Dancing Through Life’s Blocks with Erica Hornthal

The Gently Used Human with Dr. Scott Lyons

In this episode, we sit down with Erica Hornthal, a trailblazer in the world of dance and movement therapy. If you’ve ever felt stuck in life, emotionally overwhelmed, or even disconnected from your own body, this conversation is a must-listen. Erica helps us understand that movement is far more than just exercise – it’s a way to rediscover ourselves, heal from past traumas, and connect more deeply with who we are.

Are you curious about how movement can be a catalyst for change in your life? Erica invites us to look beyond structured exercise and tune into our bodies’ natural rhythms and movements – like the way we sit, walk, or even breathe. She reminds us that movement starts with the smallest, simplest gestures, and that even when we feel trapped in old patterns, moving our bodies can unlock a path to emotional freedom.

Together with Dr. Scott Lyons, Erica shares how our earliest movements – crawling, rolling, and even rocking – shape the way we interact with the world and how we can return to these roots to shift stuck energy. They talk about how reconnecting with play and spontaneity can help us break free of rigid thinking and foster more flexibility in body and mind.

Erica offers practical ways to get started: maybe it’s leaning against a wall and letting go for a moment, exploring playful twirling, or simply noticing how our bodies react when we’re tense. She also introduces her Movement Therapy Deck, a tool designed to make reconnecting with movement accessible and engaging for everyone. Whether through mindful practices, body awareness, or gentle movement prompts, the deck offers guidance for tuning into and transforming your physical experience.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not a dancer,” Erica reassures you: movement is for everyone. Healing through movement isn’t about choreography; it’s about reconnecting with yourself, one step at a time.

So, whether you’re someone who struggles with anxiety, feels stuck in their daily routine, or just wants to reconnect with their playful side, this episode holds something for you. Let’s get moving!

Topics We Break Down:

• What is dance and movement therapy, really?
• The disconnect between movement and traditional exercise.
• How movement can heal trauma and reconnect us with our bodies.
• The role of play and spontaneity in finding emotional freedom.
• Practical tools to integrate movement into your daily life.
• Using movement to explore and shift anxiety and tension.
• Rediscovering joy and flow through the body.