After my first encounter with The Class, I knew immediately it was not for me.
Fast forward to September 2021: My exercise andmeditationroutines were starting to feel stale and rote.
I was also looking for ways to get out of my head and into my body.
Photos courtesy of The Class / Design by Amanda K Bailey
I would feel so effingstuckin my own head.
I needed to drop into my body and let my contracted mind take a break.
So I decided to give The Class one more go.
And this time, I also knew immediately: This was now for me.
The Class is better understood as a whole-being practice than a physical workout.
on the out breath at the top of your burpee or an Arggggh!
And then, at some point, I got kind of bored.
I was craving a livelier, juicier mindfulness practice when I reencountered The Class.
This time around I also had a newfound appreciation for how the body can be ground for transformation.
In 2018, I started seeing a therapist who focuses on somatic work.
I now find this woo-woo, animal,weirdaspect of The Class incredibly creative and therapeutic.
Its more about expression and embodiment as opposed to meditation.
I can simply observe an emotion or I can channel it through my vocal chords and limbs.
Some moves, like jumping jacks or heart-clearing, are meant to help you flush energy.
With other moves, you take the modification that feels aligned with your current state.
At first my Class experiences were quiet and tame.
I still felt too self-conscious about being too loud or weird to mimic the guttural HAHs of the instructors.
(Neighbors, I am so sorry.)
I also resisted the expressive movement early onI would just stick to standard forms or copy the instructor.
But Ive come to love these pockets of moving intuitively, getting a little weird by myself.
Often, something Ive been carrying around in my body bubbles to the surface to be released.
Anxiety, stagnancy, not feeling good enough, heaviness, bitterness, frustration.
Its like a little somatic exorcism.
Discerning what would serve me most that day has become a practice of connecting to my needs.
Throughout the day I find myself taking big, sighing breaths and stretches to recalibrate my energy.
In aggravated moments Ill release some steam with a huge Uggghhhh or full-body shake.
And whenever I feel trapped in my head, I know that my body is the place to go.
