Saturday, December 04, 2010

women of wonder: my 6th mission - rediscover your balance.

My 6th mission for the rediscover your wonder project was to "rediscover your balance and take a dance class".

I love dance. I love watching dance. I have never, in my life, taken a dance class. The idea scared the you-know-what out of me. While I think as I grow older I am more comfortable in my own skin, I am still very self-conscious of how I appear to others. What if I am terrible? What if I don't pick up how to move? And what if I look ridiculous?

After some thought, I came to the conclusion that the type of dance I was really interested in learning was belly dance. Not because it was something that would teach me how to move provocatively, but because it was something that I felt would help me be more comfortable with my body (curves and all). Lucky for me, there is a world class belly dance studio in the town where I live, and I was able to get a private lesson with the fabulous Joharah, who just got back from teaching for two weeks in Egypt. She was kind enough to shoot some video of me demonstrating what she taught me in our first lesson:


I enjoyed this class so much that Joharah signed me up for her beginner series in the new year. I am still self-conscious (hello floor to ceiling mirrors everywhere you turn), but I think continuing on and learning more will help me feel more empowered about my feminine curves, and certainly more in touch with what my body is capable of. Of all the missions I have accomplished so far - rock climbing, life drawing, writing a children's book, taking a photography class, and going on a quilting trek, this is the one that really connected my mind with my body.  Also - holy hannah! - what a fantastic few months this has been!

Thank you WonderBra for presenting me with this opportunity!  How often do you get the chance or make the time to explore a bunch of things you have always had on your "to do list...one day"?  Any one of these missions would have been terrific.  To have completed so much in only a few months is a gift.  There is only one mission left, and I can honestly say that I am both looking forward to it, and dreading it, because once it is done, this project will be over.  That's not to say I won't keep working on rediscovering myself, but this project has forced me outside my comfort zone in a way that I don't think I would have on my own accord.  I hope it encourages you to go try something you have always wanted to try.  Seriously - take an evening and go learn how to deep dive or blow glass or learn how to throw darts...whatever your "one day" list is - make it happen.

While you're at it - check out WonderBra.ca to see what the other Women of Wonder are up to!

4 comments:

  1. Vanessa2:02 a.m.

    Wow! You look amazing, and so confident! That must have been so much fun!! I've been taking Samba lessons, and I think there are muscles that we north Americans have never used in our lives so it takes a bit of coaxing, but once your body understands what to do it opens up all sorts of possibilities. So cool! Good for you for doing this - belly dancing is hot!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous3:25 a.m.

    Funny, on mondays, before my salsa class, is a belly dance class. And just watching them practice made me want to sign up in the new year. Good for you. You look totally adorable (I know, that's not the word we're after) concentrating on your moves. What's amazing is you can SEE how you're connecting with your body in that video.

    Good for you! Keep it going.

    Joanne

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous12:47 p.m.

    Bravo! I think Cammie should learn this too!

    mb

    ReplyDelete
  4. mb - Joharah wants to offer a kid's class - she just hasn't had enough enrolment for it yet. I think Cam wold love it too!

    ReplyDelete