Gratitude, Movement, and Burlesque

Oct 30

Every morning when I wake up, I meditate. I use an app called Open (not sponsored…just sharing what works for me). Today’s meditation focused on gratitude for our bodies.

As I thanked my body for carrying me through this life, I was reminded of burlesque.

Before the pandemic, I didn’t really know what burlesque was. I had heard of Dita Von Teese, of course, but I had never seen a show…until she live-streamed one during lockdown. I was captivated by every act, but when Dirty Martini took the stage, something clicked. Her confidence and joy were magnetic.

“If burlesque is for every body type,” I thought, “then I want to do this.”

There was no hesitation—before the show even ended, I was already researching classes and soon became a student at the Philadelphia Burlesque Academy. Around the same time, I found a therapist who encouraged me to explore my creative side, including burlesque.

One day after class, I saw a video of myself performing a short routine and thought, I look good. It was such a simple thought, but a powerful one. I hadn’t felt that way in a long time. For years I avoided pictures, especially full-body ones. Movement had always felt therapeutic, but gratitude for my body still felt complicated. I was learning how to feel safe and comfortable in my own skin, the prerequisites, for feeling truly sexy.

It’s been about three years since then, and my gratitude has deepened in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I’ve made changes that genuinely support me: I’ve lost weight, lowered my cholesterol, gained strength, and discovered new ways of moving. I’ve also found practices that feed my mind and spirit: meditation, breathwork, and EFT tapping among them.

So this morning, when I thanked my body out loud for all it’s done for me, I meant it. I felt a release… and burlesque has been part of that healing, part of that growth.

Each time I step on stage now, it’s an act of gratitude. A celebration of movement, authenticity, and the body that carries me through it all.

Ana Actual