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How Free-Form Ecstatic Dance Generates Holistic Wellness
Gabrielle Roth inspires and empowers conscious movement in “Sweat Your Prayers.”
In the 1970s, Roth reignited a transcendent dance movement that started with ancient Greeks. Today, nearly every major city worldwide hosts ecstatic dancers who show up for numerous wellness benefits.
Whether spiritual, emotional, physical, psychological, or social motivations, mindful movement brings people into their bodies and into psychological flow, according to 2021 research.
“Having the invitation to move however my body wants to move itself, allows me to work through stuff that just doesn’t come up generally. Exercising all helps, but moving however I need to move, makes things right. I feel like I’m able to tune into my body and unwind things. It’s more efficient than exercise for working through anything emotional that is stuck or stored,” shared Ava Maag, a local ecstatic dancer.
While I’ve been dancing for years, I got into ecstatic dance as a regular practice in the last year. More recently, I’ve been dancing nearly every day with curiosity and surrender for numerous reasons.
“Working out should be inspiring, like having a conversation with your body and spirit. It should be personal, intimate, and…
