Ecstatic Dance: Yoga for the Body, Soul, and Spirit
- Soul Journey
- Sep 18
- 4 min read
For many people on the path of awakening, there comes a moment when they feel a stirring inside—a current of energy that seems trapped in the body, waiting to be released. You may notice sensations like restlessness, tingling, waves of emotion, or even a sense of being “full” in your spirit without knowing how to express it. At Soul Journey in Melbourne, FL, we believe these are sacred invitations: your body is calling you to move.
One of the most profound ways to answer this call is through ecstatic dance—a modern expression of yoga that unites movement, breath, Spirit, and healing.
What Is Ecstatic Dance?
At its heart, ecstatic dance is a form of free movement that creates a prayerful dialogue between the body and the Spirit. It is not about choreography, performance, or “getting it right.” Instead, it is a safe and sacred yoga practice where music becomes the guide, and your body responds in whatever way feels natural.
Some people sway gently, others release deep emotions through stomping, spinning, or stretching. The experience is different for everyone, but the intention is the same: to let the body become an instrument of release, healing, and joy.
Ecstatic dance has roots in ancient traditions around the world where rhythm, song, and movement were used as forms of yoga—the original meaning of yoga being union. Union with Spirit, union with the body, and union with the Divine. At Soul Journey, we honor ecstatic dance as part of the extended yoga lineage: a way to reconnect with God through embodied prayer.
Why Do People Practice Ecstatic Dance?
For those raised in Christian traditions, ecstatic dance may sound unfamiliar. And yet, if we look back at Scripture, we find moments of holy movement woven throughout the Bible:
King David “danced before the Lord with all his might” (2 Samuel 6:14).
The Psalms invite us to “praise His name with dancing” (Psalm 149:3).
Movement and worship have always been ways of embodying joy, gratitude, and connection to God.
In the same way, ecstatic dance today becomes a form of embodied yoga—a living prayer of movement. It invites us to release the burdens we carry and step into the freedom of Spirit.
Some of the benefits of ecstatic dance and yoga for healing include:
Releasing trapped energy and emotion – shaking, moving, and flowing can clear out the “stuck” places in body and spirit.
Reducing stress and anxiety – the nervous system resets as you let the body move without judgment.
Deepening spiritual connection – many dancers describe feeling closer to God, Spirit, or their own soul after a session.
Awakening joy and creativity – movement frees the imagination and awakens a sense of play that many adults have forgotten.
Cultivating community – the shared experience of dancing without words allows for connection beyond small talk or roles.
What Happens at Soul Journey’s Ecstatic Dance?
When you arrive at Soul Journey in Brevard County, you’ll step into a welcoming, intimate space. The lights may be dimmed, the floor open and safe for movement. Our guide begins with a simple grounding exercise—helping you breathe, arrive fully in your body, and set an intention for your yoga dance practice.
Music begins to flow, often starting gently, then rising into rhythms that invite fuller expression. You don’t need to know “how to dance.” All you need is a willingness to let your body move in ways that feel authentic.
Some people close their eyes and sway. Others stretch on the floor, jump, or clap their hands. You may find yourself moving through laughter, tears, or silence. Every response is welcomed as holy.
The session closes with stillness, breath, and often a short reflection—allowing the body, mind, and Spirit to integrate what was released.
Ecstatic Dance, Yoga, and Somatic Healing
What makes Soul Journey’s ecstatic dance unique is the guidance of our practitioner trained in the Somatic Activated Healing (SAH) Method.
SAH combines yoga-based movement, breathwork, music, and intention to help participants activate their own healing energy. While traditional therapy often focuses on talking, SAH recognizes that the body itself carries memories, stress, and even trauma. By moving with awareness, you open space for the body to release what it has been holding—often without needing words.
This is especially powerful for those who sense something stirring within (what ancient traditions call kundalini rising). Many people new to awakening don’t yet have language for this experience, but they know they are carrying a current of energy that feels both beautiful and overwhelming. SAH-guided ecstatic dance provides a safe yoga-based pathway to channel that energy, allowing it to flow naturally through the body rather than feeling trapped or suppressed.
Why It Matters Now
We live in a world that keeps us in our heads—planning, analyzing, worrying. Ecstatic dance and yoga-based somatic healing offer a return to the body, where Spirit dwells. For the Christian heart, it can feel like rediscovering David’s unrestrained dance before the Ark: a return to joy, freedom, and wholehearted worship.
For those experiencing spiritual awakening, it can feel like unlocking a door that has always been within you. Movement becomes a bridge between your faith, your body, and the unfolding of your soul’s journey.
An Invitation
If you’ve felt energy stirring within you—if you’ve longed for a safe space to let go, to pray with your body, and to discover the joy of movement—we invite you to join us at Soul Journey for our next Ecstatic Dance + SAH Method session in Melbourne, FL.
Come as you are. No experience is needed. Just bring your open heart, a bottle of water, and a willingness to let your body speak.
Let this be your moving yoga. Your prayer. Your release. Your renewal.
✨ At Soul Journey, we believe healing happens when body, soul, and Spirit move together. Our Ecstatic Dance sessions are yoga in their truest sense: union, connection, and embodied freedom. A third space for the spiritually curious and energetically ready.
