Wednesday, September 16, 2015

"Three Hoopers in Unison"


"Three Hoopers in Unison"

Denise E Williams/Subtle Woman

Occupational Therapist/Wellness Counselor,

Healing Touch Certified Practitioner &

Psychic/Intuitive Empath & Medium 

9.17.2015


Insights from Holistic Hooping class...


Weighted Hoops
Delphine, Rebecca and I hooped with 2 to 2.5lb hoops.  The continuity of weight enabled us to merge energetically and synch our movements.


Gathering Energy
Today, we explored subtle shifts of manipulating energy.   I cued us to walk forward while resembling the energetic pattern of a man...a woman...a young girl...a toddler, then we reversed the order of our shapeshifting practice.  Upon inquiry, Delphine and Rebecca felt the shifts of energy, movement adjustment and speed modulation in response to my cues and musical dynamics of Yvonne Williams' Can't Take That Away from Me.
 

Co-Activation with Graded Control
Intuition led me to demonstrate various hip rotations: lateral, vertical, unilateral, lift-drops and figure 8's.  Again, Rebecca and Delphine applied the necessary subtleties of movement that successfully created those patterns.  Anything done outside of the hoop, can be done inside of the hoop. 

Mirror Image
Watching ourselves change in response to the learning and performance of the simple, subtle and sublime is transformative.   I softly hear the voice of Glinda, the Good Witch, from The Wiz, If You Believe...

Mobility & Musicality
Jazz rhythms pair well with hooping, most specifically, 1940's jazz standards.  Where or When, Love is Here to Stay and Falling in Love with Love--to name a few.  The use of hoop for fitness and in fusion with the rhythms of the 1940's bolsters the pairing of movement and musicality.
 
Intention, Trust and Expectation
One very important lesson is to set a positive intention, trust the process of hooping and expect success--in the moment!!!

Fun!!! Fun!!! Fun!!!
No more need be said...

Saturday, August 29, 2015

"Weighted Ball with Weighted Hoop: Elements of Physics, Physiology, Neurology, Imagery and Intention"

"Weighted Ball with Weighted Hoop: Elements of Physics, Physiology, Neurology, Imagery and Intention"

Denise E Williams/Subtle Woman

Occupational Therapist/Wellness Counselor,

Healing Touch Certified Practitioner &

Psychic/Intuitive Empath & Medium 

8.30.2015





In the circle of four women and one man, throwing and catching a 4.5lb medicine ball in a counter-clockwise, then clockwise pattern while hooping with 2.5 to 3lb hoops, this scribe's clinical observations were cited: Catching--no problem with minimal effort from each participant.  Throwing-- many incidents of dropping the hoop, because...Hmmn, why???

I observed the energetic pattern of a low-toned female.  I noticed the soft bracing posturally, cessation of respiration (holding her breath) questionable self-belief and trust issues (apparent doubt with lack of confidence) and drop in energetic amplitude, flow, dynamics (unbeknownst to the hooper and other hoopers).  There was a challenge of self-awareness/registration of sensory-energetic-physical output concomitantly. 

I read the situation and changed the energetic experience by informing/educating them in the moment.  Each participant became a caretaker to the other and assisted their catch by slowing down the energy of the ball release, thereby dropping the energetic-physiological response and connection to the hoop with its resultant drop to the floor.  Subsequently, I instructed them to discontinue caring for or about the other participant.  In other words, practice self-care...self-absorption to strengthen their intention--for now. 

In a nano-second, the hoopers' energy shifted with increased energetic amplitude, emotional assurance and motor accuracy i.e., Success with no dropping of the hoops!!! In fact, the male and I exchanged many throws and catches in a fifteen-minute session sans dropping of our hoops! Aaah, clarity...the connection between intention and emotion observed in action! 

I love Shamanic awareness and abilities--absolutely!!!

"ZUMBA FITNESS & INSTRUCTION: My Summer of Transformation"

"ZUMBA FITNESS & INSTRUCTION: My Summer of Transformation"

Denise E Williams/Subtle Woman

Occupational Therapist/Wellness Counselor,

Healing Touch Certified Practitioner &

Psychic/Intuitive Empath & Medium 

8.29.2015





"In Occupational Therapy, occupations refer to the everyday activities that people do as individuals, in families and with communities to occupy time and bring meaning and purpose to life. Occupations include things people need to want to and are expected to do."


I am an Occupational Therapist (OT) who has enjoyed the joy of learning, educating and providing therapeutic and consultative services to different populations in various settings for forty years.  This summer, I had the grand experience of adding the occupations of Zumba dancing and instruction to my portfolio of play and purpose.  In the Spanish language, the word Zumba means, "buzz like a bee and move fast." 
 
A student of Zumba seems so much easier for me than an instructor of Zumba...Follower vs. Leader!  [Same dichotomy occurs for me in swing dancing and Balboa].  The whimsical and free-spirited approach to Zumba dancing is throttled by the responsibility and multi-tasking of Zumba instruction!  Creating choreography, remembering choreography and demonstrating choreography for sixty minutes have my brain on overdrive!  With that surge in dendritic activity and quickened movements is a flurry of endorphin release and resultant excitation that makes me incredibly happy! 

The elements of musicality, beats per minute (at least 150 beats per minute) and rhythm changes add to the conglomeration of the musical and movement experience.  A room filled with women and an occasional man collectively enjoin energetically and create a palate of undulations, gesticulations and rotations.  The shared experience of circular motions, amplified music and array of dance steps create an arena of camaraderie and compassion for each other!

Choosing this new path has brought me great joy, excitement, insight and cardio challenges!!!  Oh, and did I mention a 10lb. weight loss!?!  I look forward to the unfolding story of Zumba in my life.  Seasonal Affective Disorder, you have met your match!!!😃

Monday, January 27, 2014

"Transformative Experience of a Hula Hoop''

"Transformative Experience of a Hula Hoop"

Denise E Williams/Subtle Woman

Occupational Therapist/Wellness Counselor,

Healing Touch Certified Practitioner &

Psychic/Intuitive Empath & Medium 

1.28.2014




Imagine something simple: a circle.  Now enlarge it to 40 inches and the weight of 2.5 to 5lbs.  Not quite finished--step into it or put it over your head and allow it to rest comfortably on your waist...Now, give it a whirl to the right or left.  Trust that it will stay afloat.  Merge with movement of the encircling hoop.  Enjoy the process.  Enjoy the path.  Now hear the music...time to shift.  Sub-cortically, allow the hoop to sustain the rhythm-in-round as you attune to the music.

Slowly, explore more of the experience...slide...step...march your feet to the side, forward, backwards and in a circle.  Explore the possibility of mood, music and mid-body movement.

And there you have the basic premise of Holistic Hula Hoop.  Come to class at Dance Connection 3117 N. Clybourn on Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:30PM.  Hoop to the music of the 40’s.  Swoop to swing dance music and Bloop to Blues music. 

 

Sunday, June 9, 2013

"Training My Thoughts on My Surroundings"


"Training My Thoughts on My Surroundings"

Denise E Williams/Subtle Woman

Occupational Therapist/Wellness Counselor,

Healing Touch Certified Practitioner &

Psychic/Intuitive Empath & Medium 

6.9.2013



Late this night, I drop off a friend for a delayed & well-deserved meal with a loved one at their favorite restaurant.  As I drive away, my thoughts drift to my plans for the next day.  Absently, I turn left/East and find myself driving under the “L”.  The onslaught of sound startles me.   It is disorganizing & inconsistent.  I feel my breathing quicken and with it my anxiety level heightens.  It is funny how the unexpected creates subtle changes.  And like childhood, I seek a place of solace & security.  The scene unfolds with the video capture of my experience…

I am writing this blog after viewing my video footage.  I notice a dichotomy of sound.  There is that loud rolling & clacking sound of the train’s wheels colliding with metal.  And very softly, I notice the rolling rhythm of my music selection—a 1940’s song with an easy swing tempo sung by a male.  As a psychic, I begin to take in the information of my environment.

 The grounding effect of my first chakra connected to the continuity of the rhythm and sound—it was just barely audible.  It reminded me to “pay attention” in an otherwise noisy world full of distractions and unexpected intrusions. 

The video recording indicated the slow movement of my driving underneath the train’s movement.  Suddenly, I began to drive faster. [Was this the Fight/Flight/Fright response?  Most certainly, it was!!!  I was out of there!!!]  Energetically, I aligned with the speed of the train…faster & faster. 

I steadied my intention and aligned my energy with the stability of the parallel metal rails of support. 

After writing this observation, I notice the usage of my language.  From my standpoint as a Medicine Woman, Healing Touch Practitioner and psychic, I recognize the importance of being steady i.e. having the intention of a balanced root chakra.  This particular chakra indicates security, safety and survival for well-being.  Aligning my energy is imperative in my people-filled life.   Often, I have to purge the effects of expected or unexpected encounters with others in my life.  This, too, is a daily requirement for my health & well-being.  The presentation of parallel lines overhead feels like the framing, structure & assurance that were created for me since the introduction of parallel lines in kindergarten & their ultimate provision for the foundation of organization in my life.

The feel of the train morphed into the harried & frenetic pace of an imagined roller coaster that triggered the memory of my childhood fear, while being haphazardly [at least it felt that way] strapped into a seat of a roller coaster.  Hmn…my anxiety is heightened.

As I continue to drive, I get a sense of being propelled through a tunnel.  Where or when does it end?  I register more anxiety…Yikes!   My issues of control are emerging!  My control is ruptured by the pace & duration of this event!  The length of this drive is controlling my nightly excursion to my home…Whew!!! 

Finally, the cacophonous sound is silenced & replaced with the soundless open space.  Aaaaah!  Calmly, I drive home…

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

My recent interest in videotaping various scenes of nature & movement has enhanced my observational skills.  Now that I have coupled it with the writing of my blog, I have created two words: videog (video attachment to a blog) and videogger (one who blogs with usage of metaphysical & spiritual language about the content of the video capture). 

Please enjoy the videog of this videogger. 

 

REFERENCES

Sensory Integration and the Child, by A. Jean Ayres, PhD

True Balance, by Sonia Choquette, PhD

Shaman, Healer, Sage, Alberto Villoldo, PhD