Breathing Room

Rainbow Chakra Yoga for Queer Bodies

This June join us at Astitva for a Chakra Yin session that explores yin postures and meditative movement that correspond to each chakra—allowing us to cultivate balance, harmony, and a deeper connection to our queer bodies.

Many traditional practices correspond the colors of the rainbow to various energy centers—called chakras or meridians—in our bodies, starting at the base of the spine and moving upward.

While the concepts of these chakras have developed over time, the most common system consists of seven energy centers, each corresponding with a color of the visible light spectrum.

The seven energy centers and locations are organized from the base of the spine to top of the head. Each of these energy centers and colors are linked to different qualities we can nurture within ourselves.

Exploring these various energies creates room for a growing self-awareness and gives us a language to understand our queer embodied experiences.

Akamsha, is a queer yoga therapist and somatic healing practitioner. She will be holding space for members of the queer community (allied loved ones are welcome to join) who would like to reconnect with their energetic body; identify points of tension, trauma, and numbness; and practice radical self-acceptance and love.The session will include grounding, pranayama for nervous system reset, Chakra Yin Yoga, and a guided Metta meditation.

This two-hour ritual in queer healing will incorporate gentle meditative movement, breath-work, and stillness for somatic healing and

therapy.

Yin Yoga is a slow-paced and accessible movement practice that combines the principles of Chinese medicine with asana to gradually increase the body and mind's tolerance, and perhaps love, for stillness and introspection. Yin is also known as the Yoga of the joints. Unlike other styles of Yoga that focus on muscle, the emphasis here is on deep connective tissue—including the fascia, ligaments, and tendons, which surround and form our joints.

There are three principles in Yin Yoga:

1. Finding your body's unique, comfortable edge in each posture, without chasing sensation or pushing past the body's limits.

2. Finding both external and internal stillness in each posture, while being curious and forgiving about our tendency towards restlessness.

3. Holding each posture while staying connected to a mindful breath. Each pose may be held for anywhere between 1-10 minutes, depending on the comfort of each individual.

The practice of Yin Yoga is based on the theory that there are channels of Qi (energy), which run through our bodies. By stretching and gradually deepening into poses, we are opening up blockages in these channels, and releasing this energy to flow freely within us.

Yin is the slower, mindful, and more meditative counterpart to fast-paced or rigorous movement practices like Ashtanga. It helps the mind develop an empathetic and reflective relationship with the physical as well as energetic body, while helping us understand how we occupy space and our capacity for conscious stillness in everyday life.

Breathing Room is a space to practice, connect, and tune into our queer bodies, while promoting mindfulness in how we relate to ourselves and the world around us.

Join us as we find safety, pride, and joy in our lasting companionship with the Queer Self.