This myth is particularly damaging as not all psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists and counsellors have been trained in a brain-wise approach that is informed by the latest research in the neurobiology of trauma. This is why some therapists make it explicit that they are trauma-informed i.e. they know that trauma and traumatic stress are stored in the nervous system and that talking about it without using a body based approach can do more harm than good. 

I remember being surprised when I first started working with clients because we never actually spoke about the trauma or what may or may not have happened in the past that is still having an impact on their present moment experience. Instead we talk/ move/ draw about relationships, work issues and pretty much anything else that is brought into the session or arises out of the therapeutic process. In those days I was working intuitively and learning to trust the process which basically involves creating a space in which a client can tune into the answers that they need and find their own personal medicine. However, any doubts I may have had about the process (or my intuitive abilities) faded as I began to get some further training and professional development in trauma-informed approaches to working with traumatised children and adults.

In every training I attend, they advocate a bottom-up approach which basically means start with the body i.e. you have to get clients into their body, to feel their body, to breathe and move as part of the treatment for trauma. Of course this approach seems radical to everyone else in the room (mostly talk therapists/ counsellors/ psychologists) except for me and all the other dance movement therapists, somatic and body based practitioners out there!!  

So once more, here was a reminder of one of my core beliefs and motivating forces in my life.

Movement is medicine and sometimes (more often than not!) moving the body is much more beneficial than talking!

Another thought that occurs to me as I write this is that our natural tendency to NOT talk about our most painful and traumatic life experiences is probably the best natural protective mechanism that prevents us from constantly re-traumatising ourselves (we do this in many other ways instead!)......Once you do decide to embark on the healing journey, it is essential to find the right person to work with and remember that you should never feel like you HAVE to talk about what happened to you.....

On the other hand, once you have processed and integrated your experience, you may well choose to share your story to inspire others- if you flick through my blog posts you will find one about a client who wrote a book about her healing journey. 

Here are some links if you are interested to read more: 

Stress: It's Not in Your Head, It's in Your Nervous System 
Is You Therapist "Trauma-Informed"? (And Why It Matters)
​Healing From Trauma Step By Step

Although my clients may not have walked through the door intending to work through their trauma, they were nonetheless inexplicably drawn to working with me without necessarily knowing the reason why.....

Perhaps that's you?
If you feel a strange inner call or are curious to know more about working with me (in person or online), please feel free to contact me for a free consultation.

Today I facilitated two very different sessions at two residential aged care facilities on either sides of Melbourne...

The first was chair yoga for seniors with a group who I have been working with for many years now and know the resident at this particular facility well. It was a full house including one gentleman in a wheelchair who usually doesn't attend who is known to be inappropriate with female staff (I have been warned to beware of him). When I checked in with him at the start of the session he said 'You and me can make sweet music together'. His eyes were darting around the room and he looked quite agitated and fidgety as he said it. I responded with a gentle laugh saying we were all going to make music together with our breathing and stretching and moving our bodies......
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We proceeded with the yoga session which has a general structure but it's not a pre-planned sequence so I that I can meet the specific needs of the group as they present themselves in the moment. Today one of the participants said she was having trouble staying awake (which is often the case due to the medications that they are on) and so I chose a more dynamic opening and warm up and generally found that big full body movements were the most engaging. Despite the many interruptions of residents being brought in/ taken out and nurses coming in to take temperature/ give medication, everyone started to really get into the session (this is not always the case as most of the residents have dementia and other mental &v physical health issues). At one point I invited the group to do a modification of the Lion pose and demonstrated breathing in and the sticking my tongue all the way out on the exhale with a loud growl to release anger......to my surprise everyone started to do it- now imagine a room full of 80-100 years old doing this......

There was a palpable shift in the room, the temperature changed, the mood, energy and focus of the group had completely transformed. After the closing meditation when I did a final check in with the same chap who was being cheeky at the start he looked deeply into my eyes for a long time with his own eyes wide open and said.....

'I'm lonely'
​
He was so present. There was a sense in that moment that he was aware of himself, his inner experience, his external circumstances, his physical condition.....
And his loneliness.

'But it's better when you're here'

I just stayed there with him, making eye contact and placed my hands on his hands.
We stayed for what seemed like a long time in silence gazing into each others hearts and touching each others soul.

I finally responded softly- 'We are all here with you'
He couldn't hear what I said so repeated it very loudly and firmly. 

I had to pack up and leave as I had another job on the other side of town so drove home, had a bite to eat, put on my make up and costume and headed off to a new facility to facilitate a multicultural dance experience with group of about 30-40!!

This was a completely different session, setting, group and facility and although I had never met the residents, I love that I can use the magic of movement, music and dance to form deep connections that seem to instantly arise and we move and play together. I began by handing out coloured bellydance belts to everyone (men and women) encouraging each person to choose their preferred colour. I began the session with a mini performance (to warm up the crown ;) ) and proceeded to learn some Bollywood moves, followed by Italian dance and finishing off with Greek dance (the Zorba!).

During the Italian dance part of the session, we handed out tambourines, hand bells and maracas- it's amazing how difficult it is to keep your hands still with one of these in your hands!!

After learning a modified version of the Tarantella (traditional Italian dance), I explained to the group that now we would do some improvisation and invited each participant to come up with a movement or a rhythm that we would all copy. I started to move around the group to stand in front of each person when it was their turn so I could mirror their movements and show the rest of the group so that we could all follow the same rhythm and gestures. It was a large group and just as I got to the very end I found myself in front of an old man, leaning back in his chair, listlessly shaking his hand bell.
I began to mirror his movement matching his energy and intensity.
We made eye contact.
I began to make my movement/ sound with the hand bell more deliberate and with a definite rhythm.
Now he started to match the strength and timing of my movements
I began to increase the speed
So did he
He suddenly leaned forward and began shaking his handbell directly in front of my chest
His eyes became shiny as he looked at me with more intensity....
I matched his fist pumping/ shaking with my hand in front of his chest
A cheeky smile started turning up one side of his face 
We continued to shake our fists at each other
We started to laugh
It had turned into a bit of a competition but we didn't really care who won....we had a moment of pure connection.....

As I later found out, his daughter was sitting next to him watching this whole interaction. I met her on my way out in the car park and she told me about her father who was turning 100 years old this year. He had moved in 18 months ago but was not really interested in things like bingo which he hated. He used to be a farmer and lived by himself (his wife died 38 years ago) until a couple of years ago when he suggested to his daughter that perhaps it was time for him to move into a facility. Unfortunately he has not been getting out of his room much but after our session when they returned to his room he said he quite enjoyed that and asked his daughter if she had her car. When she said yes he told her to go home as he was going to 'see what else they had on today'. 

This conversation brought new meaning to the moment I shared with the gentleman who was shaking his fist at me with a gleeful look in his eye.....

These are the moments when the inner spark is ignited and the light returns to the eyes where once there was no one home that have become the highlight of my work in aged care with the elderly and those battling with different stages of dementia. Both of these sessions were not traditional dance movement therapy sessions as that is not what the job title is and yet that is exactly what I am doing using the body and movement to communicate and connect on a non verbal level to explore their experience and provide movement interventions. I love reminding my clients and their families that no matter how unwell or lifeless or depressed we are, we still have the capacity for joyful embodied experience. 

What is the therapeutic potential of joyful experience?

That is a question that has been in my mind for a long time now and perhaps one day we will be able to study this and provide empirical evidence so that we can then all be convinced and start to cultivate a culture where we prioritise joy.

In the meantime, I'm gonna spread that shit liberally everywhere I go and continue to experience delicious moments of presence and smile at the surprised faces of staff and family members as their loved one experiences the joy of being in the body and living in the present moment 💓

I am a clear channel for divine love
I am divine love manifest
A clear pathway exists between mind, body, heart and spirit, for love to flow as it must
Always in service, always in love, for love and by love
Clear words, clear thoughts, clear expressions and clear actions of pure love
Love is discrening but without judgement
Love is compassion in action
Through the earth mother, sky father, water spirits and fire dancers
A symphony of souls journeying together
Gratitude always overflowing for the blessings of existence and abundance
For breath, connection, expression and dance

Anjali Sengupta
​1/12/2016
​www.embracingspirit.net

I come from a long line of gifted women
Mothers, sisters, grandmothers, daughters and aunts
Who never recognised their gifts
But instead carried guilt and shame

Their forsaken jewels of light and dark are embedded in my flesh and bones,
Buried deep in the earth of my body, flowing in the water of my blood, floating through the air of each breath and burning brightly in the the fire of my spirit
Thank you for these gifts- thank you for all of it
For speaking through me, through the vessel of my body and through song, dance, magic and art
And teaching me through the language of pain, suffering and loneliness

Mothers, sisters, grandmothers, daughters and aunts
You are valued and your unique gifts enrich each moment
For all that you are, all that you have been and all that you will be
All that you bring into this world and all that you take with you when you leave
For all that you bring to those around you, your family, your children, community and kin
I see you, I hear you, I feel you and I honour you

Through the mother

29th November 2016
Anjali Sengupta
​www.embracingspirit.net

​

"The first regular therapist I saw a lady who was an art and movement therapy. She was refried to me by a woman I met at a festival as someone who I could learn dance from. Believe it or not, I initially contacted her to join her Bollywood dance sessions. I always loved dancing and wanted to bring some form of creativity into my life. When I met her, I was instantly drawn to her commanding, regal and wise energy, and found myself speaking to her about femininity and that I felt quite unfeminine, particularly with the environment I worked in.

What started as an innocent conversation unfolded into a beautiful journey through which I connected with my inner artist and dancer, She explained the concept of mind, body, and importance of a connected dialogue between the two! I started to paint after I saw her and began creating a lot of art which also became one of my main outlets for healing. I now create at least two or three painting every month, if not more! The paintings are bolder, livelier and tell the story of my healing and carry deep vibrations of love. I meditate and create these paintings often in a deep trance allowing my subconscious to express, to release, and heal itself, This process is unexplainably satisfying and deeply healing, and I am ever grateful to this Angel for guiding my to my creative temple. I saw her regularly every week for two months, after which I met her a few times when I felt there was something to shift"

These are excerpts from Deepthi's book 'I AM' that describes her experience of our therapeutic journey together and how she was able to reconnect with the body, breath, creativity and dance.

As a creative arts and movement psychotherapist, I work with the 4 dimensions of human experience- the physical, emotional, psychological/ mental and spiritual levels of existence. Often clients are disconnected from one or more of these aspects of human experience and once we are able to connect the dots, life does not necessarily become less challenging but we are able to deal with life's challenges in an embodied and empowered way as well as tap into our creativity, intuitive guidance and the wisdom of the body. 

As a psychotherapist, it is uncommon to receive direct feedback of a client's subjective experience of therapy. So you can imagine my surprise and gratitude to hear about the impact the therapeutic journey had on a clients' life! It was an honour to work with this dynamic and talented woman who went on to not only write a book about her healing journey but more importantly found the way back to herself and back to loving all that she is as woman.

Here is the link to Deepthi's e-book 'I AM', if you would like to read the whole story- I AM by Deepthi Amin

What do you need to connect with more in your life?
What dimension of your experience are you most disconnected from/ challenged by?- physical/ emotional/ psychological/ spiritual? 
Are you ready to reclaim your body, breath, creativity and dance as vital and life giving tools that connect you to your inner wisdom and higher self?

If any of this resonates or you feel a strange and unexplainable pull, perhaps it is time for you to embark on your own healing journey to reconnect with who your truly are, beyond your baggage, wounds and trauma…..

(and now as I notice my discomfort at self promotion, a quick plug) 
So call me (0401 334 738) or email me (info@embracingspirit.net) and let us journey together….

Or just a take some time to breathe, connect, express and dance!!

Warm Regards,

Anjali Sengupta
Embracing Spirit: Creative Arts and Movement Psychotherapy
Aatma Dance Company
Breathe: Connect: Express: Dance!

www.embracingspirit.net

LOST LITTLE GIRL

Lost little girl
No one to comfort you
Filling the time with things to do

Lost little girl
You will be ok
Just make it through another day

Lost little girl
Finding her own way
Through song and dance and art and play

Lost little girl I hear you now
Rest your head against my brow
For you were never on your own
Through all your wanderings you have grown

Lost little girl feel my embrace
Life is a journey not a race
The time is now to just be
Instead of searching for eternity
For that was then and this is now
Together, we will figure it out somehow

~ Anjali Sengupta 
29th August 2013

Many of us have grown up in a world where there is a split between mind- body- heart and spirit. We often experience this as an inner conflict and internal separation, as disconnection and fragmentation. We add to this fragmentation by repressing/ hiding/ avoiding/ denying parts of ourself that we are not comfortable with or that society deems as inappropriate (which is more often the reason why we are not comfortable with these parts in the first place!). This leaves the inner word in a state of constant tension and internal pressure which builds and builds until it finds the point of least resistance to come exploding out into the outer world either in the form of physical, emotional, psychological or spiritual distress. 

As a young, rebellious teenager, I was so in my body which meant that I was often in a state of overwhelm without any tools to manage or make sense of what I was experiencing. What I did not know at the time was that I was also carrying all these unexpressed emotions and words, not just my own but of my family and ancestors, all the wounds of my forefathers that had been passed down to me through my blood and bones, through my genes in my physical body but also through the particular patterns of relating and responding to the world.

As excruciating as it was to be in my body, my body was also my primary vehicle of experiencing joy and ecstatic, blissful states. It was the site for the expression of painful and often overwhelming emotional states but it was also my saviour and salvation. I can see so clearly now how my body saved my life. LISTENING TO MY BODY is what saved me. Following the signs and signals, even when it is beyond all logic and reason is the key. Where once this was an unconscious and intuitive process, the journey that has since unfolded has given me a bag of tools, but none more essential and vital as the gift of MY BODY and the reverence that comes from being guided by my very own and unique Master/ Guru/ Sacred Guide.

I feel this split from the body so deeply in myself and in others, and hear the call to come back home to the body. Are you listening to your body? What message does it have for you today? Have you been listening or is it starting to get louder and louder in your inner world? Has it reached a point where the message is now being sent across the mind- body barrier to manifest as dis-ease? That tension in your neck/ back- are you listening to what it has to say? 

Well then it's about time to act on it.

Be with your body. 
Take some time to listen.
Act on the wisdom of your sacred guide….

Breathe: Connect: Express : Create

Anjali Sengupta
Embracing Spirit
www.embracingspirit.net