Jelena Marda RPC.

I'm not surprised that my professional life is mostly about the 'authentic self' now. I grew up with a narcissistic parent and we lived on 3 continents, immigrated every 3 years and moved many times in between. I was not familiar with the feeling of home, internally or externally but I was determined to find it. I think of Dance Divine as being the flower that grew out of that wound.

In my late teens the pain levels were pretty high. I came up with the analogy that I felt like a 'satellite', while others seemed to be 'planets'. I felt like I revolved anxiously around others while they seemed to hold a some kind of contented centre and seemed capable of attracting things effortlessly. I concluded that if I had more 'mass', I too would have have 'gravitational pull'. So I declared that I would become 'a planet' and knew I somehow needed to 'build mass'. No, I did not know what I meant by that at the time, but I intuitively understood it to be true. Years later Learned that the Authentic Self is also called the Core Self, or Solid Self...and that this was the 'mass' I had been working on.

I started by looking at what I loved. Fortunately there have been some consistent Loves in my life; music, design, psychology. Unfortunately, I tortured myself well into my 30's with the presumption that 'one must choose something' (as in, one thing). Thank God I let that go; I wasn't born to do one thing!io.

In a way, that was also my obstacle to becoming a DJ. I wanted to DJ but I could not picture myself playing in a club because I'd have to play only one genre! I always wanted to be able to play everything from Classical to House in one set but I had thus far not encountered any real-life examples of that being done.

Fast forward to 2006, when my friend dragged me (yes, I was resistant!) to a 5 Rhythms class where I experienced a powerful convergence of 3 alignments; 1.) I found an embodiment practice where I could continue exploring the Authentic Self; 2.) I found a real-life example of what I had been wanting to do as a DJ; 3.) it cemented my area of specialization as a counsellor.io.

When I reflect on what has consistently caused my worst pain in life, I can always trace it back to a disconnection from my Authentic Self or Source. I am convinced that the body is our greatest ally in this regard and I have experienced and facilitated the dynamic relationship between the body, mind and spirit. No matter how much I may be fascinated by psychology and the intellect, I have never been as impressed, mystified, educated, healed and humbled as when the body, heart and spirit are invited to speak to us, through us.

Therapeutically speaking, I believe that the greatest thing we can do for each other (and ourselves) is to listen, deeply, patiently, with courage and curiosity. When we do this, it is as though we are providing a sacred, safe, empty container that we can pour ourselves into, so that we may discover our Selves. This is the 'container' that I hold for you at Dance Divine, through conscious dance and breathwork, and in my counselling practice. It is based on the fundamental belief that what we need is inside and the best thing we can do is learn how to get out of our own way so that we can access that inner wisdom.

I have been transformed by the practice of breathwork and embodiment, by the experience of finding my purpose, by having what I am offering be received by the community.

It is an honour to hold space for our collective journeys.

See you on the dance floor.

Jelena.