Shake it Up, Baby! – Get your qi moving
As babies, we are born to rock. We shake our head, hands and feet to amuse ourselves. We’re fascinated with rattles and roll around on the floor in seemingly incredible states of bliss. And, of course, we love getting rocked to sleep.
Shaking, rattling, and rolling are natural human behaviors. But as we get into our teens and adulthood, something happens. We succumb to societal expectations and the pressure to be more responsible and “in control.” We become self-conscious and inhibited, and limit our gyrations to socially approved settings such as parties and dance halls. Eventually, we lose our natural inclination to shake.
Yet, shaking is the oldest form of medicine on earth. Shaking, quaking, trembling, and vibrating—moving rhythmically from head to toe, has been used by indigenous cultures for centuries. From the deserts of the Kalahari to the outback of Austraila, through the peaks of Europe, Asia and Russia, and across the Americas, people and entire communities would shake to celebrate the rhythms of life, commune with ancestral spirits, and evoke the body’s innate capacity to heal.
Shaking calms our nerves and excites our emotions, and can move us to states of ecstasy that transcend place and time. In these moments, we can forget the limitations of our physical realm and tap into the cosmic energy that binds us all, the creative life force inherent in all living things. It goes by many names—ki, qi, chi, prana, spirit, energy. Whatever you call it, when the force is moving, flowing freely with the ebb and flow of life, it can ignite your natural healing power within for optimal health.
Shaking is believed to be the natural complement to the “relaxation response,” a term coined by Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard Medical School. Through his mind-body research, it was well documented that relaxation and stillness can bring about healing. His pioneering work bridged the gap between medicine and religion, East and West, mind and body, and belief and science.
But even before the relaxation response was defined, our ancestors instinctively knew that healing could be brought about through heightened states of arousal. Whether through wild dancing, spontaneous jumping up and down, or body shaking, it was proven to be valuable medicine and just as transformational as sitting in the lotus position.
According to Bradford Keeney, shamanistic scholar and author of “Shaking Medicine,” ecstatic trembling and shaking are the natural expressions of a spirited body. Such processes of heightened arousal contribute to the body’s way of bringing forth self-corrective healing, well-being, and transformation. Keeney’s research into the healing rituals of shamanic cultures worldwide revealed that often, ecstatic arousal and deep relaxation were co-present—two sides of the same coin.
While “shaking” may still seem a bit out there to many of us, a milder and more readily accessible kind is making its way across the United States, combining both movement and meditation. It’s called brain wave vibration, and in its simplest form, the practice merely requires moving your body to your own natural healing rhythms in order to slow down and calm your brain waves. It is designed to stimulate your energy flow and move you more readily into a meditative experience, where your body and mind can naturally heal.
Brain wave vibration combines ancient healing practices and energy training techniques from Korea with modern scientific understanding of the brain. At its core, the technique utilizes basic vibration exercises to stimulate the brain stem, calm higher-frequency brain wave activity, and circulate the body’s qi. The practice typically incorporates three distinct elements: 1) deliberately making vibrations in your body, 2) allowing your body to ride the rhythm, and 3) following the flow of energy.
Although there are various forms, my favorite is the full-body method. I have found it to be incredibly simple, yet profoundly effective for releasing stress, tapping into my inner wisdom, and bringing my body and mind back into balance. While it can be done with or without music, I find using some form of rhythmic drum beat helps me to quickly get into my natural ability to shake.
To try it, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and hips tucked forward. Start by simply shaking your head back and forth while focusing on your brain stem at the base of your neck. Allow your thoughts to fade away and focus your attention inward. You might be moved to shrug your shoulders, bounce your knees, shake your hips, or tap your abdomen. Just move in whatever way feels natural to you.
As the shake moves through you, your inhibitions will loosen and you will naturally take on postures that your body desires for its own natural healing. Your movements can be wild and pronounced, or smooth and flowing. Just go with it until your body naturally comes to a stop. Then, sit or lie down, and allow yourself to sink into deep relaxation for as long as you desire. Use this technique whenever you want to tap into the indigenous healing wisdom of your ancestors and rekindle your body’s natural inclination to shake.
Wendy Oden is a freelance writer based in Sedona, AZ who has been exploring vibrational healing methods and shamanic practices for more than a decade. When not shaking it up, Wendy writes for various publications specializing in body/mind/spirit healing, and sustainable living.
woden9@commspeed.net.
