In this episode, Dr. Shainna chats with Omika Jikaria a dancer, yoga and meditation teacher, and reiki energy healing practitioner who helps us explore the connection between dance and mental health.

From this conversation you’ll learn about:

• Therapeutic qualities of dance

• Omika and Dr. Shainna’s personal reflections about dance from

• How dance can help your mental well-being

• Where to begin with integrating dance into your self-care practice

About Omika Jikaria:

Omika Jikaria is a dancer, yoga and meditation teacher, reiki energy healing practitioner, and management consultant based in New York City. She is passionate about enabling people to cultivate clarity, insight, and peace, in a world filled with distraction and excess stimulation. As a Native New Yorker, Omika finds joy and meaning in working with busy professionals to incorporate conscious movement, mindful stillness, and well-being into daily life.

Follow on Instagram

About Dr. Shainna:

Dr. Shainna is a mental health counselor, educator, and advocate who is passionate about destigmatizing mental health counseling and helping individuals worldwide recognize the importance of fostering mental wellness. She is the creator of The Self-Love Workbook, The Self-Love Workbook for Teens, Luna Finds Love Everywhere: A Self-Love Book for Kids, The Self-Love Planner, and Designing Healthy Boundaries. She has been featured through outlets such as ABC, CBS, NPR Washington Post, and Insider. Dr. Shainna’s passion for promoting mental health awareness and access inspired her to host the Mental Wellness Practice Podcast. Dr. Shainna is the owner and operator of Integrated Counseling Solutions, LLC, a strengths-based clinical mental health and consulting practice located in Central Florida. Additionally, she has served on the Board of Directors of The Mental Health Association of Central Florida and is a past president of the Florida Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development. Dr. Shainna has been honored with the Association for Specialists in Group Work's Al Dye Award, the Pete Fischer Humanitarian Award, and UCF’s 30 under 30 and Noble Knight distinctions for her efforts in promoting mental wellness. You can learn more through her website www.DrShainna.com or follow along on Instagram @DrShainna.

Mental Wellness Resources:

Diversity and Dance: Exploring the Therapeutic Implications of World Dance

Using Dance to Cultivate Self-Love

Designing Healthy Boundaries

The Self-Love Workbook

The Self-Love Workbook for Teens

The Self-Love Planner

Luna Finds Love Everywhere

Find a Mental Health Provider:

National Alliance on Mental Illness

National Mental Health Lifeline

Open Path

Therify

Melanin & Mental Health

Inclusive Therapists

Therapy for Black Girls

Asian Mental Health Collective