Put Us All Together, We Make a Mighty Roar

Glancing all around me as my arms lifted to the familiar music, I saw nothing but joy. Bliss. Presence. Open-hearted love was radiating from every woman, like the sunbeams trickling through the windows into this Victorian Ballroom in which we danced. Together, we danced for freedom.

Affectionately called the "House of Friendship", this stately home built in 1867 turned Cedar Falls Women's Club and event venue was a work of art. But even more so was the magic that happens within it every Monday evening.

As a girl I was constantly in motion. My mother used to joke that I could never walk from point A to point B... I had to skip, leap, or tumble. From dancing my tiny self around beside our old farm house, to my gymnastics being my favorite youth activity, to turning on their favorite tunes and whirling around with our two children, movement is much like writing for me. It's a powerful way for me to process deep emotions and reconnect my body, mind, and spirit as one.

Dancing sets me free from my overthinking mind, focusing on the music and sensations within my body. But this Aya Dance Meditation Class has brought about so much more.

I remember shifting from that free-spirited little girl to an inwardly anxious one, as I discovered that where one may hope to find acceptance often lurks criticism and unkindness. Instead of being encouraged to work together as one, girls were pitted against each other. That child-like joy was traded for competition that we never signed up for. Suddenly, we had expectations to uphold and people to please. Constant messages about our bodies being imperfect as they are seeped into our consciousness. We were told we were "too much" of this or "not enough" of that... leading to many of us to mental health issues, self-harm, and fearful restriction of our inner light. Young women traded sisterhood for this illusion that we had to figure it all out on our own, and endure our pain in silence.

But not here.

Here in this circle, I found acceptance. I saw the same open-hearted love that I wished to dwell in mirrored back to me in abundance. As a holistic healer and writer, I'm used to holding space for others to feel and heal. It's something different entirely to surrender yourself to the same level of care.

We wander in from all walks of life, carrying all sorts of burdens that begin to melt away as we hug familiar faces hello and meet new friends. By the time Dani guides us through two intentional movements that begin and end every class, we're settling in. And as the music begins, we're guided through simple movements that invite us to explore our bodies and feelings. We regain our confidence as we strut to empowering lyrics. We laugh at ourselves over a missed clap or box step foot placement. We meet one another's eyes in mutual joy or get lost in our own as we sway with eyes closed.

I believe unlearning is as important as learning. As adults, we must continually recognize patterns we've internalized that are no longer beneficial to our well-being. We have the power to reprogram our own mind... to shift that inner critical voice to one of self-love and release limiting ideas and beliefs.

These days it's hard to see many in the public eye, falsely considered "leaders", choosing to grasp tightly to those harmful beliefs. The belief that "I" is more important than "we". The belief that a particular group of humans somehow holds more value than another. The belief that human rights are something that can just be taken away, and that hate is more powerful than love.

As we move in Aya, these ideas are not even present. Within this place of safety and connection there is the awareness that we are welcome, just as we are. We are guided by a woman oozing love into her every movement, who makes every single human who comes through the doors feel welcome and celebrated. There is no ego, no pretense, only acceptance of one another and the self. We move with peaceful power and connect over the many human experiences we share.

The dance is made more beautiful by doing so together. By kicking a powerful "hiyahh" in unison, or melting to the floor in peaceful stretches during "dessert", we are individuals united with the awareness of how meaningful this practice is.

And practice we need, for it takes practice to release those limiting beliefs and retrain our brain toward acceptance, healing connection, and FREEDOM.

As I rehearsed for the Naked Truths Poetry & Music Show, the lyrics danced to many times moved through me in a new way. I was preparing to get vulnerable... sharing heartfelt poetry and singing a meaningful Rising Appalachia song danced to in this group we call Aya Family.

For sometimes, regardless of how many people my books reach or how loudly I sing, my voice feels tiny.

The hatred happening within our country and our world feels big and loud.

But love doesn't have to be loud to shine through the noise. Love can echo into the abyss of darkness with the powerful roar of many hearts. The world can be changed with a ripple of unfade-able light and unstoppable joy, ever expanding and moving in wider circles.

My voice feels tiny, and I'm sure so does yours.

But put us all together, we make a mighty roar.

Love & Peace,

Ashley Kay

To join us in dance and local community or to discover how you can join in Aya from anywhere, click here. For your tickets to Naked Truths: Poetry & Music from the heart, March 7th at 7:00pm, held at the Oster Regent Theatre in Cedar Falls, IA, click here. Photos incredibly captured and shared by Cat Mccombs of Cicada Video & Photography. As always, thank you for your continued support.