast-paced world? I wrote about it in my new blog story 'Over-The-Counter Happiness'.

Over-The-Counter Happiness “I wish there was a pill to make me feel better”, some clients say. I can hear their pain and disappointment through the vocal dissonances. Their pain is not physical nor measurable. Physical injuries need medical care, mental wounds require psychological support. In b...