What Colonialism Took From You: And How to Get It Back
One of our teachers . . .
Hello Courageous Thrivers,
How different would the world be now if the wisdom of Indigenous and Native peoples had been honored instead of suppressed?
What would change in the world if we all were treated as if we are wise, wild and free?
What would happen in your life if you experienced in your body that you can reclaim your wisdom, your wildness, and your freedom?
Do you feel a longing to create new realities as you reflect on these questions? I know I do. So I want to offer you a place to start.
Over six years ago I began my training to become certified as a Qoya-inspired movement teacher. It’s a powerful movement practice that is based on the idea that through movement we remember that we are WISE, WILD and FREE. One of my favorite parts about it is that there’s no way to do it wrong.
As a person who has not been gifted with high levels of natural coordination and who attended a college where I had to sign something that said not only would I not drink or have sex I also wouldn’t dance. (Yes, really!) It certainly surprised me when I found myself on my way to teaching movement of any kind, especially a practice that includes a lot of dance.
In Qoya-Inspired movement, every class has a theme and the theme for the first class I ever created and taught was Releasing Through Movement. My theme was an expanded version of a part of class where we literally shake through our whole bodies, as a way to release stuff that isn’t helpful to us, loosen up the stuck energy, release heavy emotions and tension.
Most of us don’t do a lot of shaking in our daily modern lives.
Your Ancestors Already Knew
But in all of our ancestral lineages at some point there lived people who knew that we need to move our bodies in order to move the big energies of emotion and feeling that come with being an alive human.
Colonialism, capitalism, patriarchy and racism have done much to disconnect us from this knowing, usually through horrific violence combined with social codes that keep those of us with more power and privilege silent, numb and unaware. And those with fewer privileges and power managing the brunt of the impact of violent, oppressive forces. But the knowing is there. And I believe it’s increasing in power, even as most of the current ruling elite (aka billionaires) are increasing vicious tactics to stuff out our collective wisdom.
Don’t let them. Amazing One. Be part of the swell of people who are reclaiming connection - to each other, to the Earth, and to our own bodies.
In the midst of an incredible time of stress for most of us in the world and certainly for most of us in the U.S., I encourage you to try the experiment of shaking it off…literally.
The Gazelle Has Something to Teach Us
Have you ever seen one of those wildlife movies when the gazelle or antelope or giraffe gets away from the lion and the camera moves in close to show how its skin literally shakes? It sort of ripples all over its body? The gazelle’s body does naturally what our bodies can also do. We can release big and heavy emotions, big and explosive emotions, all kinds of uncomfortable emotions through shaking.
I don’t mean that if you shake your body you won’t need therapy, or friends to talk to, or hugs, or sexual pleasure. I don’t mean that you don’t also take the action steps that are yours to take to be the change you want to see in the world. You need all of these things.
But as someone who can be taken out of the game by my emotions if I’m not actively working to move them through, shaking is one of the easiest, quickest, simplest supports I’ve found.
And I have spent my life looking for ways to process big emotions.
If it sounds too good to be true, or too simple to work I suggest you make like a scientist and experiment. Shake one hand for 10 seconds and then stop. Hold it up next to your other hand and feel into the sensations in each hand. See what you find out.
Does the shaking hand feel different? Does it feel better? If it does, try shaking your legs, try shaking your belly (like a bowl full of jelly?).
Not so you can forget or jump out of the real suffering that’s happening. Definitely not that. Especially if you are white and multi-priviledged like me.
But so you can stay in the life you are living, and live it fully.
Your Relief Is Part of the Movement
Because the world needs all of us. You matter to the movement. Your relief from depression, your access to vitality—they nourish our collective thriving.
So, reclaim the wisdom of your ancestors and shake it off. Let me know what happens!
Here’s to thriving and equity, and movement that shakes the world,
Deb
AN INVITATION:
If you’re having trouble “shaking off” an experience you had recently that involved race and racism, gender bias and misogyny in which you didn’t show up the way you’d like, or aren’t sure how to process it, I’d like to invite you to schedule a Show Up Without Shame Consultation.
Maybe you have become aware of how white your yoga studio is, and how you overcompesated when you see a Person of Color show up making the whole interaction feel really weird (ask me how I know).
Maybe you were interested in attending a Latinx-centered festival, but wondered if maybe you’d ruin it just by showing up in the room.
Maybe you aren’t sure how you feel about trans people in sports, but don’t know how or where you could go to sort through the shame, confusion and discomfort you have about your feelings.
Maybe you’re struggling to show up with confidence as a leader in your company because you’re so aware of the harm that people like you have done and continue to do, and you don’t want to be one of them.
You are not alone. You are not broken. You aren’t a horrible person. You were conditioned to have harmful race and gender biases. And they don’t dissolve easily. That’s why we do this work together.
On this call we'll get an understanding of a challenge you're facing related to your desire to learn and take action for equity and justice from a place of self-compassion and courage.
You'll leave with empowering next steps uniquely suited to you, and, where applicable, I'll follow up with recommended resources to help you, or your team, to get unstuck.
These are one-off sessions, no long-term commitment.
NOTE: If you’re a Black, Indigenous, Native or a Person of Color and would prefer to work with BIPOG coach or consultant, and/or are LGBTQ+ and want a referral to a Queer coach or consultant. I get it! Hit reply and I’ll share some trusted options with you.