How music & movement became my safe space (and how it can transform your family) - by Audua Ogilvie
My steps are ordered, that includes my dance steps…
One of the best steps I made in 2024 was connecting with Sophie, aka Wave Maker, Founder and Visionary of Bright Emotions CIC!
Sophie signposted me to Movement & Music is Medicine (MIM) and in 2024 I became a certified MIM Instructor!
Becoming a MIM Instructor has/is bringing so much meaning and purpose to some of the trials and challenges I have faced throughout my life.
Today I live with complex PTSD and a chunk of that stems from childhood emotional neglect/abuse. Now my parents gave me their best but the reality is - 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦.
Emotional regulation is one of the most important tools parents can instil in their children. However, adults who were not taught how to manage their own emotions and triggers can often struggle as parents and fall into a cycle of emotional abuse/neglect.
At the start of 2023 my third child, Erica, sadly passed away. I didn't understand it at the time but I just couldn't ignore my body's alarm bells to just play music and "dance it out". Although my daughter never breathed a breath, I love to meditate on how she lovingly reconnected me with the 𝗣𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗙 𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘, a holistic wellbeing tool that I had unknowingly used to help me move through challenging emotions that overwhelmed me growing up, and that I had unconsciously given up once I became a mum/wife 10 years earlier.
A year later, Sophie introduced me to MIM, a neuroscience backed method that is designed to release acute, chronic and post-traumatic stress to music genres that are relatable to so many. It was then I realised that those 'alarm bells' were my body's wisdom, guiding me on how to self-soothe and regulate my nervous system.
Our bodies are wonderfully designed to feel and move through emotions. Dance transcends words, it is a great way to express feelings and nurture emotional growth. After years of talking therapy, dance has become my safe place to feel, clarify and move through emotions, old and new, that I have no words for.
Trauma and stress can literally dampen us and dancing has the power to make us come alive, aka feel bright again!
Through dance, I have learnt to trust that there is no danger or harm in feeling my true, authentic emotions, and in fact the real danger/harm is in unexpressed emotion! On the flip side, even though ‘positive’ feelings are by their nature enjoyable to feel, we have also be socialised not to express and feel them too. Sadly, so many folks are uncomfortable and afraid of the expression of joy.
Anyhow, I share all that to say this:
The evolution of dance can be traced across civilisations and generations and I am fully convinced that moving to music to 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, is a God-given tool for our wellbeing!
Managing stress doesn't always have to be super serious or hard work, it can be FUN.
For me, 'Bright Emotions' doesn't mean you feel good, happy and regulated all the time, it means you 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 ALL your feelings abundantly clear!
This is imperative to the human experience because if we choose to shut the door on sorrow, anger, disappointment, grief etc, then unintentionally we also shut the door on connection, creativity, peace, joy etc.
Children who grow up with emotional literacy become emotionally literate adults, and we need emotionally literate people in this stressful, overwhelming and upside down world! We cannot protect children from pain or uncomfortable emotions but we can help them develop the emotional literacy and resilience to meet it.
That is why I have partnered with Bright Emotions CIC to empower adults and families to build emotional resilience and literacy because dancing is an underestimated and free tool to regulate one’s nervous system! And that's just one major benefit!
Together, Sophie and I share the same passion for empowering 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 to grow, evolve, and to challenge and recreate intergenerational cycles.
So in 2025, I dare you AND me to dance more!
Dare to have the courage to meet and feel ALL your feelings, knowing that whatever comes up for you is legitimate but also does not define you.
Dare to take back your joy and don't be afraid of how it looks...
Want to know more about MIM?
You can find me here under "Book a Class", alongside other awesome MIM Instructors.
Join my Facebook group or find me on Instagram: @theaudua
#dancelikenooneiswatching
#lifeisbetterwhenyoudance
#comealivein2025
#feelyourfeelings
#brightemotions