Zenful Dance Brings the Rhythm of Life to Hoboken, New Jersey

Jersey City, NJ, October 14, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Eleven years ago, Leah Joy Malberg found herself inside a Zen Buddhist retreat center in Santa Rosa, California in an effort to simplify her life. A competitive professional ballroom dancer/dance instructor of many years, Leah Joy discovered Zazen meditation, a seated meditation practice used in the Soto-Zen lineage of Zen Buddhism. She was immediately drawn to its single-tasked concentration and self-awareness aspects but she knew that this practice wasn’t for everyone. “I was traveling all the time teaching and competing and learned that no matter where I went, many of my students had a difficult time being still. That’s when the idea of Zenful Dance was born. I founded Zenful Dance in an effort to be moved by life. Well, moved by the breath, literally,” Leah Joy states with a smile.

Leah Joy continues, "Zenful Dance is a unique practice based on mindfulness breathing otherwise known as anapanasati which is one of the beginning breath techniques taught in Zazen. The natural, uneven breath is applied to very gentle movements that anyone can do. It can even be practiced from a chair." She further explains, "It probably sounds pretty confusing on paper (she laughs), but the practice is really quite simple and very relaxing. Students often ask me what music I use in my workshops and I tell them it's the rhythm of their own breath - uneven, even, doesn’t matter. Anything goes! It’s completely awesome work and everyone I’ve taught leaves the workshops with a big smile and expressed excitement about continuing on. It’s a real journey in compassion and self-awareness through movement - something that most of us are searching for in our crazy-busy lives. You must bring your sense of humor with you. It’s imperative!” she grins.

The result of Leah Joy’s teachings has gotten the attention of nearly 150,000 views from around the globe on ZenfulTV, her Youtube channel, and almost 15,000 followers on Twitter. “I am thrilled at the amount of feedback I’m getting through all of my online social networks. Sponsors are reaching out wanting to know how to get involved and students are asking about Teacher Training programs. It’s really an exciting time!" Leah Joy reports.

Leah Joy Malberg will be teaching an Introduction to Zenful Dance Workshop on Saturday, October 23rd at Devotion Yoga (Downtown Location near the PATH), Hoboken, NJ. For more information or to register, please visit www.zenfuldance.com.

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