By Julie Forsey
Returning home after Geordie’s Heartbeat workshop, I feel different. Not, on the surface of it a trailblazing statement, but one that for me is profound. I feel more grounded, present, focused and also softer, more open-hearted. But the deepest change, the one I am thrilled by; is that after years of spiritual exploration with many great teachers, I am now aware of the feeling of anger in my body for the first time, as a powerhouse of strength to be called on when needed.
And all of this, all of these riches, from a delicious weekend of dancing in excellent company, in the nourishing and harmonious surroundings of Mana Retreat Centre – surroundings which take the ‘work’ out of workshop.
Geordie teaches with a depth of knowledge that appears effortless, delivered with a light and gracious touch. Sensitively reading the needs of the group, she took us through a series of accessible yet very powerful exercises structured to lead us step by step into fascinated understanding of ourselves and how anger moves in our bodies.
Her teaching gave so much permission, and felt so gentle that it was possible for everyone in the group to investigate anger through movement at their own pace, in a space that was broad enough and deep enough to hold us all, from the most tentative and delicate exploration to the most full-bodied expression of anger.
We danced the physical movement of our anger through each of the 5Rhythms, in both the embodied aspect and in the shadow aspect, for example in Flowing, we moved the delicious smouldering beginnings as anger starts to stir in the body, and then dipped into the shadow side – the dance of resentment, where anger is held-back from expression.
In Geordie’s own words:
In Heartbeat we explore our 5Rhythms dance practice as a way to learn to accept and move freely with the spirit of each emotion, becoming more adept at allowing emotional weather to simply pass through us without identifying with it, thus opening up more space, freedom and joy in our lives and our relationships.
We are fortunate indeed to have such an experienced teacher here in New Zealand, and especially as Geordie brings depth, clarity and a profound open-hearted gentleness to her teachings that makes the deepest work possible.
At the close of the workshop there was big gratitude from the group and a yearning for more of this kind of teaching here in New Zealand. I wholeheartedly agree.
