I’m always looking for new and exciting forms of expressing one’s self. Whether it be in the form of art, speech or movement, it’s becoming easier and easier to find something that accommodates to your lifestyle, body and needs. I stumbled across Chakradance, which is a Western approach to expressing an Eastern philosophy. The focus is to align the chakras of the body through dance and movement, allowing the body to free restricted energy centres, purifying and cleansing the body, and generally making one feel rejuvenated, balanced, full of energy and stress-free.

In 1998, Natalie Southgate, a dancer and psychologist, developed Chakradance with the aim to connect the body with the mind and soul. To fully grasp the concept, it’s best we briefly look into what chakras are. It’s the idea that the body is made up of seven major energy centres; the crown, third eye, throat, heart, solar plexus, sacral and root (or base) chakra, which are each linked to organs and glands in the body. (To get a good indication of where each one is located, check this out.) It is believed that when one or more chakras are blocked, the energy is distributed unevenly through the body (or not distributed at all) which can cause serious ailments and stress in all avenues of life. It is also believed that certain pitches and beats in music can harness certain energy centres. Have you ever had the absolute need to stomp your feet to a certain tune? It’s because that music contained a frequency which resonates with your root chakra. As your body responds, moving to the rhythm of each particular chakra’s music, different emotions may surface. If you concentrate enough, you can feel that energy swirling around which leads you to shake your thang! It makes a lot of sense, especially when you think about dancers and performers who say they feel like they’re on a ‘high’ after their routine. It’s because they’re allowing their chakras to open up and distribute the energy throughout their entire body.

Chakradance works in a similar sense. Participants dance from the inside out and the music is the key to harnessing the energy. On one level, participants can use their imaginations, work up a sweat, get fit by working on their physical body, and on a deeper level, they go through a process of healing and balancing their etheric body. It allows one to express long-blocked emotions while opening ourselves to a spiritual dimension which some of us never thought existed. It’s a therapeutic, empowering journey of self-discovery, all occurring by listening to your body.

Meditation, yoga, and a lot of other resources can act as outlets to align your chakras too, but what’s great about Chakradance is that you’re also getting a cardio workout where there are no rules concerning movement. You can do it with your eyes closed in a dark room. You can be any age, fitness level and you don’t need any sort of experience. Some find it as a great stress reliever, an outlet to be themselves after a long day at work and some find it as a new path to spiritual awakening. Either way, there’s a lot to gain and nothing to lose!

You can find Chakradance classes in Australia at this link, or the Chakradance CD is available from all good record stores or online at www.chakradance.com.

Big love,