Swinging on Svadhisthana (in English)

Have you ever thought about the influence that dance has on the chakras; the centers that rule our energetic body, and the impact this can have on our life experience? Well, I have! Ever since I started swing dancing a few years ago.

First of all, I must say that I am not an anthropologist and what you are about to read is the result of my reflection and experience. Nor am I an experienced dancer, just an amateur who enjoys dancing a lot. But, I have completed years of study and yoga practice and these experiences have helped me come to the conclusion that it was dance, specifically swing, twist, boogie-woogie, rock & roll … which influenced the great sexual revolution and creative explosion of the late 50s and 60s. This way of moving the body, especially the hips, unlocked stuck energy and released it, allowing both, men and women to enjoy a freedom that had not been allowed until then.

I am going to focus my attention on the 2nd chakra, SVADHISTHANA.
Svadhisthana is located in the area of the sacrum and lower abdomen and is related to our creative instincts and sexual impulses. The word Svadhisthana means “the dwelling of being”. The element that governs the second chakra is water, which is related to life and its origin, creation and creativity. It can also mean “sweetness” and what can be sweeter than life experiences such as creation or sexuality? This chakra is represented by a 6-petal lotus flower, its color is orange and its mantra is the syllable VAM.

A balanced second chakra produces creativity, well-being, abundance, pleasure, bliss, a connection with emotions and an adaptability to change. While the lack of balance in the second chakra can result in a lack of motivation and creativity, also sadness, apathy and difficulty in connecting with one’s own emotions, as well as difficulty in adapting to change.

In the practice of yoga there are multiple ways to balance and align this chakra: chanting the mantra VAM produces a vibration that stimulates, opens and aligns Svadhisthana. Meditations, visualizations and also asanas that mobilize the hip, postures such as Baddhakonasana (The Butterfly), Malasana (The Garland), Janu Sirsasana (Posture of Forehead to the Knee), EkaPadaRajakapotasana (Posture of the Royal Pigeon) are all highly recommended for creative energy flows freely through this vital energy center.

But not all human beings practice yoga, so why are there such creative and vital people around the world and at every stage of our history? Well, there are many ways to activate the second chakra and maintain a healthy mental and emotional relationship with creativity and sex. For example, dance! Dancing is a meditative act. Dance requires full attention with which a meditative state in motion is achieved. As it happens in the practice of yoga, at the beginning there is a how, a when, even a what for and after dedication to the practice there remains only the connection, the communion with the present and the one that is inhabiting it: the body, the music, the rhythm, and, if you have the joy of enjoying a dance partner, all of him or her.

I encourage you, in addition to your yoga practice, to try dancing and experience for yourself how your energy is released. It’s magical!