Swara Rasa® ~ The Yoga of Harmony
The Resonant Flow of Radiant Being
Swara Rasa® is the active ingredient at the core of the practice of Shakti Dance®. It is a subtle current of harmony arising through the precise synergy or tapestry of yogic techniques that induce Harmonic Resonance. This subtle harmonic flow is characteristic to all Phases of Shakti Dance®.
The Harmonic Resonance of Swara Rasa® is activated when the practice aligns: geometry of posture and rhythmic cycles of organic movement with breath and focus to create coherent and resonant proportional relationships.
Different ‘threads’ of yogic practice (e.g. asana, pranayama, mindfulness, sound & mantra), are organically and rhythmically coordinated to interlock in resonance. In this state, body and mind can then relax and release into fluid transparency. Vibrating in harmonic resonance enables our aware Being to shine through with radiance: ‘Swara’.
As the practice unfolds, a ‘resonant quality of flow‘ then emerges. The vibrational field, or atmosphere, of this flow is characteristic of the ‘proportional tapestry‘ woven by the practice. The resonant quality of the flow is thus imbued with a specific taste, feeling or ‘Rasa’,
Through the Harmonic Resonance of Swara Rasa®, the mind-body instrument is attuned to coherence of heart, opening out into stillness – a deeply receptive state of listening and heightened sensitivity. The somatic flow unlocked in this state is intelligent and creative. The organic organisation of its tunefulness nourishes, heals and spontaneously guides those who embody this state.
The refined organic movement-forms shared in this practice embody subtle tones or phrases of pranic patterns. These movement-forms are like musical motifs or tonal centres, and render visible the invisible sonic geometry of harmonic sound and mantra.
By practicing these carefully sequenced phrases of form and flow, the practitioner’s mind-body instrument is fine-tuned. As this subtle synergy of breath, form, movement and focus is cultivated, the practitioner’s own internal flow of soul-patterning and musical resonance is engaged and revealed.
The ‘Swara Rasa Tapestry’ is a ‘key’ that unlocks the creative flow of Shakti Spirit. This flow off-sets an awakened tunefulness, with heightened synchronistic awareness and spontaneous fractal vitality.
Those who consistently practice and teach Shakti Dance® are deeply transformed by the Swara Rasa Tapestry, facilitating highly creative and wholesome expression.
The practice of Shakti Dance® incorporates within its 8-Phases 4 distinct yogic disciplines, each of which may, with care, be otherwise combined, or practiced as an individual discipline.
These 4 disciplines are:
~ Opening Pranic Currents with Flowing Yoga Asanas
Organic, rhythmic and flowing floor stretches/asanas, coordinated with breath and sound, open and deeply relax the body, releasing stress and blockages; bringing regeneration and rejuvenation. The mindful movement sequences pulsate gently through waves and spirals to extend your range of movement and increase body awareness. This phase is very meditative, grounding and nurturing. It brings the practitioner ‘into their body’, warming up muscles, releasing tension in the fascia and increasing flexibility. Essentially, this phase opens and increases the flow of prana-shakti through the body’s energy channels (nadis).
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Charging the Magnetic Field with Repetitive Standing Exercises
After opening up the pranic-flow, the class moves into energising, breath-related standing exercises that open the chakras, rebalance the 5 elements and charge the pranic body with increased vitality. The energy released in the previous phase is now intensified and distributed throughout body, using rhythmic standing movements and repetitive dance steps from different dance genres to different styles of music and tempo – mostly accompanied by yogic mantras. These standing exercises work with the body’s natural geometry and mechanics, adhering to principles of harmonious movement, e.g. the rebound force, surrendering to gravity, giving impulse from the navel, lifting through the bhandas and reaching through lines of stretch.
~ Mantra Synchronized with Meditative Movement
A form of mandala movement meditation that realign and balance the energy field. They may be done sitting or standing, and are practiced to a mantra – generally in Gurmukhi or Sanskrit. The repeated symmetrical movement sequence becomes a focus that stills the mind, creating sacred geometry with harmonising wave-patterns within the aura. These meditations can be very profound, are enjoyable to learn, and create a powerful group matrix when practiced in a mandala constellation.
~ Mantra Synchronized with Meditative Movement
A form of mandala movement meditation that realign and balance the energy field. They may be done sitting or standing, and are practiced to a mantra – generally in Gurmukhi or Sanskrit. The repeated symmetrical movement sequence becomes a focus that stills the mind, creating sacred geometry with harmonising wave-patterns within the aura. These meditations can be very profound, are enjoyable to learn, and create a powerful group matrix when practiced in a mandala constellation.