New York: JourneyDance
A couple of weekends ago, when I went up to Kripalu in the Berkshires for some yogic R&R, I took a yoga-inspired dance class called JourneyDance.
It was in the DansKinetics time slot, but this wasn't my momma's yoga-twirling. I usually just go for the live drums and groove in a corner. But the drums started thumping in the cavernous main hall, and the teacher had us roll around on the floor. And I was like, "Well, I can warm up with the class." And then she had us start moving like water, and I thought, "Ok, I'll be water for just a sec, then I'll go to the corner."
But man, if this sistah of a teacher, Toni Bergins, didn't have me up and moving with her--and about 50 other people--the whole time. Usually I'm kind of cheezed out by new-agey, "love yourself" classes. But this woman was my age-ish and sounded like a happy, spiritual Ani DiFranco (with a dash of Michael Franti). She moved like a hip-hop yogini with enormous energy, totally comfortable in her own skin. The girl channeled some seriously inspiring shakti. And her self-love message? So not cheezy.
Soon I was bouncing up and down, yelling to random partners as instructed: "You are so creative!" and "Well thank you very much!" "You are so wiiild," "You are so sensuous!" "Well thank you very much!" We whooped and built imaginary shamanic fires, burned excess psychic gunk, and danced around them, all to the drums, which were beating in my cells. Then she chilled us all the way back down to the earth.
Whew. Amazing. I caught her again last weekend when she taught at Atmananda (nee Centerpoint) in NYC. Totally different vibe at night, with a much smaller crowd, and no drums, just some funky non-live music. But equally deep and cleansing and fun. She's on tour and will be coming back to NYC for another event on June 7th. (It isn't listed on the site yet, so just drop her an email). You must go. Really.
It's not cheap (like $50 for two hours). But if you think of it like therapy, which it is, but more fun and better exercise, then it's a freaking bargain. Go, dance. Feel alive. She's also giving teacher training in her method at Kripalu in June, in case you get converted and want to spread the high-vibing, heartful, booty-thumping word.
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Comments
i'm so funky you're so funky.......this woman is beyond..i am no dancer...actually i didn't dance at my own wedding.....i was at KRIPALU for trying to get my Parkinson's Disease a bit more under control( IF THAT IS AN OXYMORON,MY APOLOGIES) I was waiting for lunch and heard this drumlike beat thing. i looked down and noticed my body starting to "GROOVE" to this beat.......how strange i thought.....my friends coerced me into going to the class just to hear the music....the doors were closed. i am shy .my feet were rooted ,my mind was trying to flee( I ALSO SUFFER FROM DEBILITATING PANIC )but somehow i managed to squirm inside the doors where there was a primitive fire ceremony going on with drums and sweaty dancers in all shapes and sizes....some contortionists.....i just shut my eyes and let the music in......soon i found myself rising off the floor.......i was terrified and elated at the same time....i opened my eyes to find i was in the middle of this ceremony people flying around me like an outa control" RING AROUND A ROSY" A TOTALLY LAME DESCRIPTION,BUT I WAS WORDLESS ..... IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST MONUMENTAL MOMENTS IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. IT LET ME FREE MYSELF OF THE PARKINSON'S DISEASE /THIS GAL TONI SO GETS IT...IT'S HARD NOT TO BE A GROUPIE!!!!
Posted by: m-l segal | May 18, 2008 11:39 AM
Thanks so much for the blog about Toni, I was lucky enough to participate in one of her events at Yoga Journey in White Plains, (a vinyasa studio, grreat place, great teachers, great vibe) Toni is amazing and inspiring. He helped me leave my ego at the door and just experience my self, the time the global conciousness. It was amazing!
Thanks!
Posted by: Carly | May 30, 2008 12:01 AM