Finding Power and Peace in Rhythm | Renée Werenka | TEDxCanmore

I’m here to share with you the power of

I’m here to share with you the power of rhythm

rhythm

rhythm I know while you may ask yourself what

I know while you may ask yourself what

I know while you may ask yourself what what does rhythm have to do with me and

what does rhythm have to do with me and

what does rhythm have to do with me and we’re gonna get to that later but first

we’re gonna get to that later but first

we’re gonna get to that later but first I want to start off with a little

I want to start off with a little

I want to start off with a little exercise because I hear it all the time

exercise because I hear it all the time

exercise because I hear it all the time from so many people in so many places

from so many people in so many places

from so many people in so many places I’m not musical I don’t have a rhythm I

I’m not musical I don’t have a rhythm I

I’m not musical I don’t have a rhythm I can’t keep a beat and I don’t believe it

can’t keep a beat and I don’t believe it

can’t keep a beat and I don’t believe it I don’t believe any person that says

I don’t believe any person that says

I don’t believe any person that says that to me we all have rhythm and I’d

that to me we all have rhythm and I’d

that to me we all have rhythm and I’d like to show that to you guys right now

like to show that to you guys right now

like to show that to you guys right now if you would humor me and move along

if you would humor me and move along

if you would humor me and move along with me and take your right hand and put

with me and take your right hand and put

with me and take your right hand and put it on your chest or you could choose

it on your chest or you could choose

it on your chest or you could choose your wrist or you could choose right

your wrist or you could choose right

your wrist or you could choose right here just take a deep breath hear what

here just take a deep breath hear what

here just take a deep breath hear what you hear and feel what you feel it’s

you hear and feel what you feel it’s

you hear and feel what you feel it’s kind of fast that heartbeat that’s

kind of fast that heartbeat that’s

kind of fast that heartbeat that’s rhythm the essence of what keeps us

rhythm the essence of what keeps us

rhythm the essence of what keeps us alive and you know we were all connected

alive and you know we were all connected

alive and you know we were all connected to that rhythm before we were even born

to that rhythm before we were even born

to that rhythm before we were even born in our mommies tummies we heard our

in our mommies tummies we heard our

in our mommies tummies we heard our mother’s heartbeat and we felt the

mother’s heartbeat and we felt the

mother’s heartbeat and we felt the movement as she went through her day and

movement as she went through her day and

movement as she went through her day and we heard the reverberation of our own

we heard the reverberation of our own

we heard the reverberation of our own heartbeat and then as babies are born I

heartbeat and then as babies are born I

heartbeat and then as babies are born I don’t know about any of you guys that

don’t know about any of you guys that

don’t know about any of you guys that have kids but as soon as I had kids my

have kids but as soon as I had kids my

have kids but as soon as I had kids my momma instinct kicked in and I are

momma instinct kicked in and I are

momma instinct kicked in and I are rocked and patted when those babies

rocked and patted when those babies

rocked and patted when those babies needed soothing and I still do that in

needed soothing and I still do that in

needed soothing and I still do that in the grocery store line that’s rhythm and

the grocery store line that’s rhythm and

the grocery store line that’s rhythm and I hope that all of you have had the

I hope that all of you have had the

I hope that all of you have had the pleasure to see either in person or on

pleasure to see either in person or on

pleasure to see either in person or on video a young child when music comes on

video a young child when music comes on

video a young child when music comes on that has a great beat and they dance

that has a great beat and they dance

that has a great beat and they dance like no one’s watching without any

like no one’s watching without any

like no one’s watching without any reservation at all

reservation at all

reservation at all and we were all there at one point so

and we were all there at one point so

and we were all there at one point so what happened well I believe that we’ve

what happened well I believe that we’ve

what happened well I believe that we’ve had layers placed upon us by ourselves

had layers placed upon us by ourselves

had layers placed upon us by ourselves and by the people around us about how

and by the people around us about how

and by the people around us about how we’re supposed to be what we’re supposed

we’re supposed to be what we’re supposed

we’re supposed to be what we’re supposed to do we’re supposed to say

to do we’re supposed to say

to do we’re supposed to say and we’re supposed to grow up and stop

and we’re supposed to grow up and stop

and we’re supposed to grow up and stop having so much fun and nothing stifles

having so much fun and nothing stifles

having so much fun and nothing stifles our inner wild like losing that

our inner wild like losing that

our inner wild like losing that connection to our primal rhythm so

connection to our primal rhythm so

connection to our primal rhythm so before we all unleash our inner rhythm

before we all unleash our inner rhythm

before we all unleash our inner rhythm together to here today I just want to

together to here today I just want to

together to here today I just want to take a second and talk to you guys about

take a second and talk to you guys about

take a second and talk to you guys about the concept of flow now in positive

the concept of flow now in positive

the concept of flow now in positive psychology leading researcher me hi

psychology leading researcher me hi

psychology leading researcher me hi chick Sammy hi he has a book that’s

chick Sammy hi he has a book that’s

chick Sammy hi he has a book that’s entitled flow he discovered this concept

entitled flow he discovered this concept

entitled flow he discovered this concept and what it is it’s being fully immersed

and what it is it’s being fully immersed

and what it is it’s being fully immersed and engaged in full involvement and

and engaged in full involvement and

and engaged in full involvement and enjoyment in the process of an activity

enjoyment in the process of an activity

enjoyment in the process of an activity a lot of words that really means you’re

a lot of words that really means you’re

a lot of words that really means you’re in the zone when you’re doing something

in the zone when you’re doing something

in the zone when you’re doing something and everything else ceases to exist and

and everything else ceases to exist and

and everything else ceases to exist and you are right here and now rhythm rhythm

you are right here and now rhythm rhythm

you are right here and now rhythm rhythm heals it brings joy it connects us to

heals it brings joy it connects us to

heals it brings joy it connects us to herself disconnects us from the clutter

herself disconnects us from the clutter

herself disconnects us from the clutter around us and allows us to be fully

around us and allows us to be fully

around us and allows us to be fully immersed in energized focus in the

immersed in energized focus in the

immersed in energized focus in the process of an activity rhythm is a tool

process of an activity rhythm is a tool

process of an activity rhythm is a tool that we can all use in order to reach

that we can all use in order to reach

that we can all use in order to reach that state of flow so what I want to do

that state of flow so what I want to do

that state of flow so what I want to do with you guys here today is I want to

with you guys here today is I want to

with you guys here today is I want to bring you a mini drum circle and when I

bring you a mini drum circle and when I

bring you a mini drum circle and when I say I want to bring you I actually mean

say I want to bring you I actually mean

say I want to bring you I actually mean I want you to be part of it

I want you to be part of it

I want you to be part of it so before we start I’d like to reconnect

so before we start I’d like to reconnect

so before we start I’d like to reconnect to that heart beat so whichever way was

to that heart beat so whichever way was

to that heart beat so whichever way was best for you just just so you can

best for you just just so you can

best for you just just so you can remember you have rhythm every single

remember you have rhythm every single

remember you have rhythm every single one of you everything I mean I don’t

one of you everything I mean I don’t

one of you everything I mean I don’t want to go and be morbid and say there’s

want to go and be morbid and say there’s

want to go and be morbid and say there’s any way we all have rhythm we all have a

any way we all have rhythm we all have a

any way we all have rhythm we all have a heartbeat that’s going on right now so

heartbeat that’s going on right now so

heartbeat that’s going on right now so just reconnect for a sec so beautiful

just reconnect for a sec so beautiful

just reconnect for a sec so beautiful and you know when I facilitate drum

and you know when I facilitate drum

and you know when I facilitate drum circles we always end in a circle

circles we always end in a circle

circles we always end in a circle everybody ends sharing a word about how

everybody ends sharing a word about how

everybody ends sharing a word about how they’re feeling the words that I

they’re feeling the words that I

they’re feeling the words that I consistently hear our love joy peace

consistently hear our love joy peace

consistently hear our love joy peace connection unity all these words tell me

connection unity all these words tell me

connection unity all these words tell me that everybody has experienced flow so

that everybody has experienced flow so

that everybody has experienced flow so to bring that to you guys today I would

to bring that to you guys today I would

to bring that to you guys today I would like to start by turning the lights up

like to start by turning the lights up

like to start by turning the lights up so that I can see all of you really

so that I can see all of you really

so that I can see all of you really clearly now there’s actually real people

clearly now there’s actually real people

clearly now there’s actually real people and that you can see each other and just

and that you can see each other and just

and that you can see each other and just take a second and say hello to your

take a second and say hello to your

take a second and say hello to your neighbor if you haven’t done that

neighbor if you haven’t done that

neighbor if you haven’t done that already

already

already hey I have rhythm and so do you I’m

hey I have rhythm and so do you I’m

hey I have rhythm and so do you I’m excited to be drumming with you soon and

excited to be drumming with you soon and

excited to be drumming with you soon and now that you’ve done that you know

now that you’ve done that you know

now that you’ve done that you know you’re gonna be drumming with friends

you’re gonna be drumming with friends

you’re gonna be drumming with friends and I say drumming and a hundreds of

and I say drumming and a hundreds of

and I say drumming and a hundreds of people in a drum circle is a beautiful

people in a drum circle is a beautiful

people in a drum circle is a beautiful experience that I highly recommend but

experience that I highly recommend but

experience that I highly recommend but we’re gonna be using the percussion that

we’re gonna be using the percussion that

we’re gonna be using the percussion that we bring with us every day so guys we’re

we bring with us every day so guys we’re

we bring with us every day so guys we’re all gonna be copying or tapping or

all gonna be copying or tapping or

all gonna be copying or tapping or stomping you can stand or sit and

stomping you can stand or sit and

stomping you can stand or sit and whatever you would like I’m gonna give

whatever you would like I’m gonna give

whatever you would like I’m gonna give you a few lumps for us to all go through

you a few lumps for us to all go through

you a few lumps for us to all go through together just kind of feel what this

together just kind of feel what this

together just kind of feel what this flow really feels like so the most

flow really feels like so the most

flow really feels like so the most simple way to learn a rhythm is to say

simple way to learn a rhythm is to say

simple way to learn a rhythm is to say it as we use language every day so I am

it as we use language every day so I am

it as we use language every day so I am going to say a simple rhythm and I also

going to say a simple rhythm and I also

going to say a simple rhythm and I also two simple words and I would love for

two simple words and I would love for

two simple words and I would love for you to say it back I’ll say it first and

you to say it back I’ll say it first and

you to say it back I’ll say it first and you say it back ready pepperoni pizza

you say it back ready pepperoni pizza

you say it back ready pepperoni pizza yes step Baroni pizza you got it

yes step Baroni pizza you got it

yes step Baroni pizza you got it pepperoni pizza you got a pepperoni look

pepperoni pizza you got a pepperoni look

pepperoni pizza you got a pepperoni look at that we’re all in rhythm ready and

at that we’re all in rhythm ready and

at that we’re all in rhythm ready and stop yes thank you look that was so

stop yes thank you look that was so

stop yes thank you look that was so fantastic everybody is there so what I’m

fantastic everybody is there so what I’m

fantastic everybody is there so what I’m gonna do is I’m gonna split the room in

gonna do is I’m gonna split the room in

gonna do is I’m gonna split the room in half we’re gonna go like here-ish if

half we’re gonna go like here-ish if

half we’re gonna go like here-ish if you’re in the middle you can choose your

you’re in the middle you can choose your

you’re in the middle you can choose your side this is you guys are in half you

side this is you guys are in half you

side this is you guys are in half you guys are half over here you guys are

guys are half over here you guys are

guys are half over here you guys are gonna be heartbeat go ahead and join me

gonna be heartbeat go ahead and join me

gonna be heartbeat go ahead and join me our heart beat will always keep going

our heart beat will always keep going

our heart beat will always keep going keep going

keep going

keep going you guys ready pepperoni pizza

daddy and sup nice we’re gonna flip you

daddy and sup nice we’re gonna flip you guys heartbeat ready and stop that was

guys heartbeat ready and stop that was

guys heartbeat ready and stop that was so easy you guys did so amazingly I’m

so easy you guys did so amazingly I’m

so easy you guys did so amazingly I’m adding one new rhythm now new words are

adding one new rhythm now new words are

adding one new rhythm now new words are you ready I’ll say it first you guys

you ready I’ll say it first you guys

you ready I’ll say it first you guys will say it back I love apple pie this

will say it back I love apple pie this

will say it back I love apple pie this is I love apple pie yeah ready and stop

is I love apple pie yeah ready and stop

is I love apple pie yeah ready and stop we’re gonna go through this exercise

we’re gonna go through this exercise

we’re gonna go through this exercise again just to make sure everybody feels

again just to make sure everybody feels

again just to make sure everybody feels comfortable this half you guys are our

comfortable this half you guys are our

comfortable this half you guys are our heart beat you guys are our heart beats

ready and stop take a deep breath how do

ready and stop take a deep breath how do you feel now I mean some of you are

you feel now I mean some of you are

you feel now I mean some of you are gonna feel like I feel weird I’ve never

gonna feel like I feel weird I’ve never

gonna feel like I feel weird I’ve never done this before that’s okay other than

done this before that’s okay other than

done this before that’s okay other than that beneath that underneath all of that

that beneath that underneath all of that

that beneath that underneath all of that how do you feel right now feel great I

how do you feel right now feel great I

how do you feel right now feel great I mean I feel awesome so I that all you

mean I feel awesome so I that all you

mean I feel awesome so I that all you guys feel awesome too now in my training

guys feel awesome too now in my training

guys feel awesome too now in my training as a wellness educator I immediately saw

as a wellness educator I immediately saw

as a wellness educator I immediately saw the link between rhythm and flow as a

the link between rhythm and flow as a

the link between rhythm and flow as a tool that we can use in order to release

tool that we can use in order to release

tool that we can use in order to release stress because we can think ourselves

stress because we can think ourselves

stress because we can think ourselves into stress and so many things that

into stress and so many things that

into stress and so many things that happen today that we’re talked about

happen today that we’re talked about

happen today that we’re talked about here today by your phones dinging or by

here today by your phones dinging or by

here today by your phones dinging or by even things that we do every day sitting

even things that we do every day sitting

even things that we do every day sitting in traffic we think ourselves in

in traffic we think ourselves in

in traffic we think ourselves in distress but we cannot effectively think

distress but we cannot effectively think

distress but we cannot effectively think ourselves up dress

ourselves up dress

ourselves up dress we need to turn comm on rhythm and flow

we need to turn comm on rhythm and flow

we need to turn comm on rhythm and flow is one way we can do that just now in

is one way we can do that just now in

is one way we can do that just now in three minutes we can do that and forget

three minutes we can do that and forget

three minutes we can do that and forget about everything else that’s going on so

about everything else that’s going on so

about everything else that’s going on so what I would like to do is take you guys

what I would like to do is take you guys

what I would like to do is take you guys into full drum circle style and if we

into full drum circle style and if we

into full drum circle style and if we could redeem the lights because I’ve

could redeem the lights because I’ve

could redeem the lights because I’ve seen you all you’ve seen each other we

seen you all you’ve seen each other we

seen you all you’ve seen each other we all know everybody now and we’re gonna

all know everybody now and we’re gonna

all know everybody now and we’re gonna go one more version of a drum circle

go one more version of a drum circle

go one more version of a drum circle we’re gonna use all three rhythms

we’re gonna use all three rhythms

we’re gonna use all three rhythms including our heartbeat and I would love

including our heartbeat and I would love

including our heartbeat and I would love it for any of you that feel inclined if

it for any of you that feel inclined if

it for any of you that feel inclined if you want to you can close your eyes also

you want to you can close your eyes also

you want to you can close your eyes also because you’ll hear what’s going on and

because you’ll hear what’s going on and

because you’ll hear what’s going on and allow yourself to experience even just a

allow yourself to experience even just a

allow yourself to experience even just a few moments of flow just to feel what

few moments of flow just to feel what

few moments of flow just to feel what that feels like so we’re gonna go into

that feels like so we’re gonna go into

that feels like so we’re gonna go into thirds roughly here ish roughly here ish

thirds roughly here ish roughly here ish

thirds roughly here ish roughly here ish and all of you guys yeah

and all of you guys yeah

and all of you guys yeah first guys you’re our heartbeat please

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] you guys are gonna be pepperoni Oh

oh wow I still think we’re gonna do it a

oh wow I still think we’re gonna do it a little bit more sometimes it gets

little bit more sometimes it gets

little bit more sometimes it gets uncomfortable as we do it if you’re like

uncomfortable as we do it if you’re like

uncomfortable as we do it if you’re like oh my gosh are we still gonna be in

oh my gosh are we still gonna be in

oh my gosh are we still gonna be in rhythm yeah we are everybody needs to be

rhythm yeah we are everybody needs to be

rhythm yeah we are everybody needs to be the heartbeat middle guys you’re gonna

the heartbeat middle guys you’re gonna

the heartbeat middle guys you’re gonna be our heartbeat you guys are pepperoni

be our heartbeat you guys are pepperoni

be our heartbeat you guys are pepperoni ziti and sup we’re gettin faster I’m

ziti and sup we’re gettin faster I’m

ziti and sup we’re gettin faster I’m gonna guess that that’s my final

gonna guess that that’s my final

gonna guess that that’s my final heartbeat are you guys ready everybody

heartbeat are you guys ready everybody

heartbeat are you guys ready everybody just take it a little deep breath and

just take it a little deep breath and

just take it a little deep breath and like this is the time this is our last

like this is the time this is our last

like this is the time this is our last time today to be able to experience this

time today to be able to experience this

time today to be able to experience this right now

right now

right now you guys are are ready oh you guys

you guys are are ready oh you guys

you guys are are ready oh you guys seriously all rock everybody here you

seriously all rock everybody here you

seriously all rock everybody here you guys did that I would love for you guys

guys did that I would love for you guys

guys did that I would love for you guys all to leave today knowing because you

all to leave today knowing because you

all to leave today knowing because you were in it you did it we all have rhythm

were in it you did it we all have rhythm

were in it you did it we all have rhythm and we can all use that as a tool to

and we can all use that as a tool to

and we can all use that as a tool to connect to flow to connect to our inner

connect to flow to connect to our inner

connect to flow to connect to our inner selves release our inner wild and from

selves release our inner wild and from

selves release our inner wild and from that state connect to the people around

that state connect to the people around

that state connect to the people around us in a beautiful type of community

us in a beautiful type of community

us in a beautiful type of community thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]