DANCE AND CHAKRAS

Much we hear about the chakras. We might have heard about them in yoga or meditation. I personally know very little about it, but instinctively through dance technique, I know I am definitely tapping into some healing and balancing internal matters when I move and connect with the different parts of my body in specific ways.
This blog researches how dance can help balance and improve the flow of energy in your body and specify which kind of styles have paid attention to targetting each chakra.

BUT WHAT ARE THE CHAKRAS?

Chakras play a role in the flow of energy in your body. Running from the base of your spine to the top of your head.
The seven main chakras correspond to specific nerve bundles and organs in your body.
When one or more of your chakras becomes blocked or unbalanced, it’s thought to impact your physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health.
We all have energy centers, or chakras, in our bodies. In Sanskrit, a chakra is a wheel or disk of spinning energy. This energy corresponds to nerve bundles and major organs.
Ideally, your chakras stay open and balanced, allowing them to function well. But life happens and for one reason or another, our chakras can become unbalanced or blocked.
This can cause physical or emotional symptoms related to the blocked chakra.
Some people believe there are 114 different chakras in the body, but most experts focus on the seven major types. This time we will simplify it and stay with the main 7.

EVERY CHAKRA HAS ITS OWN DANCE

Chakradance is a healing movement practice. It’s a form of nourishment for your true self – for your soul. Moving to music specifically created to resonate with each chakra, you are guided into your own inner dance of release and re-connection. It offers a kind of liberation. It feels like coming home.

Your seven chakras are a part of your energy system “flow” They connect you with the larger part of yourself, the universe, and at the same time they hold the secrets to your unique body, your unique mind.
Your chakras are powerhouses of energy. Learn how your body can tap into these energy flows to reward you with better health, an advanced progressive self awareness and a peaceful happier attitude towards your life and those around you. Discovering these exciting energy flows through dance, I believe can assist in greater self control mentally and physically along with assisting in subtle self healing, body correcting and a detoxifying of detrimental previously learned bad habits to the body.

I will share my findings on which kind of music and movement is recommended for each chakra and why. As well as a small ritual with the elements that will enhance their attention, focus, and alignment. I found this at an article called ‘Practice Peace’.

1st Chakra /// Root Chakra – Red

Why: To feel more rooted and grounded, to feel safe, to experience your basis. Music: Ethnic and electronic music with lots of drums and beats. Didgeridoo sounds, low tones. Movement: Leg and feet movements, emphasizing contact with the floor. As if you use your lower body to feel the ground, push it away, caress it, stamp it or ‘kiss’ it. Ritual: The element for this chakra is earth. Make an altar with earth, leaves, bits of wood – anything that grows from the soil.

2nd Chakra /// Sacral Chakra – Orange

Why: To boost your sensuality, creativity, and emotions. Music: Jazz, soul, and Latin: anything that makes your hips move. Movement: Move your hips/pelvis, most of all, in rotating motions and in a rhythmical flow. Ritual: The element for this chakra is water. Use anything that you associate with water: put down some shells or simply a container filled with water to remind you of the quality of fluidity.

3rd Chakra /// Solar Plexus – Yellow

Why: This helps you work on your willpower, confidence, finding your identity, and transformation Music: Pop, hiphop, rap, rock: rebellious music by people who rose up and found their identity. Movement: This chakra is around your midriff. The movements that go with it come from the martial arts: punch, slap, kick. Ritual: The element for this chakra is fire, because to burn is also to transform. Place candles in the room, or ashes.

4th Chakra /// Heart – Green

Why: To feel love, gratitude, compassion and peace. Music: Melodious songs, love songs, often in minor because that makes the feeling go to the heart. Movement: Open your heart by opening your hands and arms in front of your chest, press your palms together in front of your heart, or swing your arms and hands back and forth together, in parallel. Ritual: The element for this chakra is air. Use feathers – because birds fly in the air – and heart-shaped things.

5th Chakra /// Throat – Light Blue

Why: For more self-expression, to speak your mind, and to communicate clearly. Music: Songs you can sing along to, literally to let your voice be heard. For example ‘Don’t worry, be happy’ or ‘Let it be’. Movement: Allow your whole body to vibrate to the music. Feel your breath flow through your body, tremble, shake everything loose, hum, make some noise. Ritual: The element for this chakra is sound. Set out bells and singing bowls and let them chime.

6th Chakra /// Third Eye – Indigo

Why: When you want to work on your intuition, wisdom, imagination and concentration. Music: Fusion world music, with various styles, languages and melodies in one track. Movement: Move your head, face and neck, play with looking inward and outward, and stick out your tongue. Ritual: The element for this chakra is light. Find some personal items that give you wisdom: jewelry or photographs of loved ones or parents, a story from which you learned. These items bring light into your life.

7th Chakra /// Crown – Purple or White/Gold

Why: To experience unity and oneness with the world, animals, people, the universe, and everything. Music: Spiritual music, mantras, overtones, singing bowls, meditation music, healing songs. Movement: Become aware of the sphere around your body – and everything. Feel the energy go up and down your spine, feel how all your chakras are working together. Stretch in all directions like a sunstar, like the person in the famous Da Vinci drawing. Ritual: The element for this chakra is the community, the whole. You can use mindfulness here, and if you’re in a group, you can form a circle or do a group hug.

DANCE STYLES WITH CHAKRA FUSION

It has been interesting to see how different styles have come to want to be more aware and align their specific dance technique to cover not only the physical benefits and presentation but also the mental and spiritual energy that flows through us.
Just to mention an example- Belly Dance Chakra Fusion.
I truly believe every style could have a Chakra fusion. And be named with it. Imagine this, Zouk Chakra Fusion, Flamenco Chakra Fusion, Tango Chakra Fusion, Salsa Chakra Fusion.

Dance is so therapeutic and meditative, we release so many endorphins we don’t even realize we are tapping in representing a spiritual connection, perception, self-expression, love, power, sexual energy, creativity and survival sense of security through a myriad of dance styles.

Your chakras are powerhouses of energy. Learn how your body can tap into these energy flows to reward you with better health, advanced progressive self-awareness, and a peaceful, happier attitude toward your life and those around you.

I invite you to open your heart with this yoga class.