In the Connect class, the movements were inspired by nature’s elements: Earth, fire, water and air. This system, according to the website, encourages a combination of balance, clarity, connection and self-expression.
The class kicked off with the fire element, as we rubbed our hands together to create friction. As our instructor put it: “Feel the life force energy coming from the inside out.” My eyes sparked as I felt the heat flowing between my palms. I drank—no guzzled—the Kool-Aid.
After waking up our bodies, we swayed our arms back and forth and then did a blend of lunges and dance movements. We then transitioned into an Earth-based movement, pounding our palms into the floor and raising the energy back into our chests and releasing it out again.
Once we entered the water phase, we became more in-tune with our bodies, creating wave-like movements by dangling our arms and rolling our hips and stomachs the same way belly dancers do.
Then came the air section, which, please excuse my candor, sounded like an orgasm rather than faint breathwork. And this is where I understood the importance of making a judgement-free space. Because we all released loud screams and huffs, as we pushed our hands toward the ceiling and worked it down to our toes.
At one point, the group also gathered around in a circle, swaying our arms and bouncing our legs together, like witches chanting around a fire pit.
