Our alignment, breath and how we move through the world reflect a lot about us. Expressive movement therapy offers an opportunity to explore what traditional talk therapy can't. Movement facilitates the ability to deeply process via the entire human organism--body, mind, emotion and spirit.  We learn to listen fully, connect with our bodies' feedback and deeply plant seeds of change. Embodied exploration and expression using the creative process is a comprehensive and integrative approach to cultivating a more mindful and resilient life.  Whether we are baking a cake, performing an ordinary function, such as driving or experiencing an extremely stressful or life-altering situation, conscious movement work allows us to more and more easily access a relaxed, open level of consciousness, where we are active and receptive at the same time. We can listen more fully, remain proactive and creatively problem-solve with increased ease. 

Expressive movement therapy utilizes relaxation, breath work and simple, authentic movement, along with stream of consciousness writing and drawing with oil pastels (images can be abstract or primitive-- no drawing ability needed) along with some speaking. Additionally, no movement experience is needed. In this intellectualized culture, we tend to operate as though we are heads on sticks. However, we are entire organisms. Intellectually understanding a problem or pattern, without recognizing how our reactions to our experiences are manifesting in our bodies misses the opportunity to be fully aware of how we respond. Movement gives us resources to live more fully and freely.