New Beginnings: Embracing Reinvention at 70

At 70 years old, I stand at the threshold of yet another new beginning, feeling more alive than ever. Time has not diminished my spirit—it has refined it, sculpting me into a woman who moves with grace, wisdom, and a deep trust in the divine flow of life.

I attribute my energy and vitality to one simple truth: I have learned to release all that does not serve my well-being. I let go of the weight of expectations, old identities, and anything that dims my light. In their place, I welcome movement, dance, and joy—every single day.

Movement has always been my language, my meditation, my way of communing with the Goddess. Whether it’s through the sacred practice of Shakti Dance, flowing through a yoga sequence, or simply swaying to the rhythm of life, I honor my body as a vessel of creativity and expression.

Reinvention is not about starting over—it’s about shedding layers, refining our essence, and stepping into our power with renewed purpose. I embrace travel, new adventures, and the unknown, surrendering to the guidance of the Goddess. She whispers, “Create,” and so I do.

I continue to educate myself, to expand, to offer my practice to others who seek this path of liberation and self-expression. Life is not about slowing down—it’s about deepening, awakening, and dancing through every chapter with an open heart.

Here’s to new beginnings, to reinvention, and to the endless dance of being and becoming.

With love and movement,
Carmen

Embracing Gratitude: A Pathway to Feminine Empowerment

Embracing Gratitude: A Pathway to Feminine Empowerment

As women, we navigate a world filled with unique challenges, triumphs, and opportunities. Through these experiences, we often forget to pause, reflect, and embrace the simple yet profound act of gratitude. At Shakti Dance Goddess, we believe that gratitude is more than a fleeting feeling—it’s a powerful force that can inspire, heal, and connect us with our divine feminine energy.

The Power of Gratitude

Gratitude is a celebration of the present moment. It’s an acknowledgment of the beauty, strength, and resilience within ourselves and the world around us. Scientific studies show that practicing gratitude can reduce stress, improve mental health, and enhance our overall well-being. But beyond science, gratitude is a sacred practice—a way to align with the rhythm of life and awaken the goddess within.

Gratitude and the Feminine Spirit

The feminine spirit is inherently nurturing, intuitive, and creative. When we practice gratitude, we honor these qualities and deepen our connection to the universe. Whether it’s acknowledging the small joys of daily life or expressing thanks for our inner strength, gratitude empowers us to move through the world with grace and confidence.

Simple Gratitude Practices to Inspire Your Journey

1. Daily Gratitude Journal: Begin or end your day by writing three things you are grateful for. These can be as simple as a kind word from a friend or the warmth of the morning sun.

2. Dance of Gratitude: Use movement to express your thanks. Let the rhythm of your favorite music guide you as you celebrate the blessings in your life.

3. Gratitude Meditation: Sit quietly and breathe deeply. With each inhale, welcome a sense of abundance; with each exhale, release doubt and fear. Visualize the people, places, and experiences that bring you joy.

4. Share Your Gratitude: Tell someone why you appreciate them. A heartfelt message can deepen your bonds and inspire others to reflect on their blessings.

Gratitude as a Community Practice

At Shakti Dance Goddess, we are committed to creating a space where women can come together to celebrate their journeys. Gratitude is a cornerstone of this community, reminding us that we are never alone and that our shared stories are a source of strength.

An Invitation

Today, take a moment to honor yourself and your journey. Embrace gratitude not as a duty but as a joyful practice. Let it light your path and inspire others to walk alongside you in empowerment and love.

Together, we rise—one grateful heart at a time.

Keep Moving Keep Dancing
Visit ShaktiDanceGoddess.com for workshops, resources, and a community devoted to celebrating the divine feminine within us all.

Embrace Your Feminine Energy: Movement, Self-Love, and Exploration

Embrace Your Feminine Energy: Movement, Self-Love, and Exploration

In our fast-paced, ever-connected world, it’s easy to get caught up in the demands of daily life. But as women, we have a unique gift: the ability to harness our feminine energy to remain youthful, healthy, and vibrant. Through intentional movement, travel, and self-love, we can unlock our inner glow and face each day with vitality and purpose.

The Power of Movement

Movement isn’t just about exercise; it’s a celebration of life. Whether you choose yoga, dance, or even a simple walk in nature, moving your body reconnects you with yourself. Yoga, for instance, fosters mindfulness and balance, enhancing flexibility and strength while calming the mind. Dance, on the other hand, awakens joy and creativity, reminding us of the beauty in expressing ourselves freely.

When you move, you channel energy throughout your body, releasing what no longer serves you and creating space for renewal. Set aside time to explore movement that feels good for you. It’s not about perfection—it’s about connection.

Explore the World to Discover Yourself

Travel isn’t just about visiting new places; it’s about expanding your horizons and stepping outside your comfort zone. Every trip is an opportunity to immerse yourself in new cultures, try fresh cuisines, and appreciate the beauty of our diverse world.

Traveling also deepens your self-awareness. You learn to adapt, embrace spontaneity, and revel in the simple joys of life. Even a weekend getaway can recharge your spirit, reminding you of life’s endless possibilities.

Cultivate Self-Love

Self-love is the foundation of a healthy, fulfilling life. It starts with treating your body and mind with kindness. This means nourishing your body with wholesome foods, resting when you’re tired, and speaking to yourself with compassion.

Create rituals that honor your feminine energy. Light a candle during your evening wind-down, keep a gratitude journal, or spend a few moments meditating on your intentions. These small acts of care accumulate, building a reservoir of inner peace and confidence.

Feminine Energy Wisdom

Feminine energy is about intuition, creativity, and flow. Embracing it doesn’t mean ignoring structure but rather balancing it with the softer aspects of being. Dance to your favorite song just because it feels good. Wear that outfit you love, not for others but because it makes you feel radiant.

Recognize that your worth isn’t tied to productivity or external validation. You are inherently valuable. Let your light shine by aligning your actions with your true desires and passions.

Conclusion

As women, our strength lies in our ability to transform, adapt, and thrive. By moving with intention, exploring the world, and prioritizing self-love, we can stay youthful, healthy, and energetic. Remember, the journey to self-discovery is a lifelong dance. Step boldly, flow gracefully, and always celebrate the beautiful essence of you.

Now, how will you move, love, and explore today? 🌸

Living Our Dreams

What does this mean to you? Do you know what your true dreams are? If you do, you are way ahead of the life game. That's because if you can dream it you can create it. In many cases when we are young we are pretty clear of our dreams and we are pretty persistent in achieving what we want. We are clear on what we want and focus our attention with fearless abandon and we get it. The good, the bad and the ugly.

Shakti Dancing the Chakras

Hello My Dear Friends,
Another week gone by on this journey called life. Wishing  you many blessings and that you are very well and thank you for staying in touch with me. I am Feeling very blessed with my life. I love teaching my Shakti Dance classes and having extra time to nurture myself,  grandchildren and all my relationships with my children, family, lover, friends and students.

I feel that the key to a happier life is finding the tools that work for you. Sometimes or most of the times we just have to try a few different things to find the things that make you happy and that you are willing to stay determined and consistent and not make any excuses why you should not go or do them.
Many of you know my story of from Corporate Executive to Dance Studio owner in my late 40's. I had forgotten me and focused on making money, career, husband and kids. So when I first started to dig deep I started with Tae Kwon Do and it was awesome I practiced for 5 years and it's exactly what I needed after my divorce. Then I started to do long distance bicycle rides 100 to 150 mile rides with a team and did that for about 10 years also enjoyed the heck out of that and the friends that I made and it was just what I needed at the time.
Finally by 45 I rediscovered dancing and this is where I have settled the last 20 years and I gave up the biking to focus on dance. Let me tell you it has been a journey not always great times but it's the one thing that I will not let anything or anyone get in the way including myself and my wicked witch voice inside my head. Dancing has become my intimate therapist, it's how I keep my physical and mental abilities sharp. It's how I connect to God/dess and it's how I re-energize myself. I love so many forms and this keeps changing. The one consistent and my favorite is Flamenco and Shakti Dance. I love Shakti dance because I can dance to anything in Shakti bellydance, flamenco, African, creative you name it anything and it's a sacred practice that keeps me intimately connected to my creator.
I currently study flamenco, salsa casino, afro-Cuban and teach Shakti Dance, Flamenco & Bellydance.  I would love to find a great spiritual bellydance teacher again and asking the Universe if this would be possible to please bring her to me. I love to teach but I also love to learn. It's like giving and receiving and it keeps my energy flowing.
Therefore I recommend you give my shakti dance, flamenco or bellydance  classes a try you never know when that something that makes a tremendous difference in your life shows up unless you give it a try. Besides my group classes at Banyan House I also teach privates so call me don't be shy (954) 881-6238 my rate is $99 an hour :)

♥️We Started last Saturday 6/8 to Work on Root Chakra with Shakti Dance®️. We are Stretching, Dancing, Meditating to powerful Root Chakra Mantras and music and continuing to connect and balance our Root by deeply connecting to Mother Earth. 

♥️Saturday 6/15 we start working on Sacral Chakra join us and learn what this Chakra is all about and how to align it. Reconnect to your sensuality, sexuality, creativity and get better at going with the flow. Classes are At The Banyan House at 9:45 am & 11:00 am with Carmen (me)
The Sacral, second chakra when healthy brings comfort, pleasure, romance, desire, beauty, ingenuity, passion, affection, style, sexuality, indulgence, sweetness, creativity, art and so much more. How cool is that??

🌻The body never lies. Martha Graham 

🌻Our own physical body possesses a wisdom which we who inhabit the body lack. We give it orders which make no sense.Henry Miller

♥️Give your body permission to express & to heal you through sacred movement 🎶💃🏽

I teach at The Banyan House every Week:
19 S. Federal Hwy, Dania Beach, FL 33004
Saturday June 15: 9:45 am with Conscious Reggae Music
Saturday June 15: 11:00am Shakti Dance Sacral Chakra
Tuesday June 1: 6:30pm Shakti Dance Sacral Chakra (will be different from Saturday class)

Shakti Dance® is a fun restorative Dance and Yoga class that anyone can do. Yes even if you have not taken a class or done anything for you lately. Just open your heart and relax the mind to receive new tools that will make a huge difference in your life.

Also very happy to announce that women signed up for the early bird discounted price for our Women Only retreat in September and I am very very grateful for you and your support. we are going to have a transformational weekend sharing in sisterhood and I can't wait to see and share dance, healing and rituals and so many other tools to help us kick ass for the good of ourselves and those that surround us on this journey.

Wise, Wild & Sacred Feminine Dance Retreat
with Carmen Garzon
New Moon Weekend September 28 & 29, 2019
Manifesting my Retreats dream. I truly wish you could join us in September. Please share this experience with your girlfriends. If you get 3 of your close girl friends or family mom, daughters, sisters to join you get your weekend retreat complimentary or split the total cost with your friends & family and each one pays $135 instead of $180. 
Jacqui Lalita is joining us from  Malibu, California she is an International Sacred Dance teacher dedicated to the Divine Feminine.  it's a great privilege and opportunity to have Jacqui right here in our back yard of South Miami. Area code 33187 in a Private Saraswati Sacred Temple.

The Healing Power of Dance

The Healing Power of Dance
Years ago I had no clue that dance was my most effective healing tool. In my case, I left dance behind for a husband, children and a career.  Eventually, I found myself in a situation of complete stress and dissatisfaction with my life. It wasn’t until I incorporated dance back into my life that I was able to find my way back to myself. I truly found my happy place. I restarted my dance journey at 45 years old with belly dance classes when I was still in corporate America.

I remember how that once a week class immediately started to change my outlook on life.  Going to work each day became easier and easier mostly because I no longer let the issues at work get to me. I had something of my own, dance was back in my life. That was 20 years ago and now I dance every day. These days I am either teaching dance or taking dance classes. I’m currently exploring new dance forms at my tender age of 64. I know my memory has improved and  I’m healthy and fit. But most of all no matter what comes my way in life, dance keeps me going.

When we start to dance the first benefit is a sense of vitality as our life energy awakens. It has been scientifically proven that dancing with the right instructor can decrease depression, improve your moods and strengthen your positive feelings about yourself. With all that said,  there is also the case that we can take anything and make it stressful. For example, when we only focus on the technique of a dance form and the final artistic product of performing. And please don’t misunderstand me, there is nothing wrong with improving our dance technique and performance. I love both myself but you need to find a balance.  Explore improvising from the heart and learn to move and exchange your energy, stay creative, connect with inspiration and express your uniqueness. Move to how you are currently feeling and experiencing life by surrounding yourself with a supportive group.

Besides all the technical dance forms we have heard of or tried such as ballet, jazz, tap, flamenco, bellydance, African , Afro Cuban, salsa, ballroom etc. etc. There is a variety of therapeutic, yoga and sacred dance forms. I find my balance by working with both methods of dance. I highly recommend you try one of the many non technical forms to boost your creativity in your preferred dance form. I have tried so many and I’m always willing to try a new therapy dance forms anytime. Currently my favorites are Shakti Dance® which is a Yoga practice and I loved it so much I became an instructor. I just had to share it with the women I love. My other favorite is Biodanza I practiced this form with the same group for seven years. In this movement form it’s like sitting on a couch for hours with a therapist without having to say a word. In both these practices you don’t need any experience just an openness to allow your body to express and release which brings more grace and joy into your life.

The benefits of dance are just so many. We learn the concepts of movement within rhythms, space and time. It gives your silent voice a tool for expression. Dance is movement and movement is the process of ongoing change. Through dance we learn to flow better with life; we feel our strength, our vulnerability and our interconnectedness to all that is. In the last 20 years that I have been dedicated to women and movement I have seen so many transformations. Women find their tribe of dancers, they move together in sisterhood respecting and supporting each other. I see recoveries from health issues, their youthfulness returns, creativity starts to flow, they start to nurture themselves more and most all I experience their joy.

Feeling blessed to be able to bring movement and dance experiences to women. We are just beyond amazing and we need to always remember that. Love you all so much, I accept you just the way you are, You are Awesome.