50. Moving Differently for Better Mental Health with Erica Hornthal

Description

Oftentimes when people hear the word movement, they think of exercise. Yet the way we move our bodies – ranging from how we stretch to how much space we take up in a room – might reveal places where we're stuck in other areas of life.

Today I connect with Erica Hornthal, a licensed clinical professional counselor, board-certified dance/movement therapist and founder of Chicago Dance Therapy. We discuss her book: "Body Aware: Rediscover Your Mind-Body Connection, Stop Feeling Stuck, and Improve Your Mental Health with Simple Movement Practices."

Erica shares what dance movement therapy is and what it is not, how to listen to your body's signals, and practices for boosting mind/body connection and speaking your body's language. We also talk about how movement can bring about change in our minds and why it's so good for us to move our bodies in different ways.

Erica and I would love to know how you are moving your body today. Share today's episode on Instagram and be sure to tag us - @the.therapist.who.moves.you and @whitneywoman!

Here's what to look forward to in today's episode:

-What dance movement therapy is and what it is not

-A picture of what a person might experience in dance movement therapy

-Relearning a connection with our body and why so many of us have lost it

-How to listen to your body's signals

-Speaking your body's language

-Something you can do to help alleviate anxiety and bring awareness to your body

-How movement can bring about change in our minds

-Why it's so good for us to move our bodies in different ways

-Erica's wish for all bodies

-The difference between structural and mental health

-An example of a dance movement practice you can try today