Energy Dancing: A Simple and Fun Form of Meditation

Have you ever watched a young child dancing along to some happy, upbeat tune? Probably, the child had a wide grin on his or her face and moved about freely, without any self-consciousness. No one had to teach that child to do this because dance is a universal cultural element, showing up in some form in every culture on earth.

Unfortunately, as we get older, we start to believe that there is a right way and wrong way to dance, so we lose the freedom it brought in our toddlerhood. We think we need lessons to do it right, or we worry whether we look “cool” to the other kids at the prom. But if you have ever allowed yourself to let loose on a dance floor, you know what a joyful experience it can be.

People in our high-stress, overly-busy world need more dancing, I think—not more of the nightclub kind or the ballroom type, but more of the toddler way of dancing. People need a way to get back in touch with their bodies as an instrument of expression of joy and as a means to connection with life, and that’s why I want to introduce you to energy dancing.

Dancing with the Universe

Energy dancing is an important practice in my Brain Education program because it allows people to experience energy directly in a way that is easy for most people. Essentially, it combines the best attributes of dancing and meditation, allowing people to escape their burdened and busy minds as they move with the flow of energy. Through regular practice, people open themselves to the flow of universal energy, while also achieving deep relaxation and a sense of peaceful, expansive oneness.

You start an energy dance first by feeling energy. The original Korean term of this process is jigam, which means “stop thinking.” That is the perfect name since it reflects what the practice is training you to do: to stop your incessant thinking so you can connect to energy. The practitioner begins by sitting in the traditional meditation posture with hands on the knees, palms open and facing the ceiling. While focusing on the surface of the palms, they then empty their mind of distracting thoughts, always bringing attention back to the palms. When perception of energy on the palms is strong enough, the hands begin to move, following the natural flow of energy. Soon, the entire body follows, moving and undulating like seaweed following the rhythms of the ocean waves.

The Secrets of Energy Sensitivity

The key to the success of this practice is energy. Theoretically, you could start energy dancing by focusing on the sensation of energy in any part of the body, but we use the palms since they are very sensitive. If you find it hard to feel energy in your palms at first, don’t worry; be patient with yourself. For many people these days, it is hard to stop the endless chatter of the mind, so don’t scold yourself if that is the case. Just bring your focus back to your palms again and again. Also, don’t have any preconceptions about what energy should feel like. It may feel like a mild electric buzz or like prickles or like warm running water . . . or like something else that is unique to you. Just keep relaxing your mind and body and eventually you will feel something.

A Step-by-Step Guide

Here is a guide to practicing energy dancing on your own. Before you begin, find a comfortable place where you know you will not be disturbed. Extend your arms out to check if you have sufficient room to move. It is also important to be as relaxed as possible before beginning, so please do some stretching and breathing exercises before you begin. Also, do not expect big results right away, because the sensation at first might be subtle. Before you begin, I recommend clapping your hands a few times before starting in order to increase sensitivity in the palms.

1. Sit comfortably on the floor or on a chair, and straighten your back.
2. Place your hands on your knees with your palms facing up and close your eyes. Relax your body, especially your neck and shoulders. Inhale deeply; let go of any remaining tension while exhaling. (Soft meditative music in the background may be helpful.)
3. Raise your hands slowly to chest level, with your palms facing each other but not touching. First concentrate on any sensation you may feel between your palms.
4. Now allow about 2–4 inches of space between your hands and concentrate fully on the space. Imagine that your shoulders, arms, wrists, and hands are floating in a vacuum, weightless.
5. Pull your hands apart and push them closer together again as you maintain your concentration. You may feel a tingling sensation or a magnetic attraction pulling your hands toward each other or pushing them apart.
6. When the sensation becomes more real, pull your hands farther apart or push them closer together. The sensation will expand and become stronger.
7. After a few minutes, bring your hands down and breathe in and out, slowly and deeply, 3 times.
8. Rub your hands together briskly until they are warm, then gently sweep your palms over your face, neck, and chest.

Make It Your Practice

As with any meditative practice, you will go deeper and deeper the more you practice. If you practice energy dancing regularly, you will find that this has a profound effect on your whole life, as well. After all, energy is all around us all the time, not just during meditation or prayer; life itself is an energy dance of sorts. As your energy sensitivity grows, you will begin to feel this more and more, and you will feel energy continuously and will remain connected to energy throughout your day.