A bit of personal history...

Bellydance was an unexpected catalyst to my spiritual awakening.

 

I was in a very controlling, abusive marriage, my brain was functioning in survival mode.  When I attended my first bellydance class, the music and movement was like an electric current bringing my body and soul back to life.  It was a feeling of such joy and belonging.  Dancing was giving me self-esteem, and a belief that I deserved to do what made me happy!

My new dance community family guided me through turbulent times and a nasty divorce.  Their support was invaluable, and teaching gave me a new sense of purpose.  I managed the Mississauga branch of Freddy’s Dance Academy for 10 years.   I spent a month in Surfer’s Paradise, Australia where my daughter attended university, and gave a bellydance workshop through another teacher I’d met at Delilah’s Hawaii retreat.

 

Having my own home studio was a dream come true, and through all the stress of trying to run a business, I persevered as I LOVED what I was doing.  I was following my passion, grateful for every experience.

After 8 years of great memories, I was forced to sell my home…I couldn’t make the business work anymore.  Looking forward to a new chapter in my life, I attended a meditation retreat in Maya Tulum, Mexico hosted by Davidji, in November 2014.

 

December 26, I almost collapsed, unable to breathe, barely making it to the ER.  They kept me for a week, blood clots in my leg and lungs!  Since I’d read Anita Moorjani’s book ‘Dying To Be Me’, I felt no fear, realizing ‘it wasn’t my time’.   I wanted to quickly recover so I could start teaching again (I’d rented a room in a small studio).   I was taking yoga at a fitness centre, but tripped leaving the class…breaking my right wrist and left ankle!   The Universe was sending a clear message to STOP everything and take time to heal.  My wrist has a plate and 7 pins…but is fully flexible (great surgeon!)

My body hadn’t completely recovered though…I continued to have blood problems that the doctors couldn’t diagnose.  Over the next couple of years I had 17 blood transfusions and numerous iron infusions.  Multitudes of tests were done, including swallowing a camera and having a tortuous bone marrow extraction.   One doctor said I’d probably need to have blood transfusions for the rest of my life!

I intuitively knew that decades of stress had finally taken it’s toll, and it was time for me to allow my body to do it’s own healing.  Anita’s book ‘Dying To Be Me’ gave me the knowledge and faith to follow that path.  I did my very best to release all fear and stress from my life.  Cocooning during the ‘great Lockdown’ was a perfect time to nurture and heal.