“Fiercely non-competitive dance aerobics” for soma and psyche
What is your relationship with your body? For many, if not all, of us, nurturing and comfortable relationships with our bodies are works in progress. Social norms and definitions of beauty, chronic pain or illness, aging, gender dysphoria, sexuality, and trauma can complicate how we feel in and about the soma, and it’s hard to imagine anyone living this life without some discomfort, disapproval, dissociation, or disgust when it comes to their body. And yet, those of us fortunate to have had moments of oneness with our bodies, know how healing and empowering this acceptance and comfort can be. I am curious about the different ways to cultivate intimacy and presence with/within our bodies as a part of psychological wellbeing. Because of my work with individuals who have experienced bodily trauma and/or gender dysphoria, I am especially curious about cultivating somatic presence for folks who may be triggered by their relationships with their bodies.
Today I want to share with you all one approach to this that I’ve seen work for so many: Pony Sweat. Yes, Pony Sweat Dance Aerobics. (For the record, I am not receiving any incentive to offer this suggestion, beyond my own interest in witnessing people develop/access creative ways to be in their bodies.) I’ve long thought physical movement was powerful. Before psychology, I had a short stint as a club and party DJ, and I loved being a part of music that made people move. Movement is an opportunity to be aware of - and sometimes celebrate and take delight in - what your body can do. I’m not sure how I stumbled upon Pony Sweat many years ago. It’s a dance aerobics class taught in Los Angeles, developed by Emilia Richeson-Valiente and further evolved with a cohort of “Ponies.” During the 2020 pandemic, Emilia and Michella Rivera-Gravage transformed Pony Sweat into a virtual experience, with live class offerings of various formats and recorded routines. Let me be clear: this is not your parents’ 1980s dance aerobics class, though those influences are clearly there. In this practice, which they emphasize is a practice (as in: not a finished product, always inherently and wonderfully imperfect), the core values include non-competitiveness, liberation for all bodies, gentleness with ourselves, and the signature “fuck the moves,” meaning you follow the instructor when you want to and can, and you don’t follow when you don’t want to and/or aren’t able to. I have frequently seen classmates mention that a disability or fatigue or injury meant they did something differently or just participated for part of it, and that practice of listening to one’s body and meeting your own needs is encouraged!
The primary reason I mention this here, on my psychotherapy website is because even though many of us know the psychological benefits of movement, there are so many obstacles to that, especially if we are already struggling with relating to or being in our bodies. Here’s an excerpt from Pony Sweat’s core values: “We acknowledge that dance/fitness spaces can bring up shame, embarrassment and fear. Our mission is to create a safe container and ritual where we can work through those experiences in order to feel more empowered/grounded/at home in our bodies.” (The full set of core values is worth reading, which you can do by clicking here.) So I specifically offer this to those of you who have felt triggered or unwelcomed in movement- or fitness-oriented spaces. I trust that this will feel different, and I suspect you will find that it feels better - maybe even good - and more accessible.
Another piece of the Pony Sweat experience that is optional but offers its own or perhaps intersecting healing is the community. Some of the Pony Sweat formats have an optional camera-on segment where classmates can dance together on Zoom if they choose to. In a year like this, when we have adapted to smaller lives and rarely experience the sensation of being in a group and in community, seeing and being seen by a dozen or so fiercely-non-competitively-dancing humans can feel like much needed connection and togetherness. Many folks keep their cameras off or do the recorded courses for “private Pony Sweating” which is also welcomed.
I’m so curious, and yes - optimistic, about what Pony Sweat or other radically anti-perfectionistic and body-positive/liberated movement practices can do for you and your relationship between psyche and soma. My only disclaimer is that if you a do a live Pony Sweat class, you may end up dancing with me! Happy Ponying.
An in-person Pony Sweat class from “the before.”