Moving with Love, Moving with Tears: My YogaDance Experience

I didn’t know that I would be shedding tears that day. I arrived at YogaDance like a package from the outside world: neatly contained and composed, with all of my true emotions tucked away in my depths. The heartbreak, grief, and feelings of loss were quietly held under the surface.

Then we began moving, and all that changed.

As I planted my feet firmly on the floor and swayed my arms into the air, allowing them to descend in a forward fold and moving my hips freely, something awakened. As my body moved, my heart and emotions began to crack open.

In the course of a mere hour, leader Toni Bergins took us apart and put us back together again. She was a force, a whirlwind, a joyful storm commanding the room. Like a wizard with her cane, commanding us to swirl around her, she was so powerful in her joyful exuberance and authenticity. Witnessing her inspire an entire room full of people to move on the floor, to meow, and to swarm around a pretend fire was a vision to behold.

My heart was full seeing elder women dance fluidly and enjoy being in their bodies. I will be them soon enough, and it was freeing to witness them moving with love and having fun. I felt just like them, and they me. At one point, four women gathered in a group hug. One woman was experiencing a strong emotion. The group held her and swayed. I watched with soft eyes.

As stringed music swooned in the air around us, I cradled my heart in my arms and felt an overwhelming sense of oneness with the group. Cleansing tears streamed down my cheeks as I danced and held my heart like I’ve never done before. It struck me how unbelievably fortunate I am to be alive. I was awash with gratitude for this body, for this moment, for this community. For Kripalu.

Like good therapy, YogaDance cracked my heart open and transformed me. I left glowing, invigorated, and replenished, having released some old emotional energy that needed dislodging. More than anything, I left tender. 

YogaDance is offered every day at noon at Kripalu. No matter the program or retreat you experience, transformation awaits.