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19 Dec

Posted at 21:25h in Uncategorized

Holding a sacred space Emotions rise up. Feelings overwhelm. And in this moment of vulnerability, true transformation is possible. This experience is not uncommon for those who take part in Ecstatic Awakening Dance™, a nurturing process that is all about helping individuals reconnect with themselves and the universe. In doing so participants are able to feel love and joy by releasing pent-up stress, tension and emotions. Holding a sacred space where this transformation can take place is the privilege and responsibility of an Ecstatic Awakening Dance™ teacher. As raw energy and emotion flow freely, our teachers create a safe space to guide participants...

23 Nov

Posted at 10:15h in Uncategorized

An ancient practice in modern times   She stands in a woven cotton caftan, snakes of coloured material flowing from her shoulders, a brass mirror against her chest to ward off evil spirits. Her appearance belies her connection to Mother Nature, to the spirit realm. Her drum, the shaman’s drum, beats to a rhythm that resonates within us all. She is an ugdan, a Mongolian shamaness. This is not a description of a woman resigned to the history books. Mongolian shamanism is as alive today as it was thousands of years ago, as far back as recorded history can take us and likely...

17 Oct

Posted at 09:57h in Uncategorized

The journey to becoming an Ecstatic Awakening Dance teacher To feel free, present and at one with the universe is transformative, that is the power of Ecstatic Awakening Dance. Experience it and find moments of true bliss. Teach it and feel that bliss spread out into the world through the lives you’ll touch, inspire and empower. This is a truth we know only too well at the School of Ecstatic Movement. For 12 years we’ve welcomed those drawn to teach and to heal to become Ecstatic Awakening Dance™ teachers, with our comprehensive 9-month online programme, including a one-week residential retreat. Creating community through...

17 Oct

Posted at 09:56h in Uncategorized

Exploring the beauty of tribal dance across the world   Pick any point in history on any land where humans roam and you will find dance. Nature has always had its rhythms and through dance we are reminded that we too are a part of Nature. Within each of us beats a rhythm so deeply rooted that even in the face of oppression, even after generations of conformity and self-denial, it lives on. Tribes across the globe nurture this intrinsic rhythm and dance to celebrate, to mourn, to belong or simply to feel. Dances once thought lost to history are now revived, such as...

19 Sep

Posted at 15:22h in Breath, Ecstatic Awakening Dance, Shamanism

Breath of Fire; An ancient yogic tool to free your mind Breathe, your first breath. Think of the moment new life comes into being, the instant a baby leaves the safety of its mother’s womb to enter this world, taking its first breath. Picture it in your mind. Now listen. What sound do hear? A cry, a gasp? Breath, the first breath. Breath is life. From your very first gasp to the present moment, the rhythm of your breath tells its own story of the ups and downs of your journey. Learning to control your breath brings with it the ability to still your...

19 Sep

Posted at 15:05h in Uncategorized

The resurgence of cacao ceremonies   Skin the colour of the earth and black-rimmed eyes, a force to be reckoned with, a God no less, Ek-Chuah. Such was the devotion he inspired that they honoured him with one of their most treasured goods: the fruits of the cacao tree. They were the Mayans and cacao was central to their way of life. It was a currency, it was a tribute, it was a sacred drink. So why did the Mayans prize cacao so highly? What did they know about this potent seed that we forgot over the centuries as cacao became processed into chocolate? What...

21 Aug

Posted at 14:17h in Uncategorized

Understanding the energies within you   ‘She’s just so masculine’. ‘He’s really quite feminine’. Remarks like these are often said with a mocking tone. In a black and white world, femininity is the domain of women and masculinity that of men. Any blurring of those lines can be met with confusion or worse, anger. But life is not black and white. Each of us, whatever our gender, has both feminine and masculine energies. Each of us contains the power of the Divine Feminine and the Sacred Masculine. But our understanding of these energies has been lost in a world that no longer looks inward for...

21 Aug

Posted at 14:17h in Uncategorized

The roots of Ecstatic Awakening Dance   A world shaken apart early in life. The brutality of bearing witness to physical violence and alcoholism. Shame and isolation. Depression and suicidal thoughts. This is the start of Amoda Maa Jevan’s story, a story that would wander and weave through life’s challenges but ultimately lead to the creation of Ecstatic Awakening Dance.   How could such darkness bring such positivity into the world?   For Amoda the trappings of her material life fell away in her late twenties, leaving her without a roof over her head or money in her pocket. The identities she had clung to personally...

21 Aug

Posted at 14:16h in Uncategorized

Connecting to the Divine She was always his equal. Two halves of a whole people say. He unchanging and steadfast; She forever creating, alive with movement. Shakti and Shiva. Or maybe to you they are Ida and Pingala. Yin and Yang. Different places, different names, sometimes personified, sometimes not, but their meaning has stayed the same. The Divine Feminine and the Sacred Masculine: two powerful energies that are part of our very make-up. Throughout history and across cultures, people have sought to better understand, channel and harness these energies. While they each conjure up the notion of distinctly male or female energies, they are...

21 Aug

Posted at 14:14h in Uncategorized

Stilling the chatter to experience the present   Why did she say that? Did she mean it? What does she really think of me? Should I even care? Where does it end? That internal monologue is so easily switched on and so hard to switch off. The constant chatter in our minds can be draining. It’s problematic enough at work when you’re trying to get a job done, then at home when you’re meant to be listening intently to your partner or friend but your mind just won’t give you the space to do that. But what effect is that endless chatter having on...