In Ballet, the term développé means to "unfold," or open outwards in a “developing movement.” In this episode we sit down with Shelley Washington where she gracefully unfolds different aspects of her journey.

When you are in Shelley’s presence you feel you are sitting with a star. Someone who is deeply reflective and her essence shines through in every way. We were also love crushed by her in Mysore, India, even more so, because of her enormous heart and generosity towards us.

In this episode, we spoke about what it means to be a star and how her remarkable career unfolded quite organically. Shelley touches upon how her parents and grandparents made conscious personal sacrifices to create opportunities for their children, knowing that growing up in America would mean being marginalized as an African Americans. She shares with us some of her experiences growing up in a military family in American during the 1950’s and 60’s and the incredible grit she cultivated, which sent her soaring onward to receive some of the highest accolades one can attain within the world of dance. She also shares with us how the practice of Ashtanga yoga shifted the way she now teaches choreography to other dancers.

At the age of 45, after a stunning career as a world class modern dancer, where she would train for 8-10 hours a day, Shelley accidentally ends up in a yoga class, and has to find an entirely new way to relate to her body and approach this new physical discipline. How her practice has evolved over the past 20 years will surprise you!

Read more about Shelley Washington on my website: HARMONYSLATER.COM

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Opening and closing music compliments of my dear friend teaching Ashtanga yoga in Eindhoven, Nick Evans, with his band “dawnSong” from the album “for Morgan.” Listen to the entire album on Spotify - Simply Click Here.

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