What a Body Knows

Relationships

Why Do I Feel an Urge to Mimic Your Movement?

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on March 29, 2023

Motor mimicry, an innate human capacity, is entwined with our ability to empathize with others. Dancing may exercise and enhance this capacity.

Motor mimicry, an innate human capacity, is entwined with our ability to empathize with others. Dancing may exercise and enhance this capacity.

Relationships

Three Reasons to Move to the Beat

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on February 13, 2023

Dancing improves your ability to synchronize with yourself, other people, and the natural world. Here's how.

Dancing improves your ability to synchronize with yourself, other people, and the natural world. Here's how.

Unconscious

Why Dancing Is Good for You

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on January 19, 2023

When the music plays, your toe taps, and your head nods without thinking about it. Do these subconscious movements hold keys to well-being?

When the music plays, your toe taps, and your head nods without thinking about it. Do these subconscious movements hold keys to well-being?

Coronavirus Disease 2019

The Time to Dance Is Now

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on April 1, 2020

The current moment requires three skills that dancers across traditions and techniques practice: creativity, flexibility, and resilience.

The current moment requires three skills that dancers across traditions and techniques practice: creativity, flexibility, and resilience.

Health

What Should I Eat, Animals or Plants?

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on March 10, 2020

If we are concerned with finding a way to nourish ourselves that is better for animals, plants, and the planet, we need to prioritize the how over the what.

If we are concerned with finding a way to nourish ourselves that is better for animals, plants, and the planet, we need to prioritize the how over the what.

Gratitude

How to Argue With Your Partner

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on January 31, 2020

The key to shorter and less frequent arguments comes down to simple principle: An argument is not over until we're grateful that it happened.

The key to shorter and less frequent arguments comes down to simple principle: An argument is not over until we're grateful that it happened.

Sleep

Want to Do More in 2020? Get Enough Sleep

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on December 31, 2019

What are your goals for this new year and decade? Whatever they are, one essential ingredient of your success is enough sleep.

What are your goals for this new year and decade? Whatever they are, one essential ingredient of your success is enough sleep.

Wisdom

Is Pain a Kind of Bodily Wisdom?

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on November 17, 2019

The pain of being a bodily self is so often — and paradoxically so — an invitation to move.

The pain of being a bodily self is so often — and paradoxically so — an invitation to move.

Wisdom

What Your Movement Signature Reveals About You

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on October 31, 2019

A recent study succeeded in measuring a pattern of muscular activation—a "movement signature"—unique to every human. What does a movement signature reveal?

A recent study succeeded in measuring a pattern of muscular activation—a "movement signature"—unique to every human. What does a movement signature reveal?

Memory

Remembering Slavery: The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on September 30, 2019

In Ta-nehisi Coates's new novel, The Water Dancer, memory is life. It is also "just like dancing." Why?

In Ta-nehisi Coates's new novel, The Water Dancer, memory is life. It is also "just like dancing." Why?

Flow

Recommit! A Guide to Finding Flow—Again

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on August 27, 2019

You are committed – really truly dedicated – and then, suddenly you aren't. What do you do when your enthusiasm for a project, plan, or relationship fades?

You are committed – really truly dedicated – and then, suddenly you aren't. What do you do when your enthusiasm for a project, plan, or relationship fades?

Anger

The Perils of People Pleasing

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on July 31, 2019

Most humans share a desire to please the people around us. We want people to be happy. We want people to be happy with us. What happens when we fail?

Most humans share a desire to please the people around us. We want people to be happy. We want people to be happy with us. What happens when we fail?

Environment

Devastated about Climate Change? Plant a Garden

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on June 30, 2019

What does planting a garden have to do with climate change?

What does planting a garden have to do with climate change?

Bias

The Mind-Body Problem That Wasn't

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on May 31, 2019

The “mind-body problem” provides ideological cover for violence perpetuated against “the body” – violence that comes to seem natural and inevitable in the service of the mind.

The “mind-body problem” provides ideological cover for violence perpetuated against “the body” – violence that comes to seem natural and inevitable in the service of the mind.

Relationships

Love Your Body: The Dance of Martha Graham

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on April 30, 2019

Graham’s love of the body was fierce and full-throttle—radical for what it loves and how it loves, and for what it reveals love, and a body, to be.

Graham’s love of the body was fierce and full-throttle—radical for what it loves and how it loves, and for what it reveals love, and a body, to be.

Wisdom

The Gravity of Small Movements: Bodily Wisdom in Action

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on March 31, 2019

The practice of dancing nourishes the matrix of small movements that define our push and pull in relation to the earth.

The practice of dancing nourishes the matrix of small movements that define our push and pull in relation to the earth.

Education

How Living With an Ox Changed My Life

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on February 26, 2019

By pulling dead trees from our forests, Bright and Blaze changed our lives in a multitude of ways.

By pulling dead trees from our forests, Bright and Blaze changed our lives in a multitude of ways.

Attention

Tired of Research Studies That Tell You to Exercise?

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on January 31, 2019

This research study advances a radical idea: the movements that we make influence the thoughts we think.

This research study advances a radical idea: the movements that we make influence the thoughts we think.

Creativity

This New Year, Be Surprised!

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on December 31, 2018

New Year’s Eve is a time to remember to stay alert to the possibility of surprises that will astound you with their grace and goodness.

New Year’s Eve is a time to remember to stay alert to the possibility of surprises that will astound you with their grace and goodness.

Appetite

Winter's Life-Affirming Extremes -- and Martha Graham

Kimerer L LaMothe Ph.D. on November 30, 2018

Winter where I live is a time of extremes -- a prying apart of pairs that otherwise can seem tightly nested. As my senses move between the two, I come alive.

Winter where I live is a time of extremes -- a prying apart of pairs that otherwise can seem tightly nested. As my senses move between the two, I come alive.