Episode #43. The transformative power of dance: Unlocking healing and connection with Dr Indika Gunaratne
What if that feeling of joy when you dance could give you more than fleeting benefits?
This week on the podcast, I chat with the wonderful Dr. Indika, also known as the Joyful Dancing Doctor, about her journey from GP to discovering the incredible healing power of conscious dance. We dive into why traditional healthcare can often fall short, how functional medicine is able to go further, and why giving yourself permission to move freely through dance can unlock something truly magical.
This episode is all about connection; mind, body and spirit and finding joy in movement. Dr. Indika shares how conscious dance isn’t about steps or choreography; it’s about tuning into your body, releasing emotions, and just letting go.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed or like there’s more to discover within yourself, this is your sign to press play. Let’s dance our way to freedom, joy and healing!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Movement and Health
05:12 Exploring Functional Medicine
12:09 The Importance of Patient Engagement
21:47 Transformative Power of Conscious Dance
28:10 Exploring Movement Beyond Dance
36:09 Emotional Release Through Dance
44:11 The Power of Energy and Movement
51:28 Overcoming Barriers to Dance
About this week’s guests:
Dr Indika Guranatne
Dr. Indika, a former NHS GP and Functional Medicine specialist, transitioned from conventional medicine to embrace the profound, energetic aspects of true transformation. Seeking to integrate a holistic approach to self-care into her life, she discovered conscious dance—a free-form healing movement experience that profoundly transformed her well-being. This inspired her to relinquish her medical license in December 2022 to fully dedicate herself to sharing this accessible approach to mind-body-soul connection.
Drawing from her experiences in motherhood, entrepreneurship, and personal growth, Dr. Indika empowers women to reconnect with their bodies, release trapped energy, restore vitality, and align with their soul's purpose. Her unique dance medicine approach has allowed her clients to flourish not only in their personal lives but also in their businesses, creating sustainable success from the inside out.
Connect here:
Website: https://www.drindika.com/dance
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More about your host, Wendy
Wendy (50) founded Reclaim Movement after a running injury at 40 turned into 4 years of chronic pain. In her search for answers and to reclaim her own movement again she discovered natural movement. The philosophy of training real life practical movements to be able to keep using them as we age, coupled with the benefit of using strengthening and mobilising whole-body movement patterns that are underused in today’s modern world made her realise she had found a way to move for life.
Wendy’s aim is to help people embrace a movement-rich life, at any age, to improve mobility, strength and confidence to keep moving well and doing the things they love for as long as they want.
MovNat Level 1 certified & Functional Range Conditioning certified, she coaches online group classes live & by replay in the Reclaim Movement membership as well as online and in-person private coaching in Oxford.
Find out more about Reclaim Movement:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/reclaim.movement
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@reclaim.movement
Facebook: https://facebook.com/reclaim.movement
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