EMBODIED CHAKRAS

Somatic intelligence is a really good thing when examining the chakras!

Why? Because often we sit outside of our energy centres examining – opposed to experiencing. Somatic application is the process of recognising how we, as our bodies, feel the quality of aliveness.

The history and science of chakras vary. You are dealing with energy, form shapeshifting due to sound, visual and other stimuli impact. There are 7 major chakra energy wheels within the body which act as major resources for us to experience, and experience the connection to other and our environment.

I have been teaching energy movement patterns in the form of yoga, somatic movement and tai chi for more than 20 years. There is so much confusion and questioning around the energy Chakra Systems, which is good, but sometimes we look for science-based evidence to tell us what is real in a world that is not concrete and override emotions and sensations and their impact on the mind-body. We get wishy-washy and belittle this system by applying ungrounded methods that disempower our experience, spending good money for a quick type of fix without the substance of our ground.

This is why our ground is hugely important. This is why it is necessary for us to examine our energy; where we place it, what emerges in this placement and how your body is soaked in the energy of the first and second chakra.

First Chakra: The Muladhara is the chakra of stability, security, and our basic needs. It encompasses the first three vertebrae, the bladder, and the colon. When this chakra is open, we feel safe and fearless.

Second Chakra: The Svadhisthana chakra is our creativity and sexual centre. It is located above the pubic bone, below the navel, and is responsible for our creative expression.

What we do in the workshop

This 3 hour workshops examines the 1st and 2nd Chakra using Somatic Therapy and Yogic techniques.

We work individually and in groups with sound, meditation, storytelling and playful somatic exercises.

We travel through our bodies to experience and ask ‘What is ground?’, ‘How do we ground ourselves?’, ‘How is this relevant to how we live?’, while discovering what it is to be in a body that is relaxed, less inhibited, and open to being more vital.

Once we have established our ground we can start to play with sensuality, recognising the pure sensations of being a body. We gently explore self and relationship, relationship to other, and our world around us. We will have recognition of being less bound up, and literally have more space to move and breath and feel excited by life.

We will be using the text ‘Eastern Body, Western Mind’ by Anodea Judith to explore the connection of body and earth, emotions and water.

Before we can begin to discover the higher chakras, we must fundamentally restore our ground so that when we start to build, we are able to stack thoughtfully through our energy systems with clarity, strength, openness and sincerity. We can then begin to recognise the depth of this science, and how we can integrate this knowledge for better health, body awareness, and spiritual practice.