Hello, this is Blythe Stephens: A Blythe Coach dance education and life coaching to move you through life with balance, grace, and power. Today I want to share a foundational awareness that can transform our dancing and our lives. I’m talking about how to get into a grounded state of being.

All of our dance technique, conditioning, and yoga work does develop both body and mind, but no matter how physically fit we become, we won’t truly have a strong foundation (and therefore strong performance), without attending to our underlying state of being in real time. This is the ultimate foundation for our work, so let’s look at HOW we’re showing up and the impact on our dancing and quality of life.

Have you noticed on days when you’re preoccupied with your thoughts and distracted from feeling your body’s connection to the floor, that your equilibrium feels off and you struggle to balance? For me, balancing goes best when I am relaxed yet engaged and fully aware of my connection to the floor, sensing the support I receive.

Feeling gravity, noticing where my weight falls as well as where I lift up against it’s pull, helps me come into the present moment and just play with my movement. Equipoise becomes almost effortless.

In the book Teaching People, Not Poses Jay Fields states, “Grounding is about feeling supported in your body, as opposed to the floaty, diffused feeling you get when you’re not grounded. To feel grounded, put your attention into what supports you--your feet on the ground, your butt on your chair. Try to give your weight to what supports you, or imagine sending roots down into the ground.”

I like this image of rootedness like a tree or a plant reaching down into the earth and spreading out. An alternative image that I also enjoy, is to imagine pouring your weight like pancake batter onto the griddle. The batter slowly spreads across the surface in all directions, solidifying as it cooks. A delicious visual, and I encourage you to come up with whatever mental picture serves you!

I invite you to be present in your body, aware of your base of support, and grounded as you practice foot and ankle exercises as well as when you come to standing for dance class or to move into your daily life. Care for any discomfort, be mindful of your needs, get support from others as needed. Notice what is supporting you, right now. Mindfulness is an ongoing practice, so don’t beat yourself up when you fail to do this perfectly.

Bonus grounding practices: set a daily reminder on your phone to check in with that which supports you by feeling your feet or the seat beneath you in that moment. You may also wish to consider all of your resources, reflect on and write about who and what supports you, and go ahead and ask for the support you need.

I hope this helps you to find your foundation and a grounded state of being. Stay tuned for further ideas to take into your dancing practice and the world!

DISCLAIMER: Although the exercises I recommend are suitable for dancers at a beginning through advanced level, and I do my best to keep things moderate and safe, please consult your healthcare practitioner before beginning any health or fitness regimen! Always be responsible for your body's well-being while exercising- if you get injured, that will take time out of your dancing and moving, and we don't want that if it can be avoided.

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