Switch
on the music...and
come dancing. David Goding looks at a new mind/body
fitness therapy, a mix between yoga and jazz ballet.
7 Steps To Healing, by David Goding
Appeared
in Good
Medicine Magazine
Based on the more than 4000-year old system of
the chakras that form the backbone of Eastern
philosophies of the body, including yoga and acupuncture,
CHAKRADANCE™ is a new form of fitness - for the
mind, body and soul.
CHAKRADANCE™ can be used to de-stress, explore
your inner energy, and to get fit in the process.
Eastern philosophy believes that there are seven
chakras, or centres of energy, between the base
of the spine - the base chakra - and the top of
the head - the crown chakra.
The individual chakras represent the vital aspects
of our life - safety, sexuality, power, love,
intuition, communication and realisation, as well
as our physical body.
CHAKRADANCE™ is centred on the idea that individual
chakras have unique frequencies that respond to
different sounds. This provides us with a gateway
for energy to flow in and out of the body.
"Ultimately CHAKRADANCE™ is a form of healing",
says psychotherapist Natalie Southgate, the Australian
who developed the method. "You can think
of it as being a form of vibrational medicine
using creativity, dance and music as the healing
tools to balance the chakras.
"Psychiatrist Carl Jung was one of the first
Westerners to work with the chakras", she
says. "The whole Jungian way of working is
quite a spiritual form of psychotherapy, and very
energy based. I bring quite a lot of the Jungian
psychology into chakradance.
"We start with gentle warm-up exercises,
just to get people moving their bodies, then we
discuss the particular chakra we’re working
with that night. The rest of the night is spent
in guided dance to work on the chakra in different
ways."
FEEL THE MUSIC
Unlike other forms of movement therapy, you don’t
learn chakradance, you feel it, says Southgate.
It’s about understanding and developing your
own body and mind, not someone else’s. Some
people bound around, while others simply sway
gently to the music. Many dance as they would
on a Saturday night out, albeit without the smoke
and alcoholic drinks, and with much more space
to move.
" I encourage people to do it with their
eyes softly closed because it is very much about
having their own internal experience," says
Southgate. " It’s not about performance
in any way at all. You pretty much ignore each
other."
The result has been described as a cross between
yoga and jazz ballet. But the music that is used
doesn’t fit this description. " We work
with musicians, as well as listening to a lot
of recorded music," explains Southgate. "
Each week the music for each chakra is really
different. The music plays the most important
role, in that each chakra holds its own vibrational
frequency, from the base chakra, which has a very
low, dense frequency, through to the crown chakra,
which has a very high frequency. A particular
illness would normally relate to a particular
chakra, but the wholistic approach to any healing
work is that nothing is in isolation, so you should
still work with all of the chakras, because a
block in one chakra also can affect something
else."
CHAKRADANCE™ is attracting a wide range of people,
from 18 tp 80 years of age. " It’s very
powerful. Even someone who doesn’t know a
thing about chakras, who’s never done a drop
of self-development work in their lives, is amazed
how they can actually feel it," says Southgate.
It’s very freeing, and I think a lot of people
need that."
Here is a description of the seven chakras, and
the type of music that gets them going.
1 Base Chakra
Located at the base of the spine, the base chakra
affects our bones, teeth, bowel, anus, large intestines,
legs and feet, as well as our adrenal glands.
It is important for our grounding, and provides
the body with overall vitality and balance.
A problem with the base chakra, such as a blockage
or an excess, may result in weight problems, poor
concentration, restlessness, a problem with money,
being tired, lazy or disorganised.
The base chakra area is positively affected by
the reverberations of low notes and primal sounds
such as drums, didgeridoo and earthy tribal music.
2 Sacral Chakra
This chakra is located in the lower abdomen, about
5cm below the navel. It governs the health of
the reproductive organs, kidneys, bladder and
menstrual cycle, and affects our sexuality, general
pleasure and emotional release.
The sacral chakra also represents the energies
of the inner child, which is what Jung called
the "shadow self". Releasing this chakra
helps to heal past emotional wounds.
Problems with the sacral chakra include emotional
inhibitions, a lack of passion, a rigid attitude,
being overly opinionated, hysteria, mood swings,
sexual dysfunction and lower back pain.
Listening to fluid, sensual music with a flowing
rhythm helps release the energies connected to
the sacral chakra. Belly-dancing music is ideal.
3 Solar Plexus Chakra
The solar plexus chakra is located between the
navel and the base of the sternum. It affects
the health of the digestive system, liver, stomach,
gall bladder, pancreas and muscles. It also can
influence our self-esteem, self-discipline, willpower
and reliability.
An imbalance in this chakra results in the person
becoming unreliable and unmotivated, aggressive
and arrogant. It may be displayed in the form
of an eating disorder, diabetes, chronic fatigue,
or as a problem with the stomach, panreas or liver.
The solar plexus chakra responds to fast, energetic,
masculine and dynamic music with a consistent,
strong beat - a metaphoric whack to the solar
plexus, which makes you want to move your whole
body.
4 Heart Chakra
This chakra effects the arms,hands, and lungs,
as well as the heart. It also influences relationships
and love. When balanced a person can be loving,
peaceful, forgiving and compassionate.
When this chakra is imbalances, a person may become
antisocial, depressed, judgemental, jealous,or
demanding. They also may develop problems with
immunity, asthma or high blood pressure.
Heart chakra music is expansive, uplifting and
airy - it makes your heart feel warm, and gets
you moving your arms and breathing deeply.
5 Throat Chakra
This chakra effects the neck, ears, vocal cords,
throat and thyroid gland. It influences listening
skills, communication and creativity.
An imbalance of the throat chakra may lead to
physical complaints of the throat, jaw and voice,
and problems with self-expression and shyness.
CHAKRADANCE™ has been especially effective in freeing
the throat chakra. Southgate says that during
a session a lot of people feel the effects so
much they start to cough.
Throat music typically has an ethereal quality
to it. You also can use music that encourages
you to make sounds with your voice.
6 Third Eye Chakra
Our third eye is located between the eyebrows.
It affects our eyes, as well as our imagination
and intuition. When our third eye chakra is balanced
we have a vivid imagination and a healthy memory,
and are perceptive.
However, when this chakra is imbalanced you may
experience memory problems, nightmares, eyesight
problems or headaches.
Music that works for the third eye is monotonous
and trance-inducing. It opens up your consciousness.
7 Crown Chakra
The crowm chakra is at the top of the head. It
affects the brain and nervous system, as well
as our understanding and our consciousness.
An imbalance in the crown chakra may lead to learning
problems, being overly materialistic or intellectual,
or having problems with greed.
Meditative and spiritual music is needed to energise
and rebalance the area of the crown chakra.
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