The dancing mindfulness practice is an expressive arts experience open to everyone regardless of previous experience with dance, yoga, music, meditation, or spiritual practice. Originally developed as a community class, the dancing mindfulness practice continues to evolve beyond the class-only format. Dancing Mindfulness is a channel for accessing mindful awareness that can be practiced individually or with a group, in the confines of a space like a yoga studio or treatment center, or in the daily arenas of your life. Dancing mindfulness honors the invitation to “come as you are.” Dancing Mindfulness classes range from 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the venue and purpose for the class, and various forms of music are incorporated to create a welcoming, integrated container. In a typical Dancing Mindfulness class, participants will be able to realize the rhythmic qualities of their breathing and heartbeats; to discover the healing, lyrical properties in even the most simple movements; and quite literally, to be able to express their own, personal story through dance. Many practitioners of dancing mindfulness also experience a deepened connection to other outlets of creativity through their practice, including, but not limited to writing, music making, art making, and photography. If you are the kind of person who likes to dance like no one is watching, or at least would like to try, the dancing mindfulness experience is for you! If you live in an area where no live classes are available, consider connecting with the practice through one of our remote channels: reading and working through the 2015 book, watching and dancing the 2013 live video, or linking up with us in our Facebook community forum.
Jamie Marich's friends and colleagues describe her as a renaissance woman. A dancer, musician, performer, writer, recovery ambassador, clinical counselor, expressive arts therapist and Reiki Master Teacher, Marich unites these elements of her experience to achieve an ultimate mission: bringing the art and joy of healing to others. Marich began her career in human services working in humanitarian aid in Bosnia-Hercegovina from 2000-2003. She travels internationally speaking on topics related to EMDR therapy, trauma, addiction, and mindfulness while maintaining a private practice (Mindful Ohio) in her home base of Warren, OH. She is the developer of the Dancing Mindfulness practice and the co-creator of the Yoga Unchained approach to trauma-informed yoga. Jamie Marich is the author of EMDR Made Simple: 4 Approaches for Using EMDR with Every Client (2011), Trauma and the Twelve Steps: A Complete Guide for Recovery Enhancement (2012), and Trauma Made Simple: Competencies in Assessment, Treatment, and Working with Survivors. Her new book, Dancing Mindfulness: A Creative Path to Healing and Transformation released in 2015 with Skylight Paths Publishing. She is currently working on EMDR Therapy & Mindfulness for Trauma-Focused Care along with colleague Dr. Stephen Dansiger, scheduled for release with Springer Publishing in 2017. Marich’s writing and work on Dancing Mindfulness was featured in the New York Times in 2017. In 2015, she had the privilege of delivering a TEDx talk on trauma (available on YouTube), and she made her first appearance on the popular Recovery 2.0 Conference. Additionally, NALGAP: The Association of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Addiction Professionals and Their Allies awarded Jamie with their esteemed President’s Award in 2015 for her work as an LGBT advocate.