by Carmen Robles Herrera, MSEd, MSW, LCSW

I was born feet first; my mother said the reason was because I was born to dance.  The presence of dance is intrinsically  a part of my existence.  I believe that if I did not dance I will not be alive today.

There is movement to everything in the universe. Our own self healing instincts keep us moving in order to receive, release and share with our environment and our fellow men.  The movement in dance is a fundamental source of communication, self-balancing, enlightenment, and self-expression; and therefore, empowerment.  It is a wonderful tool in our search for guidance, clarity, support, and connection to our higher self’s.  As we all become healthier, happier, and more conscientious of our uniqueness and the importance of our presence in this world, we also become aware of the importance of sharing with the world our own self in movement.  This is our own unique dance.

I was blessed by being born in Puerto Rico and inheriting a culture where dance was always part of our everyday existence. We dance when a child was born, someone died, there was a birthday, a baptism, a confirmation, a wedding, an anniversary, etc. Dance was the venue to acknowledge a significant event. We believed that everyone could dance. Age, sex, or physical condition had nothing todo with the ability to dance. You could dance standing, sitting, or lying down.

I have realized that dance is like yoga; as long as you have the intention, you will receive its healing benefits. I compare dance to breathing. If you do not breathe you die and if you do not dance you die. In retrospection I now truly believe that when we do not dance a very important part of us is starved and eventually stops existing.

My work experiences include working with a major airline, teaching adults and children in the public school system, working in the field of social work in hospital settings, schools and mental health clinics and around twenty years ago I established a private practice as a psychotherapist which I still maintain.

I have traveled extensively, married, raised children, created DASHIMO™, and through every event, sorrow, and joy in my life, I have dance sometimes alone and sometimes with others. Dance has always been the propelling force in my life. It has been a blessing which I must share with others. In my workshops I am presently using popular Latin music. We learn basic movements, cultural background, instruments used, and other relevant information of rhythms like plena, merengue, bachata, son, cha-cha-cha, salsa, and others. I intertwine breathing techniques, yoga, energy balancing, and many other healing concepts.

The environment is very relaxed and non competitive and you get to laugh a lot and meet a lot of other wonderful people who love or are curious about dance. Everyone is able to participate and you do not need a partner to attend. It is important to dress very comfortably. I dance barefooted for healing purposes, which I will share with the participants. I encourage those who feel comfortable to dance barefooted as well. Shoes can be worn but it is important that they fit comfortably.The energy is very up and contagious; those who arrive feeling anxious, soon find themselves not able to stop dancing.

Professional dancers; who at times find themselves tormented about their performance, are very happy to be able to relax, get out of their head and learn to integrate more their bodies, feelings, and emotions into their dance. This in returns transforms their dance into a more expressive, alive and enriching experience. It is an honor for me to be able to share DASHIMO™ in many different settings; holistic centers, universities, hospitals, radio, television, etc. and with special dancing souls of all ages; children, adolescents, adults, and senior citizens.

I am living my passions. I am able to share with others how to manifest, share, let go of blockages and stressors, and celebrate their life.I hope one day we can meet and dance together. I honor your light and dancer within. I wish you peace and the freedom to be yourself and dance! Carmen Robles Herrera “The Dancer”.
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Carmen Robles Herrera, MSEd, MSW, LCSW will be teaching Latin Dances: Joyful, Healing and Empowering from Wednesday, July 25-August 22nd, 6:15-7:45pm.  She will be giving a FREE INTRO at the Open Center Open House on May 19th at 9pm and also on July 18th at 6:15pm.

• A successful technology consultant facing a mid-life search for meaning in his work goes back to school for a master’s degree in counseling psychology and is excited about building his family therapy practice.
• An automotive detail engineer, bored and frustrated after twenty years in his field, follows his love of nature and takes a job in a rural area, writing an environmental newsletter for a non-profit agency.
• A high-level international banker, yearning for autonomy and challenge, launches an independent consultancy that draws on his Ph.D. in political science and his extensive global network.
• The marketing director at an international fashion company decides to pursue her interest in writing and soon becomes the editor of a major magazine, bringing alternative health to a mainstream audience.

In my twenty-five years as a career consultant, I’ve been fascinated by people such as these who make major changes easily while others who have dreams fail to act upon them. Why do some people become immobilized by fear at the mere thought of change?

In a dynamic world, change is a constant whether we choose it or whether it is thrust upon us. Charles Handy in The Age of Unreason, published in 1990 but still a business classic, talks about the incredible rate of “discontinuous” or unpredictable change in technology and the economy. As individuals, we are impacted both by these external changes and by our own internal changes in awareness, interests, values, needs and life-stage.

Change is energy. If we resist it, we wind up tired, burnt-out, uninspired, spending our energy holding on with clenched fists, fighting for the status quo. Fear runs us. Our creativity and productivity plummet. The irony is that many of us are holding onto a job, system, relationship or lifestyle that we don’t even really like or that no longer supports who we are.

Successful career changers embrace certain principles. The following comments are based on my integration of Jungian psychology and Eastern philosophy with traditional career development and my observations of my clients’ transitions.

Start with Self-Knowledge
Each of us is a still point in the sea of change. By going within and connecting with our deepest sense of purpose, we can become the anchor in our own life. Taking the time to introspect and re-contact moments of high creativity, as well as themes, values and interests that have run through our lives, we are freed from defining ourselves in terms of success and failure at our most recent job or career. As one client said after going through my career transition process, “My whole self-concept was redefined.”

One woman came to me for career counseling when her marriage was falling apart. Her self-esteem was very low, and she saw herself as a failure because she hadn’t passed her accountancy exam. It turned out that becoming an accountant had been her husband’s Idea. In our sessions she came to see that helping others and an interest in psychology were consistent throughout her life. She has now returned to school for a master’s degree in social work.

Another client said, “I was stuck in a rut, thinking that TV production was all I could do and that it had to be in New York.” Once unstuck, she sublet her apartment, moved to Ohio, and within three weeks received two job offers. She envisions a new career in fitness programs for children, but the move was an important first step. “I’m not a spiritual person,” she says, “but all of a sudden things were working for me. It is as if it was meant to be.”

Choice and Visualization
At some point it is necessary to stop the self -exploration, make a choice, and begin to take action. This is a difficult shift for many, moving from the “yin” of self-reflection to the “yang” of making it happen. Visualization is helpful here. Twice a day clients visualize themselves reaching their goal. They see themselves taking steps and overcoming obstacles along the way. They sense the energy and excitement in their bodies.

Focus and Synchronicity
Carl Jung defined synchronicity as meaningful coincidence between events separated in space and/or time. Again and again, I see that when a client has a focus-especially when it is connected to a deep sense of self- the right people and events seem to be attracted to him/her and change unfolds easily. Everyone has experienced this in some way. A schoolteacher entering the field of training wonders where her first job interview will come from. She goes to a cocktail party and the first person she meets is the vice-president of training at a major bank where there is an open position. Successful career changers are open to synchronicity and follow through on these seeming coincidences.

Tolerance for Ambiguity
Change doesn’t happen overnight, and it often proceeds in unpredictable ways. Successful career changers make choices, then view obstacles that occur as lessons bringing them closer to their goals. There is an important interplay of structure and flexibility. As in sailing, we need to chart a course, monitor closely the weather, wind and currents, and adjust accordingly.

Opening to Support
The willingness to draw on others' strengths and share our own is another key to successful transitions.  The upcoming Discovering Your Soul's Work workshop follows this career transition model.  Join us on three consecutive Thursdays,  May 31st, June 7th & June 14th from 6-7:45 as we discover our strengths and reconnect with our deeper values, sense of purpose, and times of creativity.  We will then create a vision for our future career and design an action plan to succeed in the current job market.  You can register directly or, come to the free intro at 6PM on May 24th.

I hope to see you there.  Peace and good luck on your transition.

Every human being is born with the capacity to sing, on key, in a way that has beauty and frees the soul. Yet most of us don't take advantage of the powerful instrument we are all born with. Some of us believe we are "˜tone-deaf' "” a self-fulfilling prophecy, some sing but insist that they just aren't good enough "” lacking the nerve, guidance and non-judgmental attitude to practice. Some fear being heard "” why make waves, attract attention, criticism or attention? Even the most "gifted" singers have fears and hold back. Most of us are terrified at the thought of being right in the moment revealing our true voice, with its "˜imperfections' in front of others. This, however, is the place from which we can grow the most. And the place where our song becomes inspiring.

Each and every one of us, no matter where you begin, can be taught to sing better, naturally, and from the heart. And it's fun! We can overcome the debilitations of the ever careful and often fear-based "thinking mind", and develop enormous creativity, musicianship and the ability to inspire others. Singing elevates and integrates our light and our dark sides, bringing inspiration from our joy and our blues. Singing songs - lyrics and music - integrates our right and left brains. When we are in authentic alignment with what we sing we are vulnerable, powerful, and real. And our truths when energized in song, creates a more beautiful, musical and original sound. And therein lays the magic. Expressive Arts have a deep impact when we are authentic and passionately ourselves. As we embrace our humanness - sing despite our imperfections and fears "” we can hit the notes better, rekindle our creative instincts and move others with our voices.

It is important to leave our judgments and idealized self-images at the door, and give ourselves unconditional permission to practice. In The Natural Singer Workshop we develop the use of the diaphragm, vocal cords and resonance within the body. We train the ear to match pitch, the voice box to remain free and the jaw to relax. Then we explore personal lyrical themes and improvise with them. Lastly, we and let our voices merge with the music we hear around and within us and light a fire with our inner messages.

The results are breathtaking and build a remarkable sense of community. The breakthroughs go far beyond singing. Healing the inability to speak up and "˜sing out' is deeply linked to some of our most challenging core issues. We long to know that our true voice and our presence are welcomed, is beautiful as it is, belongs and is needed here on earth. Through Natural Singing, we dignify and validate the expression of our love, our fears, our tears, our passions, our sensuality, our quirks, and our "imperfections".

As we get in the habit of trusting our voice and ear, there is tremendous personal catharsis and visible inspiration for others. We can be more ourselves! And the more comfortable we are being more ourselves, the better we sound! We become engaging, expressive, good singers.

It is the most energizing and beautiful way I know of to honor the diverse aspects of the personality. Negative emotions flow and process quickly, "˜wrong' notes begin to disappear, and we can rejoice confidently in the opportunity of each fresh moment of being. This is the magical transformative power of fearless, natural singing. It's your voice. Play it! Explore it. Sing out! Give it space and be your own compassionate teacher. Find support from others. It's an instrument you were born with which connects your psyche, your spirit, your heart, your creative impulses and your physical form. It's your right; your treasure and a direct access point to the beauty of your soul and genuine esteem. Your voice is a tremendous healing gift you were given at birth. Use it!

Gold Record performance coach Claude Stein has taught at Juilliard and NYU, at the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem, the New York Open Center, Omega Institute, Kripalu and Esalen Institute. His private clients include artists on MCA, Atlantic, Virgin, Polygram, Sony, Warner Bros. & RCA. For more information, contact him via the web at www.claudestein.com or by phone at 212 460 5878.