COEUR (Heart = Courage): Dancing between Love and Fear

“Love is what we are born with; fear is what we learn.”

-Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love

In Ayurveda, the heart is the seat of Prana (life force), Ojas (strength/immunity), and Tejas (intelligence/radiance). In Tantra, Hridaya (the heart) is the seat of pure consciousness, while Anahata (“the heart”) chakra is associated with love, compassion, and connection and related to the element of Vayu/Air.

Love and connection strengthen our hearts; fear, separation, and stress weaken them.  

How do we keep our hearts open after they’ve been broken? How do we embody love despite the presence of fear? How do our personal fears manifest in our collective?  How can we cultivate resilience and strength of our hearts in a time of heightened uncertainty, anxiety, and an overwhelming amount of violence, aggression, and injustice? These are some of the questions we will explore in this 2- hour experiential workshop.

The workshop includes:

-  Somatic/movement-based practice inspired by the Vayu/Air element

-  Embodied inquiry, self-reflection, and creative expression of our hearts

-  A  lecture on qualities of Vayu/Air element and Anahata chakra and explanation of how they show up in us individually, relationally, and collectively

-  Ayurvedic heart care (including nourishing and Ojas-building recipes) for physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing

-  Heart-centred restorative practice/meditation

-  Integration and suggestions for heart-centred daily practices

Materials needed:

-  A computer/laptop and a good internet connection

-  A journal/art supplies (whatever you have at home)

-  Comfortable clothing that will allow you to move freely

-   A quiet space

-   For restorative practice, you may wish to have a blanket, a bolster and a few blocks handy. If you don’t have the props, you can substitute a bolster with a sturdy pillow or sofa cushions and blocks with a few books (dictionaries make great blocks! ;))

Mode of instruction:  via Zoom (the link will be provided prior to the workshop)

Price:  Sliding scale $20 - $45

PLEASE NOTE:  This workshop will NOT be recorded in order to ensure physical, mental, and emotional presence and to preserve the privacy of the participants.