Upcoming Workshops:
8th November:
Voice and Movement Meditation: Intro
13th December:
Voice and Movement Meditation: Deepening
1-4pm both dates. The Hearth Studio, 30 King Edward St, Penguin.
$60/30 concession
Bookings: Mary 0428584739
Sitting on a cushion isn’t the only way to meditate!
The chanting of monks and the whirling of dervishes show us there are other ancient pathways to healing and mindful states of consciousness. Before we could talk, we could sing and dance, both in our own lives, as well as the life of our species.
Voice and movement meditation can be both calming and energising, both playful and profound.
It is a laboratory of exploration, of play, of flow.
It is focussed on the sensory and inner directed experience, rather than performance or “getting it right”.
Our voice and our movement are our main ways of expressing ourselves in the world. This workshop will bring a greater presence to our being. By anchoring our attention in the actual physical sensations of the voice, and allowing sounds of the room to touch us, we are more aligned with the present moment, rather than lost in the dream of the mind. We come home to our body.
One prerequisite! A willingness to play and explore!
Includes:
Gentle warmups for voice and body
Vagus nerve exercises for deep self soothing and centring.
Guided exercises to expand our range of expression
A safe and inclusive space for free, exploratory movement and voice.
A deep and nourishing experience of singing and moving together as a tribe.
No experience necessary.
Limited numbers.
Song of the Ancients: Voice, Movement & Creativity
An exploration with the human voice, over several sessions.
Just like the creation of the great cave paintings of early peoples, making music is intrinsically human. Some spark of creativity, the will to express ourselves through art, came into being at the dawn of human consciousness, and has stayed with us through Millenia. Creativity feeds us somehow, and connects us with our deepest nature.
This unique workshop was born from this inspiration. Our purpose is less concerned with performance or “sounding good”; rather a meditative and even mystical exploration of creativity and its source.
It is also highly practical and experiential. Vocal and breathing exercises will assist the voice to open to its full potential. We focus on sensing in to vibration and resonance in different parts of the body. In this way, singing and chanting is deeply in the present moment, and can be meditative, calming, and healing.
To “have a voice” is also to be empowered. We will explore the relationship between the group or tribe (harmony), and the individual (melody). We will use drones (the “voice of God” in Indian traditions) as a foundation to explore ancient tonalities.
Spontaneous (authentic) Movement with the added element of voice/sound, provides a safe & supported space for inner listening, spontaneous expression and improvisation.
And beneath all, there is silence: the fertile void, source of all possibility and creativity.
The work draws from Gestalt, authentic movement, visualisation, meditation, classical technique, Voice and Movement Therapy, and Mary’s own methods in many years of voice work.
This multifaceted workshop is practical, inspirational, grounding, and nourishing. Benefits may include:
A stronger, more versatile, and more embodied voice;
Growing awareness and expression of one’s authentic “inner music”;
Greater sense of sovereignty and confidence through voice and movement;
Feeling of belonging and connectedness to tribe through music;
Self calming and soothing through vagus nerve stimulation and breathing techniques;
Stimulating creativity and confidence in improvisation.
“We rarely hear the inner music, but we’re all dancing to it nonetheless.” Rumi
Upcoming
Voice and Movement Meditation: 3 Hour introduction
Penguin: 1st August, 1-4pm, The Hearth Studio, King Edward St, Penguin.
Previous Workshops
Zaragoza: 1st May, 2024. Time 10-14hr. Inglés/español. C/ Mario Lasala Valdes 15.
Basel: 3-4 Feb 2023, The Looking Glass, Basel.
Forres: Feb 4-6, 2022 – Transition Town, Forres, Scotland
