Dance-Enhanced Body Awareness

I always knew I had shorter than average legs because my pants were always too long. But it wasn’t until I started dancing seriously in college that I was made aware again and again that I have a longer than average torso. It’s been interesting to hear people’s mixed responses when I mention it. Some people envy it; few people recognize the “hassles” it creates…

PROS:

- I can eat more because there’s more room for my stomach to expand
- Weight fluctuations are less apparent because it has more room to distribute along my torso
- I’m really good at body rolls because I have a longer spine to roll haha
- I’m also really good at back bends
- I have no problem reaching beyond my toes and tying my shoes without bending my knees
- Having a good posture is accentuated and makes me look more graceful

CONS:

- A lot of shirts are too short (thus immodest) on me
- Most pants, even in petite sizes, are too long on me and I have to spend extra money to get them tailored
- In close partner dances (i.e. waltz & rumba), it’s sometimes hard to follow/keep up with the guy because I have proportionally shorter legs & longer torso
- When I wear pants, I look shorter because my leg lines are shorter
- When sitting down, I often have to choose between having good posture and being a head above everyone, or slouching and being at eye level
- When cuddling with a guy (not that I do this often), I sometimes have to slide way down on the couch to rest my head on his shoulder

There are advantages and disadvantages to every body type.

Everybody has physical insecurities in this body-obsessed world. But as Dieter F. Uchtdorf said about humility, we shouldn't think less of our bodies but maybe think less about our bodies - especially its flaws. We can't expect to reach perfection, physically or spiritually, in this mortal life.

We need to remember that we are creations of our Heavenly Father, who loves us.

"God created man in his own image...male and female created he them. And God blessed them." (Genesis 1:26-28)

I have been thinking alot about bodies and health lately because I was sick for almost 2 months and was unable to do many of the things I needed and wanted to do. As I'm regaining my health, I have a deeper appreciation for all the things my body can do, as beautifully described by Russell M. Nelson, who is a doctor by profession.

Although we are merely "dust of the earth" (Genesis 3:19), our bodies are temples of God that house our spirits:

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?...for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

No matter how many things we'd like to "fix" about our bodies, we should never hate or torture our bodies with ill treatments and unnatural practices. Because contrary to popular belief, our bodies are not really our own.

"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

God welcomes us to use our bodies to enjoy pleasures like a heartfelt embrace, delicious food, invigorating exercise, a joyful dance... As Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley wholeheartedly encouraged -

"In all of living have much of fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."

But like so many other things - time, money, talents - God gave us our bodies to exercise righteous agency and stewardship. He expects us to serve a neighbor, acquire skills and abilities, earn an honest living, raise a righteous happy family, be upstanding citizens...

"Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1)

I am so grateful for my body and all it can do, despite its sometimes inconvenient proportions and infirmities.

***
Other blog posts of mine on health & body image:
Humbled While Healing
Unfulfilled Dance Desires
My Beauty Recipe
"Recapturing Beauty" Essay Contest
"Good Hair" - Infuriating and Irrational Beauty Standards

My Brother's Keeper

I had an unexpectedly beautiful experience last week :)

I was running late on a Friday morning and speed-walking through the subway station. As I approached the top of the escalator, I noticed the guy in front of me had a blind stick. He was a rather tall and large man, middle-aged, with a heavy coat. He tapped the stick in front of him until he felt the moving steps and got on. I felt the need to slow down and stay behind him, in case he fell or needed help. But I also felt restrained from reaching out to him unless he really needed help, because I know people with disabilities like to maintain a sense of independence, self-sufficiency, and dignity.

When we reached the bottom of the escalator and stepped onto the platform, I watched intently as he tapped his blind stick until he felt the bumpy tiles along the edge of the platform. I'm sure he's ridden the subway many times before on his own but I was still anxious that he may accidentally fall onto the tracks. I stayed a few yards away from him instead of going to my usual spot further down the platform. I felt God endow me with a measure of His love for this man, and I thought, "I am my brother's keeper" (Genesis 4:9).

A train approached (not mine), and I wondered how he would know it was his train or how he would find the door and get on in time. The train came to a stop but the driver didn't announce the destination as usual, and he obviously couldn't see it on the train's electronic display. The doors opened and he frantically asked, "What train is this?" to anyone who would hear him. A few people passed him and entered the train.

I said, "It's the yellow line". He didn't respond but started tapping his stick to find a door. The floor lights started blinking, signaling the train was about to leave. I knew he wouldn't get there in time on his own, so I grabbed him by the arm and said, "The door's over here" as I quickly guided him towards the door and practically shoved him onto train just before the door closed.

I'm sure he verified with some of the people on board that he was on his intended train. I watched him calm down and grab hold of one of the rails as the train sped away. I uttered a silent prayer that he would make his way to his destination safely and in time, that he would continue to be self-sufficient and be treated with respect.

I was SO HAPPY and immediately posted on Facebook that it was only 7:53am but I had already had my best moment of the day, with the aim of inspiring others to recognize and take advantage of small service opportunities (because most of us miss them too often).

I marveled at the profound impact this small experience had on me. I felt immensely closer to God as I felt His love for this blind man expressed through me. I felt love towards this stranger I had helped onto a train. I felt the intense love God and Jesus Christ have for EACH of us, and their intimate care and concern for our lives.

Matthew 25:40 kept coming to mind:

"Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

My testimony of this verse was fortified that day, and continues to be confirmed each time I notice and act on an opportunity to serve one of God's children. I know charity, the pure love of Christ, is a divine gift that allows us to love others more than we have a natural capacity to do. (Moroni 7:45-48)

As church leaders regularly remind us - and as our beloved prophet Thomas S. Monson tirelessly exemplifies - there is no greater joy than knowing that we have been instruments in God's hands.

("You Are My Hands", Dieter F. Uchtdorf, April 2010 General Conference)