Just Shake It: An Unconventional Way to Shift States
Spirit and Mirth
Sometimes the content of this site gets entirely too serious. Something I appreciate about being in a group of people is the humor that is produced by select individuals who connect with joy by being silly and providing a situation for others to laugh. I may shake my head in disbelief at some of what they say or do, but there are few things I enjoy more than someone with whom I can share my deepest thoughts on one level and gut wrenching humor on another…
An Unconventional Method of State Change
Master Certified Coach, Helen Attridge Green, learned a technique from Tony Robbins while she was a coach for his company (which attests to it’s unconventional but effective origins 
). During the coaching course she passed it on to us…and now I am passing the torch to you, my dear readers!
Whenever the group needed an energy shift, she’d stand up and have us “just shake our asses”. I still see Helen in my mind’s eye in her lime green jacket, hair flying, shaking away…her mere presence a smiling shock-wave of friendly enthusiasm!
The changed physiology made it easy to shift states, renew energy and internally clear out the remnants of what we had been working on. There we were, in a meeting room, a group of thirty some people, hair flying, ass-shaking and giggling away in surprise and perhaps even a bit of wonder at just how good it feels to really shake your ass!
It became a kind of mantra for me…whenever I wanted to lighten things up I would suggest we shake our asses and have at it! It was a fun way to move into a joyous state…
Booty-Ananda
One member of our class, however, already knew how good it feels to “shake it” and she took this technique to a new level. The night before the end of the course we all went out as a group to Kincaid’s, a restaurant with a small dance floor and a live band. We had some real dancers hidden within our collective…including an actual instructor and at least five others who really knew what they were doing! I, of course, was not one of them!
With a room full of adept dancers, it took a Mochatini and a Mojita before I was ready to be pulled up onto the dance floor and just shake it (which is really the only method of dance that I know how to do…never having learned anything that remotely resembles moves).
When I got onto the dance floor I was inspired to really cut loose and give it a go because there dancing next to me was the booty shaking goddess of all time! This butt dancing diva displayed a pure form and mastery of the skill…reminding me of some aspects of belly dancing…(I have a theory that these kinds of movements promote the transfer of energy up through the first chakra and beyond but we’ll save that for another post ).
This goddess whom a member of the class aptly named Booty-Ananda, was kind enough to take on a few pupils that evening and one of her sessions we even have on film!
With that in mind and of course with permission I am sharing a video of a phenomena that was the topic of deep discussions, near car accidents and of course just plain fun!
So if life is getting a little too intense, and you just need a completely new attitude…get up, take a few deep breaths and practice “shakin it” with Booty-Ananda. I guarantee you’ll feel better 
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Great post Paula, and I too can attest to the energy transforming and releasing power of booty shaking!
IN fact, I worked as a go go dancer for many years, dancing up a storm on podiums in a club (wearing various costumes) a couple of nights a week. This time period coincided with my kundalini getting activated and I was aware on some nights of literally moving the energy up the chakras the way you describe.
I still do it now - through some Madonna on the stereo, crank it up and dance around my living room.
The best way for me to describe it is that when I dance I get out of the way and allow the energy to move ME. It’s like this current that runs around my body searching for any tension and releases it. Booty shaking in particular seems to free up the root chakra, sending a message to the heart that hey, all is safe and well here and I am going to shake with total joy and abandonment.
Sometimes, all we need is a good boogie, or run, or ANYTHING that moves the energy around…
Much joyful booty shaking!
KL
Comment by K-L | Be Conscious Now — September 12, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
ps LOVED the video!!!
Comment by K-L | Be Conscious Now — September 12, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
I took a couple of belly dancing classes a few years ago. I learned so much about myself and my body from those classes. I am going to share this article with booty-shaking video with all of my friends. Thanks.
Comment by Patricia - Spiritual Journey Of A Lightworker — September 12, 2007 @ 1:02 pm
Thanks, Paula, for infusing my day with a good laugh. We do get too serious in our focus on spiritual development!
Blessings,
Andrea
Comment by Andrea Hess — September 13, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
Hi KL!
That is a fantastic description of it! I think the value of concentrating on how dancing feels is often overshadowed by how it looks but there is something incredibly freeing about just letting go of all that and allowing the music and the energy of it move you without thought…
Patricia!
You are amazing! I agree that this kind of dance is very empowering…and encourage women everywhere to get in touch with themselves and their bodies in this way
Hi Andrea!
You are soooo welcome! I love connecting humor and spirit
Much love and booty-shaking to you all!
pk
Comment by Paula Kawal — September 13, 2007 @ 2:09 pm
[…] Kawal discusses this effect of dancing in her post Just Shake It: An Unconventional Way to Shift States, which comes complete with a booty shaking video segment. She talks about a technique learned from […]
Pingback by On the joys and liberation of dancing — September 13, 2007 @ 7:16 pm
I believe that by just being a part of “Priscilla Palmer’s Personal Development list” suggests that each of us post this list. You like me (Killeris at “Attitude, the Ultimate Power”) are on this list. If you have already posted it, THANK YOU. If you have not posted it, I am officially putting out a challenge that you add additional sites that fit the theme and post the entire list. This is my opinion only. If you disagree I respectfully understand. If you do agree with me this list can be found at: http://mondaymorningpower.blogspot.com/2007/09/personal-development-list-challenge.html
This list would be a natural to post under your Personal Development category
Comment by Mel — September 14, 2007 @ 1:47 pm
Hi Paula, GREAT post! I teach my kids that dance and booty shaking is a GREAT way to unwind, decompress and let out some energy! It immediately has us all laughing and having fun no MATTER WHAT the mood was beforehand. I found your blog through Albert (the Urban Monk) and am VERY happy and thankful I have! Gratefully, Jenny
Comment by Jennifer Mannion — January 9, 2008 @ 12:55 pm
Hi Jenny!
Thanks so much for frequenting Albert’s site (he’s amazing) and also for making your way over to mine!
I totally agree and it’s a great way for kids to get in touch with their bodies, to recognize when they need an energy recharge or release and what better way to teach them that than to allow them to be totally silly? Once that energy is flowing…it’s magick!!!
Much love,
PK
Comment by Paula Kawal — January 10, 2008 @ 9:43 am