Shiva Nata: the Dance of ShivaPunk Rock Shivanauttery: answering a bunch of questions!
Because I’m doing a thing and it seemed like a good time for some FAQ.
So.
Four incredible days of hot buttered epiphanies, genius insights, big changes, a ridiculous amount of fun, and somewhat inappropriate music.
In Portland, Oregon.
From Monday, May 3rd at 5:00 pm to Friday, May 7th at noon.
You can read all about this fabulous event here. But in the meantime, I thought it might be a good idea if Selma and I answered questions.
And oh boy so many great questions.
And the questions …
Will I have to share the epiphanies I have with other people?
Oh goodness, absolutely not. That sounds like it would be awkward and weird.
I mean, you can if you like. Hanging out with other Shivanautically-inclined people for four days might naturally result in all sorts of interesting conversations.
But you definitely won’t have to. And I won’t be asking you to share your epiphanies in public.
Will everybody else be a crazy Shiva Nata obsessed yoga master who I can’t even talk to?
Ha! Awesome.
I actually kind of wish I knew some crazy Shiva Nata obsessed yoga masters (other than Andrey, of course) to hang out with. But I don’t. Because there aren’t any.
But even if there were, if they seemed like the kind of people you couldn’t talk to, I wouldn’t invite them.
So really, my point is this:
We’re all Shivanautically-curious, or generally pro-having-breakthroughs. But we’re also people.
By which I mean: complex people with vibrant, full lives who are interested in all sorts of things, this being one of them.
And every retreat I’ve taught has been full of the most lovely, fun, easy-to-get-along-with people ever. Can some of you guys back me up on this one?
What if I don’t get any epiphanies?
*delighted laughter*
Ask me that again at the end of the week so we can have a good laugh about it together.
Seriously. If you don’t have at least twenty useful insights including a couple that rock your world, I will give you your money back.
While dancing a jig and eating a hat and pointing at the lovely flying pigs.
A week of Shiva Nata? Can I possibly do that without my arms falling off?
Excellent question.
Let me let you in on some sneakiness. We won’t actually be doing Shiva Nata all the time.
We will do it a few times a day, each time for no more than about twenty to thirty minutes, with breaks. Followed by yummy stretching.
So it’s not like waving your arms around all day, because that would be exhausting and crazy.
Your arms are much more likely to fall off from scribbling down all the ideas you’re having. But really. They won’t fall off. We’ll take care of you.
I need lots of time alone — will it all be group stuff?
Oh good! I need lots of alone time too.
If you look at the schedule, you’ll see that plenty of just-you time is built into the day, including a long lunch and designated Introvert Recovery Time.
Similarly, during our group time together, there will also be lots of time for things that aren’t group-like at all: like journaling, shavasana, guided exercises and quiet meditation or just spacing out.
And, of course, you can always take time out if you need it. No questions asked.
Can you reassure me yet again that it will be okay that I’m out of shape and overweight and older (but with lots of enthusiasm and good intentions!)?
Of course, honey.
Epiphanies are for everyone! And it really is much, much more of a mental challenge than a physical one.
That’s why roller derby girls and dancers and choreographers and martial artists have so much trouble with it too.
One of the things I love about doing Dance of Shiva is that it doesn’t require great physical strength or flexibility or toughness.
It requires a curious mind, some determination, and the willingness to be terrible at it (which is by far the hardest part).
If you’re younger than my oldest student (who’s 82), you’re not too old.
And if you can handle fifteen minutes of light aerobic activity with breaks, you’ll be fine.
Enthusiasm and good intentions sound great. (Though, really, you can get by without those too!).
Reassurances! You’re good.
What if I love Shiva Nata but am not such a silly person? Will I be out of place?
Silliness: not a requirement. There will be some, because I have a duck.
So some giggling may happen. But I certainly wouldn’t expect you to have to be silly.
In all the Shiva Nata classes I’ve taught over the past five years, we’ve always had a delightful variety of people, and that’s part of what makes it great.
Since thoughtful, studious people are often drawn to a practice that has so much to do with the brain, I can promise you that you will not be the only non-silly person there. :)
Okay. That’s not even slightly close to all the questions …
But it’s a start. More to come. Probably tomorrow.
In the meantime …
If you have questions about spending four amazing days getting seriously destuckified with me and my duck — or about Shivanauttery in general — leave them here in the comments.
Hope some of this was helpful.
Big love,
Havi
Twitter: shannonmw
In case you’re wondering, everything Havi says here is true! Doing Shiva Nata in a group is the most amazing thing. There’s this crazy energy that happens, that is so much more than when you do the practice at home, by yourself.
Plus, even if you feel a little self-conscious about doing it in a group, you soon forget because of the fun. And the mad flailing. And the laughing. And the singing to the inappropriate music. Oh, wait, that might just be me.
Anyway, it’s a really fun and powerful experience that feels at once like being in the most supportive group ever, and being totally in yourself.
So basically, what I’m trying to say, is that you’re going to get the perfect experience for you, even if you don’t have any idea what that might be.
Twitter: blondechicken
Oh! I am so excited for everyone who gets do this!
During the NC Shiva-time. I was amazed by how absolutely calming all that flailing was-how graceful it could feel even when TOTALLY getting wrong.
The best part – how much love I felt for all the other people being goofballs with me. All the self-consciousness went out the window when I realized that we could not BE more different and yet all were doing this intense, silly thing. In other words, it didn’t feel like flailing “in public” or “with strangers”.
Oh, now I miss it. And YOU! And everyone there!
tara´s last blog ..The Cycle of Creativity
Twitter: kimianak
Echoing what Havi and Shannon said! Doing Shiva Nata live with Havi, Selma, and all the wonderful people they attract to their events is awesome in many many ways. And not only is the group shivanauting terrific while it happens, I’ve also gotten lots out of it that I could take back home: it has helped me a lot with my own practice. Can’t wait to get a new dose of punk rock shivanauttery!
Josiane´s last blog ..Middle of the night musings
Twitter: michelleitsallyoga.com
Oh Lord Shiva, do I need this right now.
Over-stimulated, over-electronic’d, overwhelmed with rat-race running.
I could not believe how much the Shiva Nata in at the Destuckification retreat in Jan shook me up/loose/free. NOTHING like doing it at home.
You know I’m not a big “group” person, and yet I left those sessions feeling a crazy combo of completely sovereign *and* bonded with them. My brain hurt, my face hurt (from smiling so much) and it was so surprisingly awesome.
What the world. Needs Now. Is more. Shiva Nata. (And you and Selm.)
xo
Michelle Marlahan´s last blog ..The Belly
Twitter: elizabethhalt
There is something so magical about doing Shiva Nata in a group. Magical and silly and fun. I like doing it on my own at home, but it’s just not the same.
And there is something about doing this crazy flail-y thing with other people that helps you bond as a group.
elizabeth´s last blog ..the st. johns bridge
Twitter: _i_n_g_e_
Echoing the true-ness of this FAQ. Doing Shiva Nata in a group with Havi and Selma is wonderful and highly recommended! I consider myself to be a not very silly, not yoga-ey, quiet person (the bigger the group, the quieter I am) and I still had a great time. There is room for every type of personality.
Also, I’m thinking your 82 year old student must be a seriously cool person that I might possibly have a crush on right now.
Twitter: annabarnett
@elizabeth, I really found it different doing Shiva Nata in a group than at home, too.
Like the dance was bigger. Or clearer – more assertive. More undeniable.
And also *way* more fun than it had been before. Maybe that was the big difference. Getting past “am I doing this right? I mean, wrong? I mean, wrong enough?” – and just letting it happen.
Plus, the inappropriate music. IT ROCKS.
But after I had that experience, I took it home. Now those qualities – and indeed that very music – are part of my regular practice. I kind of feel like I got my Shivanaut wings. :P
Twitter: casey_cole
@anna – I totally felt like I got my Shivanut wings, too! (at the Sacramento Biggification day)
On those days when I don’t feel like listening to Andrey chant the numbers, I just put on a silly song and attempt to do it on my own. Ha! Talk about flailing!
“While dancing a jig and eating a hat and pointing at the lovely flying pigs.” Havi, I love you. I just love you.