“Our body language not only speaks to others, it speaks to ourselves. When we move expressively, that energy returns to us and brings us aliveness.”
Marisa Hamamoto is a late-diagnosed autistic, a stroke survivor, and the founder of Infinite Flow Dance, a nonprofit based in Los Angeles with the mission to advance disability inclusion, one dance at a time. Dance and movement have been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. We had the chance to talk with her about the importance of joyful movement, particularly for autistic people.
Watch the video of our conversation with Marisa here!
From feeling out of place as a fourth-generation Japanese American growing up in a predominantly White community to finding a sense of belonging through dance, Marisa quickly realized that dance is a universal language–a way to connect and unite people despite physical or social barriers.
For Marisa, whether it’s dance or roller skating, movement in its many forms has been beneficial to her mental health. During the pandemic, artistic roller skating became what she called a “movement meditation,” helping her stay present and reclaim joy during a difficult time. This experience reminds us that movement can be a pathway to joy and happiness, despite the inevitable challenges and setbacks of life.
Movement can also offer an avenue for self-expression and social connection. Marisa, who experiences social anxiety related to autism, found that partner dancing provides a space to communicate and connect in ways that feel natural and comfortable. She highlights the importance of finding the right movement practice that aligns with one’s physical needs and personal preferences, advocating for inclusivity on every dance floor and in every movement space.
At Infinite Flow, Marisa’s approach involves translating movement to fit every individual instead of asking disabled bodies to conform and adapt to movements meant for nondisabled bodies. Disabled bodies are often at the center, performing movements that can then be translated for nondisabled.
Marisa is a firm believer in the role movement plays in sparking joy. As she says, “Sometimes we work from the inside out.” For instance, we can think of something happy and then express that, but it can work the other way, too. When we move our bodies, we can then feel happy as a result.
Marisa’s advice is to start anywhere when it comes to joyful movement—put on a YouTube video, sign up for a movement class, go play a sport you love doing, or simply turn on music and start dancing. For adults, she says to think about an activity you did as a child that brought you joy. Ask yourself: What was the essence of the activity? Was it the sense of being challenged or stretching your body? Finally, can you find an activity similar to that? There are those who get fueled through non-structured movements, such as freestyle dancing or jogging, with no goals. For some, moving without structure provides substantial joy. For others, like Marisa, having goals and working toward those movement goals fuel the joy. Now, Marisa is an amateur artistic roller skating competitor. She continues to work towards these goals because of the excitement the challenge brings.
“As an autistic, I thrive on structure and routine. Getting to the roller skating rink every day is predictable and very structured, like ballet. It’s a helpful link between structure and regularity. It feels good.”
What’s your movement for happiness?