Sangha

12/05/2025

I love me a good follow up :)

09/30/2025

I have been told by many people… after I stopped dancing my anxiety came back… my depression came back…

When we can give space to connecting with our own body in an intimate way (and this means I see you, I hear you, I love you) so much magic happens I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it.

Martha Graham even said “the language of the soul is dance!”

If you haven’t created space to move and connect with your body, mind and soul today… let’s do it now!

You’re important!

https://www.facebook.com/share/1HbwN2zPMA/?mibextid=wwXIfr

A new analysis shows that moving to music with others can be a powerful way to ease symptoms of depression. Unlike walking or yoga, dance engages the brain in a unique “neurochemical symphony,” blending physical activity with joy, connection, and self-expression. Here's why it helps and how to harness it, according to experts: https://on.natgeo.com/47WKONQ

05/04/2025

Can You Help Me Reach the Parents Who Need This? 💛
Hey friends! I’m reaching out today—old-school '90s style—and I hope you pick up! ☎️

For the past 8+ years, I've been on a personal journey to understand what it really means to parent from the heart. Becoming a mother was my dream since I was 9, and when it finally happened, I felt so much love—but also unexpected doubts. 🤍

After giving birth, I asked myself, “Why can't I parent the way I imagined? Why does this feel so hard, even though I love my little one so much?”

Through reflecting and talking with so many parents, I realized I wasn’t alone.

Here's what I've learned:
✨ Almost no one feels fully aligned with their heart when it comes to parenting every day.
✨ We’re all navigating emotions we didn’t expect.
✨ And EVERY parent deserves more support and connection.

As I’ve been building this natural community in our dance, movement, and yoga space, I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many beautiful families. I want to share you with the world! 🌍

That’s why I’ve created resources to help expecting parents feel heard, empowered, and supported. 🙌

🌱 Here’s where I need your help:
If anything I share here resonates with you, would you consider sharing this with a friend who might need it? Tag someone who would feel less alone after reading this. 💌

Your support means the world. Let’s help more parents feel confident and connected. 💛

Tell me—how are you feeling in your parenting journey right now?

🌸

05/02/2025

“Dance is the purest expression of every emotion—earthly and spiritual.” – Anna Pavlova

I remember opening up a conversation with my dancers about the vulnerability of dance—what it really means to see yourself and let the world see you through movement. Too often, we hide behind steps, counts, and choreography. But that’s not dance. Dance is when you fully tune into who you are and step into the courage to show it. That’s what makes all the difference—you.

I used to tell my dancers a story about the most powerful dancer I’ve ever seen. I was at an all-women’s drum camp, jamming in a circle, creating rhythms together. I noticed an older woman slowly rise from her seat and step into the circle. She closed her eyes and began to feel. She felt so deeply, I could almost hear her heart whisper, “It’s okay.”

Her body began to move, gently at first, then more fully, riding the rhythm around her. She allowed herself to take up space—and with every moment, her heart shone brighter.

I couldn’t look away. I kept drumming, holding space for this beautiful emergence happening right beside me. As the music ended, she opened her eyes—delighted, transformed—and happened to walk out near where I was sitting. I stopped her and said, unplanned, “You are the most beautiful dancer I have ever seen.” She smiled softly and replied, “That was my first time ever danced in front of anyone.”

We were both forever changed.

You are always welcome here. Dance isn’t reserved for those who follow a set curriculum—it’s for everyone, always. xx

Much love, dance, and expression.
Thank you for being you.

03/13/2025

03/07/2025

Sangha was born from hours upon hours of sitting with what I truly wanted it to feel like for everyone that walked in the door!

All of the energy, feelings, experiences, qualities that I wrote down ultimately lead to ... Mother! I wanted everyone to feel like they were apart of something! That they felt taken care of! That they could BREATHE! That they could let go, create and be who they truly are!

I could never have achieved what I did without the community that was created within our space! Every single parent, child, grandparent, extended family and friends that walked through our doors made the space what it was!

Although, in this moment, I am still working on my own physical health to return... thanks to the experience, community and love of the birth of Sangha... I am now birthing our second business baby... The Magic of Beginnings!!

All of the connections and support from parent to parent inspired me to offer the mind, body and soul experience to prenatal parents in order for them to feel fully supported through this tricky and beautiful time in their lives! Everyone deserves to feel uniquely supported in their rites of passage of becoming a parent at all levels!

Send some love to parents by commenting

01/16/2025

I have some exciting news that I’ve been waiting to share with you…

As many of you know I started Sangha (Dance. Movement. Yoga) as Grace Dance Academy in 2014. With two exciting and wonderful years in the various spaces, we decided to build a home on Princes Street in 2016.

Oh my gosh!! I finally got mirrors and barres!! My childhood dream! We had so much fun in our own little home for almost four years! To see littles come in as littles and leave as older children is honestly a feeling I cannot describe!

I still watch our recital videos, look at class pictures and when familiar songs come on ... watch out... dancing needs to happen!

As much as our studio began with dance the essence was always breathe, flow, awareness and connection. Naturally, adding movement and yoga to our pillars just made sense. We wanted to create a space where young and older had a safe place where they could just be themselves, through having fun, becoming aware and having a community!

When everyone went home for much needed connection to themselves and families through Covid, we needed to close our physical studio doors. Please note: I have never stopped thinking of all of you!

With this new opportunity, I decided to fully embrace my lifelong dream of being a full time Mother, along with healing my journey, and really understanding the transition into parenthood from all angles.

I became a Full Spectrum Doula to accompany being a yoga and dance teacher, sleep educator, expressive arts practitioner, educator with an attachment based developmentalist approach to parenting. Now, I work with prenatal Mamas and their partners who do not feel heard, seen and understood by their support village (family, friends, health care providers, etc).

For the past several months, I’ve been putting together a brand new guide called My Top 5 Conversations for Expecting Parents to Have so They're on the Same Page when Baby Arrives and Can Focus on Enjoying Their New Family for prenatal Mamas and their partners who want to feel grounded in themselves and each other in order to create their unique support village so they don't fall into fear, self doubt or difficulty advocating for their values when Baby arrives.

In the FREE Guide I’m sharing how to become aware of your own communication skills, skills that are vital when communicating with your partner, and ways of having some tough conversations with your partner and support village that you may not have thought of before.

If you’d like a copy comment below and I’ll send the link over via private message.

01/11/2024

Tomorrow is the day! See you at Littles by the Lake at 10am- 12pm (Friday) to meet me, ask questions and register for one or all of our stepping stones classes :) Looking forward to creating a little community of supportive parents :)

Stepping Stones Classes are coming back in the New Year!!

12/19/2023

Come join us and Melissa Snowden Wellness on January 27th for a day of connecting to our right-side brain to experience what it is like to be in that space, so we have a place we can go to that is familiar when we parent. A place that we can attune to a child with non-judgemental love and a space they know they can be who they are meant to be.

As Dan Siegel (1999) describes "the importance of “right-to-right hemisphere” connection in proper attunement. When your right OFC is activated, for instance when making eye contact, you can assess emotional safety and co-regulate your nervous system and sense of safety with the other person."

https://www.melissasnowdenwellness.com/the-magic-of-parenthood?fbclid=IwAR18DGgFE-QldQ7O71j3kXr7AzR9nsxZhZtORciJ5RijLcJQxdjtxST1K9M

12/19/2023

Stepping Stones Classes are coming back in the New Year!!

11/08/2023

Minimum numbers required. Registration due Wed. Nov 15th. Location may change

09/02/2022

Come join us at 280 Parker Street, Kincardine this Saturday Sept 3rd in the morning to help raise funds for Salem Orphanage Home through a Garage Sale Fundraiser.

Brand New Tights and Leotards will be there for HALF OFF for your upcoming dance season!

Or just come to say Hello!
See you tomorrow!