25 February 2014

You Most Certainly Can Dance

A small story of inspiration for Beginners learning to dance !

A pleasant Sunday morning, finds me in a new venue, a family club actually for my dance workshops in the suburbs of Mumbai , well it was a start of something new, so there I stood before my new batch of learners, a lovely couple and they had brought their daughter of five along with them.  Being a parent myself I understand the limitations of nuclear parenting in Mumbai and the fact that there are times that one has to just take the kids along where you want to go, as sometimes, there is no one you could leave them safely with.
The keen observer in the picture is the little girl  I have written about  :)
I smiled at the little girl who gave me a warm smile back. Very sweet I thought! Soon enough I began the session with the usual round of introduction to the dance form and then went on with the basic step of swing. I was quite busy with the parents and just had a cursory glance the little girl who I saw amusing herself standing near the corner where a couple of chairs were stacked.I went abort explaining about the beat, counts and the rhythm and the body positioning and was halfway through the session . I was engrossed in teaching so much that I was suddenly jolted with a soft but insistent tap on my arm. I turned and was absolutely amazed when the little girl showed me the basic step with perfect timing to music. The little girl had carefully observed what I was doing and imbibed it for sometime standing quietly in the corner and once she was confident she came up to me silently for approval . 
I was clearly bowled over by the power of observation and interest in this child. Many a times with power of observation we can master all that we want to by our-self , provided we have the determination to focus on our goals.
The little child's brain had mapped a visual imagery of the step clearly, and was able to recall it at will even though she had not practiced it half the number of times her parents had... along with me.

 The power of observation has no age barrier, some are gifted and some have to develop the latent power within, but  we all  certainly have it within us to  reap the potential of this power.
So do care to see a little beyond the denials and negations just trust and believe you can dance and  then  You Most Certainly Can Dance!

Savvy Raj


13 February 2014

Follow your passion ....find your purpose... fulfill your presence!




The highest motivation that can change the way we behave for the better is always intrinsic than external factors .There have been many research studies conducted to find out if we are influenced to perform better consistently through a system of rewards and punishments.Humans it is found are found to decrease performance in tasks where there is only materialistic gain as a reward, but fare consistently better where there is autonomy and encouragement of moving towards a purpose . A purpose which aligns with their innate  sensibilities.


 This throws the conventional and traditional approach to getting work done, up for a toss . As it is exactly opposite viewpoint that  humans can be manipulated to a large extent to achieve better results by the so called carrot and stick methods .



 In choosing to work harder at a task or a job with passion  instead of needing to comply  to it  the human being feels free enough to go beyond the box . As there is free will within  a wider net of  required structure the creative potentialities are given a free play  and thus the individual moves closer to his authentic self . The joy of self expression results in a need to share it with others out of sheer happiness .



Highest levels of happiness are  in giving a  larger meaning to life  whether it is in involving oneself in activities  helping  another,  in learning and growing with another , it could be in  learning  a new  art form ,or even simply in dancing socially  with a group of people which  is wonderful for your well being and a  healthy life . In the simple act of  volunteering to enact a good deed  from the heart, you realize the true joys of sharing. ...and find meaning in your own lives .

What is that makes us love ourselves better when we give . Is it the satisfaction  in the appreciation of that which we willingly share or is it on the innate need for  doing a deed with a larger good in mind. or is it in the happiness of the other that results through the actions ... whatever it may be , just remember we are truly blessed and are our most authentic self in every expansive action that we choose to do!

 Savvy Raj 

10 February 2014

Dance of the Heaven and the Earth ...




Watch the heavenly dance 
   the rhythmic connects ....
of the  Twirling  clouds ,in swirling sky 
  and the opal blue oceans whirling waves . 
 A sight to behold ...

Across the horizon  
  the two shall merge
as one moving in the flow 
  of  a divine connection  
in a dance of the heaven and the earth ....

Savvy