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What’s the ‘third thing’ in your life? If you’re like most people, you’ve got your home life, you’ve got your work life, so what completes the picture?

Somewhere I was reading about how one of the keys to happiness is having a ‘third thing’ in your life that you can regular dip into that’s not home or work and that puts you in a flow state where you can totally lose track of time and nourish yourself. Bonus points if it makes you sweat, and double bonus if it includes community.

For many of you on this list I’m guessing the answer is your dance practice. For some it’s drumming, (see this weeks spotlight below) and for me, as many of you probably know, it comes down to the moving meditation of spinning vinyl records. I can drop into a deep flow state in a matter of minutes with my hands on the decks.

What many people don’t realize is that mixing vinyl is very much of a somatic process. Each turntable has a ‘pitch control’ that adjusts the speed so the beats can match, and the platter that spins the records is driven by magnets, so it’s actually freewheeling. That’s why both of my hands are busy touching each platter, slightly slowing one down by dragging my finger on the edge, or speeding one up by giving the record a little rotational push around the center.

To do it right, my eyes are half closed, and I’m listening very carefully in one ear of the headphones while my body and other ear are taking in the sound of the room. For me it’s an exercise in left/right brain integration that opens up the auditory/imaginative part of my consciousness and provides a shortcut to nirvana.

I mention this because I’m bubbling up with gratitude after DJ’ing at the Santa Barbara Dance Tribe’s weekly Sunday gathering. I’m so thankful to get to connect with several good friends down here, and bring the best of my ’third thing’ to an energetic and appreciative community. Making the most out of the magnetic magic of music is something I absolutely adore sharing with people.

Friday night we had one of my favorite all-star vinyl DJ’s at Dance Jam in Berkeley. Michelangelo Battaglia (aka Mike Bee) has earned a heroes spot in the hearts of our dancers, and this week he took it to another level of amazingness. He has the natural advantage of 25 years experience as the dance music buyer for Amoeba Records in San Francisco, and now owns Vinyl Dreams, the Bay Area’s premiere DJ specialty shop.

He closed out the high-energy end of the evening with an amazing track by Paul McCartney and Wings called “Goodnight Tonight” and after peeking at the label spinning on the turntable I was able to track down a mint copy at a record store in Santa Barbara, making my trip a happy effort in connecting the dots!

Trusting that my tale of passion inspires you to have a great week. I would love to teach more people the practice of mixing vinyl, but not knowing how to spin records isn’t exactly a problem people wake up in the morning lamenting.

On the other hand, movement leaders who need help filling their dance floors and workshops have a real need for my help, as do single dads and moms who are navigating the post-separation journey to peaceful co-parenting.

Putting out the call to coach or consult with people in those shoes has been very rewarding, and if that’s you or someone you know, simply reply or put them in touch and I’m happy to serve.

Until next week, may your life be flowing and your cup overflowing!

M+

DANCE FIRST MEMBER SPOTLIGHT :: ZORINA WOLF & WHOLE PERSON DRUMMING
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As a working writer and aspiring author, I’m always so happy and grateful when one of our Dance First members succeeds at publishing! Zorina Wolf of Village Heartbeat fame is a longtime friend and Dance First member since way back to the beginning of the Conscious Dancer days.

Her new book “Whole Person Drumming” is an enormous contribution that belongs on the bookshelf of every somatic leader and conscious dancer out there. An extremely well produced and professional volume, this work distills her lifetime of rhythm and drumming experience into an easy-to-use and practical entry into the world of raising consciousness through the beat of the drum.

More than a simple spiritual practice, drumming is an essential path to health and wellness, neuro-fitness,and community building. She demystifies the art of leading rhythm circles, and makes accessible the art of connection through the most ancient art of drumming.

This inspiring volume is worth it for the stories and insights alone, combined with practical exercises and methods for getting your own rhythm practice off the ground it becomes a starting point to understanding and conveying the value of the beat in the lives of the young, old, and everyone in between.

Grab your copy of Whole Person Drumming on Amazon, or ask your local independent bookseller to stock it for the betterment of your community.

And hats off to you Zorina for inspiring us all with this amazing book that’s raising awareness for the benefits of drumming and rhythm across the board!

Keep rocking and spreading the love!!

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