Heading back into the dance studio mindfully

Aaaaah, it’s that time of year: “back-to-school” aisles overflowing, Halloween decorations at the ready, and the leaves beginning to turn. For dancers, that means back to the studio (often, even if they’ve danced over the summer, it’s a more consistent and busier schedule). It’s time to settle into new technique classes and get ready for Nutcracker auditions.

Fall can be a busy time, with many new responsibilities and fresh excitement in the air. In the Ayurvedic tradition, fall is a vata season: full of movement, shifts, and changes. That considered, it’s important to balance our energy – so that we can set ourselves up for success for the season to come. To do that, let’s address what the body, mind, and spirit need when heading into a new studio year.

What does your mind need?

As noted, fall can come with many new responsibilities. Your schedule could be totally different than it was last year, with each of those commitments requiring different things and perhaps coming with their own dynamics. Those vata qualities – like the air, ever-moving and sometimes frenetic – can leave us feeling like our brains need some clarity and organization: when is that new class, what do I need for it, what can I expect there?

There are a few approaches that can help there, depending upon how your brain works. Detailed written schedules can be quite clarifying. That can be at the level of the month, the week, the day, even the hour – however you might need to break it down. One thing that helps me is to write out the day the night before (for example, my Tuesday on a Monday night), in hourly blocks: this from 10-1, that from 1-3, this from 3-6 and so on and so forth for the rest of the day. I also write out to-do and commitments for the coming week on a Sunday night.

That helps me because I am a linguistic and kinesthetic learner. If you might be more of a visual learner, you could organize such schedules with color-coding, illustrations/cartoons, symbols applying to different areas of things you do or regular commitments, et cetera et cetera. The sky’s the limit: use your creativity and intuition to find what works for you. Then, as best you can, be consistent with it. Notice how you feel more organized, on task, and peaceful from there!

What does your body need?

Summer can be a great time for our bodies to really release and rest! Yet we also can’t just hop right back into the physical demands of a full dance schedule without preparation. Leading up to your season opener, it can be helpful to ease in through cross-training – yoga, running, walking, Pilates: whatever resonates with you and addresses your fitness needs.

Our bodies (and our brains) also might need to get back into choreography mode again, so that we can be at our best when it comes to picking up movement vocabulary. Taking online tutorials or drop-in classes can help there. Do remember that, despite these best efforts to get our bodies back in the game (so to speak), muscle fatigue can set in – because the physical demands at hand are more than we’ve recently placed on our body.

Remember potassium, hydration, sufficient protein, and foam-rolling-out! That muscle fatigue can be unpleasant to experience, but – as your body acclimates to the physical demands of your full dance schedule – it’ll get better. But do remember to continue rolling, hydrating, and fueling yourself in a way that your body needs, considering your active dancing schedule!

What does your spirit need?

All of that new energy and freneticism can light us up, but it can also be a lot for our spirits to handle. In order to feel balanced, we may very well might need to balance all of that activity with slower, more grounded activities – Restorative yoga, reading a book, slow and mindful walks in nature: again, whatever resonates with you and you notice helps you feel good.

Social support can be very beneficial here as well: whether tips, perspective, or simply listening. Your support system can include friends (dancing or non-dancing), family members, dance peers, teachers (academic and/or dance), coaches, administrators: anyone who you trust, can confide in, and listens well. With balanced activities to soothe your soul and a network in your corner, in addition to getting your brain and body ready to conquer your upcoming season, it may just be your best one yet. Go get it! As always, I’m rooting for you.

What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts – through social media (see “Contact” page) or via email (mindfulmovers@gmail.com). And I always share with all possible non-judgment and loving-kindness. Happy dancing, happy moving, happy taking care of yourself as you make wonderful art!

All photos courtesy of Canva