RADICAL BREATHING
March Celebrations | 30.03.23
March has several holidays that celebrate freedom, love and victory including International Women’s Day, Holi and Shouter Baptist Liberation Day. Freedom is said to be a fundamental human right. It’s been sought, cherished and fought for throughout history. We’re just liberated from daylight savings and I’m praying that by sometime next week I can make all my meetings without the added factor of “Who’s still on DST?”
On March 8 we celebrate International Women's Day, and note the progress that has been made in the fight for gender equality, while also recognising that there is still much work to be done. The ability to make choices and decisions that affect our lives without being constrained by external forces, the power to act on those choices and decisions and to pursue our goals and dreams without fear of oppression or persecution are still not freedoms every woman enjoys.
March 30th is Shouter Baptist Liberation Day, a public holiday celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago. It commemorates the repeal of the 1917 Shouters Prohibition Ordinance, used to suppress the practices of the Shouter Baptist faith, a religious movement born from enslaved African peoples and their descendants in the Caribbean.
The Shouter Baptists had been persecuted and criminalised by the colonial authorities, for their “loud, primitive and superstitious” practices. The 1917 ordinance made it illegal for Shouter Baptists to practice their faith in public, and many were arrested and fined for doing so. The Shouter Baptists persisted and continued to gather in secret despite the risks.
In 1951, the ordinance was finally repealed. Shouter Baptist Liberation Day is a reminder of the power of the collective in overcoming the forces of oppression and suppression and of the importance of preserving cultural traditions and religious practices. It celebrates the resilience and determination of those who fought for their freedom.
“Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another.”
― Toni Morrison, Beloved
Self awareness is critical in our personal freedom. Becoming aware of our thoughts, feelings and behaviours helps us understand ways we limit ourselves. With awareness we can begin to make changes that will allow us to live more freely. As we get free, we show what freedom feels like. In becoming Radically Liberated we become intolerant to any oppression or marginalisation. We are mindful of the ways in which our own actions and beliefs may contribute to the oppression of others. We listen to and learn from those who are different from us, broaden our understanding of what freedom truly means, and we’re inspired to work together to create a more just and equitable world.
“I am never alone wherever I am. The air itself supplies me with a century of love. When I breathe in, I am breathing in the laughter, tears, victories, passions, thoughts, memories, existence, joys, moments, and the hues of the sunlight on many tones of skin; I am breathing in the same air that was exhaled by many before me. The air that bore them life. And so how can I ever say that I am alone?”
― C. JoyBell C.
VIEWS LIKE THIS | 30.03.23
We’re preparing a gorgeous workshop space with amazing views. It’s been incredible and we. can’t. wait! to invite you to come and experience group breathes in the space. In the coming weeks we will continue setting-up, we’ll be exploring different breathwork journeys, trail walks, conversations and yoga. We hope that you will join us on the journey to realising radical liberation, beginning and fuelled with the breath.
I have two remaining spots open for 10 one-on-one sessions at a student rate. If you’re curious, interested in an introduction to breathwork or have a challenge you’d like to work through supported with breathwork, book in a chat and let’s see if it might be right for you.
Breathwork is a tool for cultivating awareness, deepening our connection to ourselves, and powerfully expressing ourselves in connection to others and in the world.
Simhasana - Lion Pose, resembles a lion's roar. It’s believed that the strong exhale helps release tension and frustration. (I mean, sometimes you just need to roar, right?) To perform Simhasana, follow these steps:
Sit comfortably - cross-legged in lotus or with back straight and feet flat on the floor.
Place your palms on your knees, palms down.
Take a deep breath through the nose, then exhale strongly through your mouth, sticking your tongue out as far as possible towards your chin.
Open your eyes wide, gaze upwards and slightly towards the space between your eyebrows.
While exhaling, make a “ha” sound, as if you are roaring like a lion.
Repeat the posture 2-3 times, holding the eye gaze, inhaling through the nose, exhaling with a “ha” through the mouth.
Release the gaze, close the mouth, exhale through the nose, release control of the breath and allow it to settle.
Simhasana helps relieve tension in the face and throat. It is also believed to help reduce anxiety, stress and promote relaxation.
Opening to share our personal expression can ultimately lead to greater freedom and liberation. Check in with your body and notice what comes up when you practice Lion’s roar.
NB - Go gently and with curiosity. Get the all clear from your health care providers if you have any pre-existing health conditions or injuries.
_Alyssa