The Power & Importance of Stillness

Have you ever watched an incredible dance piece with the artists creating the most interesting and dynamic movements only to pause and hold still? Personally, I love seeing stillness incorporated into dance because it gives such power to a piece of work. You can see everything when a dancer is still - from emotions, to their breath, to your own response. There is even a sense of curiosity about what might come next. What if it wasn’t that different in dance therapy? What if stillness allows us to see more and process more within the therapeutic environment?
Self-Awareness
​Our world moves quickly and we are processing far more information than we ever have before. From social media, to on-demand news, to streaming services, to advertisements everywhere we look - we are constantly taking in so much information that it can be challenging to also hold awareness of ourselves and our inner worlds. In dance therapy, we are often invited to begin sessions by tuning into our physical selves - whether that be through breath, body scans, or something similar. This space enables us to check in with ourselves - what is our energy like? How do we feel emotionally? What thoughts are present?  This stillness is so valuable for building awareness of our mind, body and emotions, especially whilst engaging in the therapeutic process and working through challenging experiences. Stillness allows us the space to connect with ourselves and better understand our broad range of physical, mental and emotional responses. 
Emotions
Dance and dance therapy are incredibly vulnerable. We use our bodies to convey emotion and tell stories, and to process experiences we have had. Whilst there are so many benefits to moving in dance therapy, stillness can provide us with the space to sit with, and process, our emotions in a safe environment before “moving” on. Is this uncomfortable? It can be! But it can also be so important for allowing that part of ourselves to feel seen and heard and understood. Stillness can make it harder to ignore or push our emotions aside and gives us an opportunity to understand what they are trying to tell us. 
Mind-Body Alignment
One of my favourite parts of dance therapy is the mind-body connection it brings. Our bodies hold so much wisdom and tuning into this allows us to cognitively make sense of our experiences and the world around us. A great way to listen to our bodies is to practice stillness and this is often a teaching in meditation. Stillness does not have to look like sitting on the ground with your eyes closed - it can also look like standing upright after moving and paying attention to bodily sensations, thoughts or emotions you notice. It can look like consciously focusing on your breathing patterns. It can look like lying down in a comfy position and observing your thoughts, feelings and physical sensations. However you choose to practice stillness is great and holds so many benefits for supporting self-connection.
Letting Go
​There is something so freeing and yet so grounding about letting go of a feeling, thought or memory that is weighing you down. If you’ve ever tried progressive muscle relaxation, you may know what I mean! You notice a sense of calm, reduced muscle tension, easier breathing, a clear mind and a lightness in your energy. This is another way stillness can be used in dance therapy to support wellbeing. You may hold a pose that represents a thought, emotion, or situation, and really focus your attention to the tension you feel as your muscles work to keep your position. Then, you drop the position. What do you notice after you drop the position? Perhaps something similar to progressive muscle relaxation. The stillness after letting go can be magical - especially if you’ve been carrying a heavy emotional burden. 
Stillness in dance therapy is not just the absence of movement. It is an important practice that allows us to better understand ourselves, process our emotions, reconnect mind and body, and let go of what has been holding us back. Finding the right balance between movement and stillness is unique and, like any therapeutic modality, should be a collaboration between the participant/s and a qualified practitioner. Whilst this blog only covered a few brief benefits of stillness in dance therapy, there will be many more out there and I would love to hear what you have gained from finding your own stillness!   ​

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