Breaking Down Borders with Soma
Wednesday, 16 February 2011 04:18
Sway, tap, swirl, clap, and spin into the Soma spiritual dance experience.
Soma, or "body" in Latin, is a movement practice used to break the border between body and mind with dance. The practice is similar to both the spirituality of yoga, and the fast paced movements of zumba.
Jimmy Nimock, a senior at the University of Arizona, led his first Soma practice on Feb. 9 in the McKale Center.
Leading a Soma practice requires no formal training, just music and a room.
The practice begins with music playing softly in the background and a series of stretching exercises. 
"You really need to strech before you start because otherwise you might pull a muscle or hurt yourself," Nimock said.
The music, which came from a computer in the corner of the room, played a combination of popular songs by artists such as Lady Gaga, as well as Hindu spiritual songs.
Music courtesy of http://www.sanatansociety.org
After stretching for a few minutes, Nimock prompted everyone to start walking around the room and, "let go of all inhibitions," he said. "Focus on yourself, no one is here to judge, just let yourself go and let the music fill your body."
For a while, everyone walked around the room to the song "Blackbird" by the Beatles, speeding up and slowing down their pace to the rhythm of the song. Next Nimock instructed everyone to start letting their hips, arms, and fingers move, while remembering to stay connected with the "roots," or feet, because they are the center of a human being.
As everyone began to move their body a transformation took place. People broke down their mental barriers as they moved in ways they have never dreamed of doing in front of another human being before. Dr. Donna Swaim, a 77-year-old professor at the University of Arizona, described Soma as, "something I have never felt before, it just felt good to move and use muscles I forgot I have," she said.
"The great thing about Soma is that it can be practiced by people of all ages," Nimock said.
Soma allows the body to do what it was built to do. There is no right or wrong way to move, the point is to stand up and do it, "something about standing up and putting your feet on the ground connects your body and mind to the earth, it is so spiritual," Nimock added.
Video and more information found on this website.
Written by McKenzie Sheldon You are reading Breaking Down Borders with Soma articles
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