More people are laughing and dancing their way to wellbeing

Wednesday 16 March 2022

A local man is on a mission to “bring wellbeing to Guernsey” through ecstatic dance and laugh yoga.

Sebastien Black, a qualified psychotherapist, counsellor and wellbeing practitioner, launched the activities after realising they were unavailable in the island. He said they are "much needed".

“We live in a society which has become very good at going to work and getting the things we need to survive, but does not do enough about how to really live to be emotionally healthy,” said Mr Black.

Pictured: Ecstatic dance events are held outdoors around a fire when the weather permits. 

Mr Black’s ecstatic dance events, which allow participants to dance freely without routines, have become increasingly popular and often sell out.

“I have attended ecstatic dance in Bristol, Brighton, Manchester and while travelling and I thought it was a shame that islanders didn’t have the opportunity to attend events here,” he said.

“Ecstatic dance is an opportunity for people to take a creative risk without judgment or constraints.

“Initially, for the first 10 minutes or so, participants can be nervous or feel a bit silly, but that quickly passes and then they just thoroughly enjoy the experience.”

In good weather, ecstatic dance can be held outdoors.

“When the dances are indoors, we have a full DJ set up. I learned to DJ specifically for these events to enhance the experience.

Pictured: Sebastien Black (left) DJs at an indoor ecstatic dance event.

“Dance pre-dates language and is one of the earliest forms that people were able to make connections.

“Ecstatic dance is an embodied mindful practice and anyone can benefit. Our attendees are varied and include a man in his 70s.”

Mr Black said that dance teachers have also attended the dances.

“For dance teachers who have spent their entire lives perfecting their art and learning routines and techniques, it can be incredibly freeing to let all of that go and just move however you feel you want to in the moment.

“We have found that it can cause a very emotional reaction in some participants, but all overwhelmingly positive.

“It is incredibly therapeutic for people and it’s also a great way to work through any issues people may be having, a way to gain clarity, to set intentions or a form of escapism.”

Pictured: Sebastien Black set up laugh yoga classes a few months ago.

Mr Black has been running ecstatic dance events for two years. And he started offering laugh yoga classes at the start of this year.

Laugh yoga involves laughing voluntarily for a prolonged period of time.

“The body cannot distinguish between real and fake laughter, so all the benefits you get from genuine laughter you still get from what may initially be a fake laugh, but will often develop into a real laugh.

“Laugh yoga brings you fully into the present and it has ongoing positive effects where you start to take life less seriously.”

Laugh yoga sessions are held every other Friday at the All About Yoga studio at the North Plantation in Town.  

Classes include a combination of yoga stretches, games and organic laughter.

Pictured: Sebastien Black is a qualified psychotherapist, counsellor and wellbeing practitioner. 

Mr Black said both ecstatic dance and laugh yoga have benefits for physical, mental and emotional health.

“With ecstatic dancing, you get the physical benefits and endorphins from an hour and half of exercise, as well as oxytocin from the mental and emotional benefits of feeling free and accepted.

“Laughter has countless benefits, including relaxing the body’s adrenal response, which in turn reduces stress.

“Laughter is an incredible tool available for the benefit of emotional health and it isn’t utilised enough.

“Both these activities are substance-free, including alcohol. You can still have a great experience but without memory loss, a hangover or any other negative side effects.”

Pictured: Ecstatic dance events have been running for two years and are usually sold out. 

Mr Black intends to extend his ventures into companies.

“People are good at looking after themselves physically and more emphasis is being put on mental health in corporate environments, but little to none about emotional health and wellbeing.

“My hope is to integrate these practices into the corporate world for the benefit of well-rounded health.”