Embodied Groove

This Saturday, 5/16, I’ll be leading Embodied Groove to kick off Divided Sky Foundation’s Music on the Mountain festival day.

This collaboration is deeply meaningful in many ways.

First, this is a sober festival to celebrate and fundraise for Divided Sky, Trey Anastasio’s rehabilitation center in Ludlow, Vermont.

Embodied Groove was birthed from my journey into learning how to dance like everyone is watching without needing substances to soften defenses and give that liquid courage I used to think I needed to move freely and expressively... even as a dancer.

But this kind of dance is not about performance.

It’s about feeling, sensation, and connection.

And that can feel vulnerable, especially as a human who’s been through “stuff” that makes it difficult to move freely and be witnessed authentically by others.

While I am not personally sober, I have traversed my own journey with substances and my relationship with them.

And I am deeply grateful for Trey’s sobriety. 🙏🏼

It was through Phish’s music that I found my embodied groove and learned how to express my unique essence through movement to music as it moves through me.

Now I get to support others in theirs. 💃🏻💞

Embodied Groove starts promptly at 12:15pm and leads right into the Trombone Shorty Foundation band’s second line.

Not sure who’s brilliant idea it was to pair Embodied Groove with a second line (participatory & celebratory crowd involved parade to an incredible brass band) to get the day started, but 👏🏼, it is 👌.

I hope you’ll come celebrate the joy in sobriety and the power of being present with us at Divided Sky’s BIG Weekend.

Tickets are still on sale and are very reasonable. You just need to get yourself there!

Last weekend I led Embodied Groove® at a 50th birthday party. 🥳

Afterward, a man came up to me and thanked me for helping him feel so loose and free in his body.

He said, “I don’t really like to play, but I like to have fun. And that was fun!”

He came up to thank me again later as he was leaving, which meant a lot.

He mentioned that he’s a physical therapist.

That struck me.

He’s someone who knows all the “right” ways to move the body, but doesn’t always get the opportunity to experience freedom and joy through the body.

That’s something Embodied Groove intentionally creates space for.

Another woman came up to me who had recently had hip surgery.

She shared how careful she’s been with her movement and how much she appreciated the mindful body-awareness and natural flow of the experience.

She was able to move in a way that felt good for her body, within the guided instruction.

Also, intentionally part of the Embodied Groove method.

Two different people, two different bodies, two completely different starting points.

Both finding freedom in movement. 💃🏻🎶🕺

If your body is craving some fun, joyful movement easily adaptable to your body’s needs, I’ll be guiding Embodied Groove on Sunday, 4/25 at the Gilman Street Fair in Berkeley, CA.

It’s a free, all-ages community event, and I’ll be leading two sessions:

1:00pm
3:15pm

We’ll be at the Dance Corner at the corner of 6th Street and Camelia Street for the “Groove Lessons.” 😉

The next VIP Embodied Groove® Ladies Retreat to Phish at Dick’s, which was never even announced publicly, is now sold out!!

It is clear that ladies are craving spaces to be free, connect deeply, dance fully, and have everything taken care of for YOU.

When I had the idea of creating a retreat around a multi night Phish run, it sounded like a dream.

Vibey houses, cool women, my favorite band and some of my favorite things…. Embodied Groove, daily yoga, spa day, self-care, and feminine magic… all the yessses!! 💞

I feel like the luckiest woman in the world to get to host these retreats and I am humbled and honored that this one sold out before I could even tell you about it!

If you don’t want to miss out on hearing about the next one, please make sure you are on the First Dibs List.

You can sign up through the link in comments.

🤞🏼 for West Coast Fall dates and we may have one more retreat this year! 💖

Last Friday night was an absolute honor and pleasure.

I had the opportunity to kick off the American Beauties show with an Embodied Groove activation in celebration of International Women’s Day. 💃🏻🌟

There was so much intention and energy poured into making the night meaningful.

An altar at the front of the stage honoring Bob Weir and Donna Jean Godchaux. 🌹

A space created where song, dance, community, ritual, and even grief all have a place. 🔥

An electricity created when the divine feminine is invited in fully and freely. ⚡️

And then… the floor filled.

People there ready to be invited in and engaged from the very beginning.

I couldn’t see individual faces because of the lights from on stage but I could feel the collective energy! 💞

That’s what it’s all about!

The reciprocal flow. The giving and receiving. The coming together as one.

From the feedback I heard afterwards, it is clear… people are ready to be invited in.

They want to feel included and involved.

And providing an opportunity to warm-up and be in their bodies right from the start helps them feel “looser,” “better,” “ready for the show.” “Relaxed and energized.”

Deep gratitude to American Beauties for creating such a powerful night and for inviting me to be part of it. 🙏🏼💗

You are all such beautiful, tremendously talented badasses!

A big shout out to Sunshine F Becker, Anna Elva, and Jen Rend for creating the music for our movement warmup!

To Gabriel Barkin for capturing these pics.

And to everyone who showed up early to embody your groove! 🕺✨

For everyone reading this, if you are not following American Beauties, you definitely should! Don’t miss out on their next show.

Embodied Groove is so excited to be returning to Camp Deep End 10 this year!! 💃🏻✨

It is an honor to share the main stage with these incredible bands, and to have some on this lineup join in for Embodied Groove, creating the jammiest, grooviest, yummiest flow for you to blissfully bring into your body and soul! 🕺🌟

If you are looking for:
🏕️ A family-friendly festival where adults and kids can equally rage & play
💞 A romantic weekend festival that is more chic than rustic with real bathrooms, outdoor showers under the redwoods, and ranges of sleeping options
🤗 A solo adventure where you will be welcomed with open arms and make friends easily

In one of the most beautiful places on Earth, under the Mendocino coast redwoods…

This is for you!! 🙌🏼

Tickets on sale this Thursday 3/19 at 12pm PT.

More info and 🎟️ 🔗 in comments and at campnavarro.com/deep-end-home.

If your body is craving free, joyful movement and a feeling of liberation…

I invite you to join us on Fridays at Ashkenaz for Embodied Groove. 💃✨

It’s more structured than Ecstatic Dance but less structured than a class with choreography.

Sometimes there’s simple moves to help promote movement and release in body parts that can become stiff and where energy likes to create stangnancy.

There’s a full body warmup, lots of opportunities to move joyfully and freely (with my guidance, not just music). Then we end with mindful stretching and I help promote a healthy relationship between you and your body. 💞

One of the big differences people notice in my classes is I like to mention why we’re doing what we’re doing. That seems really helpful to bring it all home.

For a minute I wondered if this class would continue but after dedicated months it continues to grow. And I keep having fun!

So we’ll keep dancing! 💖

Fridays, 11am - 12pm
Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center, Berkeley, CA
All abilities and bodies welcome
Drop-in or sign up for a 5 class pass

Dm me with any questions.