Embrace Your Weird

Founder of Sol Vida Worldwide at Meow Wolf's Temple Tantrum,

Do you ever feel like you're a big weirdo?

Being too much?

Your feelings are too much?

I do... kind of all of the time.

In particularly, this happened to me recently when I was leading a Sol Vida Sunset Pop Up Class at Cheesman Park.

I was in a weird mood. A conflicted mood. Frankly, I didn't even feel like dancing that day. It was like bricks in my body and I really didn't know how I was going to get out of that mood and become the guide and leader that I love to be.

Then it hit me. I had just gotten back from my 40th year birthday celebration at a cabin in the woods with my BFF's. One of my lifelong friends had made me a special playlist for my birthday and we listened to it a lot--she gets me. 

There was one song that I found particularly haunting. Like it was getting under my skin. 

I thought it was so weird.

But somehow it was so absolutely soothing.

That song was doing something for me.

So, fast forward to sunset at Cheesman Park, I'm having dance teacher block when I remember the song!

That weirdo, kind of creepy, crawling under my skin song.

The kind of song that compels me to choreograph something to it.

I immediately looked it up and was relieved at last when it propelled me to get out of my mind and into my body.

It made me want to dance.

And it made me want to dance "weird."

It made me dance differently than any other choreography I've done in maybe ever. In fact this dance started to feel like a compilation of all the dances I've ever studied, all the dances that the young people have taught me...

It felt futuristic. It felt ethereal. I managed to mix up Modern, animation, with a twist of what I'd call deconstructed Hip Hop.

(Here's a link to the dance...) 

But guess what?

I was afraid.

I was afraid that one was going to be able to relate to this dance.

I was afraid my clients were gonna hear this song and see this dance and be like, "What do you want me to do?" 

I was sure it was too far out. Way too weird.

And then something happened...

I introduced the song and choreography and had a completely opposite reaction of what I thought was going to happen.

The people who got to learn this dance...

LOVED IT.

They loved how it felt, how it helped them release their feelings.

In fact, one of my clients was feeling the same type of way as me--confused, at a crossroads, and searching for the answers… That's really what this choreography became to be.

I tell you this story, because it's about the power of overcoming our fear.

It's about doing the thing that we think is weird or too much.

Because you probably need to express it and the world may love what you have to express even more than you can possibly think.

So in an effort to help you express yourself with bold audacity, here are a few ways to help you tap into your inner weird:

1. Do the thing that you are afraid to do. Whatever that gut feeling is that you're having inside and won't go away, do that thing. If it makes you scared, but you know it's calling you, do it. Note: We are talking about personal self-expression in the body, so be safe.


2. Your Feelings are Your Feelings... Express Them. You are a beautiful individual whose emotions are valid. They are your truth. So whether they are amazing feelings or down right crappy feelings, it is imperative that they do not stay stuck in your body. You have to let them out. If you are confused, sad, or just downright ecstatic, express that! It is crucial to give yourself a healthy outlet to live with your emotions--the body is such an important part of this release. So Dance your feelings, choreograph your feelings, or just improvise and dance your feelings however feels right for you. 


3. Do Not Worry About What You Look Like. Okay, okay, we get it--judgement. Self-judgement, self-hatred, self-awareness, self-consciousness. We all have a bit or a lot of it. Please do not let these feelings hold you back from doing what is calling you. I have so many students of the young variety and the old who consistently tell me that they are afraid to show up to a dance experience because of how they will look and more importantly what I hear when people tell me this, is I'm afraid of myself.  Honey's please stop those voices now. The only thing you need to worry about is the type of environment you are putting yourself in when you choose to express yourself. Be in a safe space with leaders who will guide you to your highest self and light. Guides who will celebrate you being all of you.


All right dear ones, please embrace your weird.

You can check me out talking about and demonstrating all this weird over here.

You can also check out other people doing my "weird" choreography and making it theirs over here. 

Facts are, you are actually not that weird.

Being a human is weird.

So, let's all accept the fact that we are weird and start expressing those truths.

If you want some assistance doing this work, you can start with 
FREE Download: 10 Ways to Get Free in Your Body

I love you long time,

Axé (ah-shay / i feel the spirit /it is so)
Founder/Director
Sol Vida Worldwide

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