Published: May 09, 2007 12:01 pm         

‘Imani System’ eases pain through dance

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Asianne Imani studies with some of the world’s top ethnic dancers, performs as a soloist around the country and leads workshops in authentic dances from the near East, far East and Middle East.

But eight years ago, she could barely lift her head off the pillow. At 28, Imani was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, a chronic condition characterized by widespread muscle, joint or bone pain.

“I was completely debilitated,” said Imani, now 35. “I was walking with a cane and the doctors told me that was how I’d be the rest of my life.”

A longtime fitness expert who had practiced and taught aerobics, Pilates and yoga and who loved to dance, Imani refused to give up. Although regular forms of exercise sapped her strength and her body wouldn’t respond to certain movements, she immersed herself in the world of Middle Eastern dance. Using basic yoga stretches and postures modified to ease her body into movement in stages, she found she could move again.

“I started out slowly. I used some of the form of Pilates, but I changed it and worked it and realized there was a sequence that worked the body into a more comfortable position,” she said. “I kept prevailing and I noticed I was getting better. I was off the cane in six months.”

Eventually she developed what she calls Elemental Egyptian Dance, which combines the elements of the earth with Egyptian dance to “rebuild the body and free the mind of stressful tensions.” She patented the technique, then incorporated other elements into it and patented them, too.

Now she’s teaching the “Imani System” to others, through classes at the Betsie Valley Fitness Club in Frankfort and elsewhere. While not all of her students suffer from chronic pain, she said she tends to pull in people with stiffness, arthritis and fibromyalgia.

“Really the basis was that there are tons of people out there like myself who hurt and think there’s no hope,” she said.

Dance has been used to address chronic pain since 1973, said Susan Kierr, a member of the American Dance Therapy Association practicing in New Orleans.

“We haven’t been doing the kind of controlled studies we should, but we know it works,” Kierr said. “And part of it is we understand neurologically that we’re generating a chemistry that has pain killers in it.”

By moving in a way she could tolerate, Imani started the creation of endorphins in her own system, which in turn allowed her to move more, Kierr said.

“She treated herself as if she was taking a pain killer, but in fact she was generating a pain killer,” she said.

Middle Eastern dance is a particularly good form of aerobic exercise that also works specific muscle groups — especially with the use of props like veils and sagat, or finger cymbals, said Imani. Best of all, its flowing movements are gentle, making them ideal for people with joint damage or pain.

“A lot of students were ballet students who had really bad damage and runners who had joint pain,” she said. “When you’re 30, doing ballet is very painful and there’s a beautiful unity to Middle Eastern dance they can’t get in any other type of dance. And for runners, when they do it right, it’s quite a workout. I tell my students if we do everything right, we’ll be fit as fiddles.”

Krista Beck and her daughter, Alexandra Press, 8, have studied with Imani for a year, driving all the way from Rapid City to Frankfort once a week. A diabetic who is dependent on an insulin pump, Beck, 30, said the class gives her an outlet for exercise while accommodating her special needs.

“I just knew from talking to her and observing a few classes that she addressed people who had medical issues and makes modifications as necessary so we might be able to participate,” she said.

Beck’s husband, Bruce White, said the class is important for another reason.

“It relieves stress,” said White, 40. “It’s a busy time, with her being a good mom. It gets her away and gives her some girl time and builds some energy. Life’s pretty stressful, even in northern Michigan.”

Eileen Millard, an art teacher at Frankfort Elementary School, said Imani’s system allows her to use both sides of her brain and her body.

“My hip was stiff in June and now both sides are more balanced and flexible,” said Millard, 55. “I’ve taken yoga for a lot of years and a lot of what we do reminds me of yoga. I think that’s what keeps you from getting pain. When I do this, I don’t feel old.”

Imani, who will perform May 18 at the 14th Annual Orientalia Festival in Miami Beach, hopes to extend her classes to Traverse City, calling on her connections with dancers from Algeria and Egypt for guest instructors.

But first she said she’ll have to overcome the stereotype of Middle Eastern dance as the hip-grinding midriff-bearing gyrations often performed by amateur groups.

“I spent the last 16 years learning from the best people in the world. When I came here, practically no one knew anything about this dance. Or if they thought they knew what it was, they were completely wrong,” she said. “When I say the words Middle Eastern dance or belly dance people immediately throw a flag because it must be hoochy koochy dance.

“I want to share this with people of Traverse City and allow them to see this and experience it and I think it would be a travesty for them not to grab on with both hands.”



Marta Hepler Drahos writes for The Record-Eagle in Traverse City, Mich.