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Yesterday, Wednesday July 13th, we celebrated Shake's second year of existence! I am giggling about the celebration, as I flash back to scenes from yesterday. A group of woman and I gathered to honor Shake (and ourselves) by dropping into a cacao ceremony & meditation and undergoing a special, body paint, nude Shake Rising! We painted our rainbow bridge on our bodies, starting with red legs for our root chakra, and ending with anointing our foreheads with white paint- covering eeeeverything in between. Some of us were nude, some in bikinis, and ALL of us LIBERATED AF. We showered each other and ourselves...

On August 4th of this year, Twerk Rising transformed into Shake Rising.  This transformation took place when it was brought to my attention that by using the name “twerk”, there’s a chance that I am participating in appropriation of the black culture. I’d like to quote Emmanuel Acho’s life changing book: “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man”, (highly recommend) “The exchange of ideas, styles and traditions is one of the tenants of a modern multi cultural society. It’s a part of how we grow, learn, advance. But, cultural appropriation is something else. Cultural appropriation happens when members of a dominant group...

I am so grateful for the teachers who have come before me. Without them, I would have never found this medicine of twerking into transcendence.  Twerking  most likely originated in West Africa. It very closely resembles the Mapouka dance from Côte d’Ivoire. “Known colloquially as “la dance du fessier,” or “dance of the behind,” mapouka is said to exist in two forms: A tamer, more traditional dance performed ceremonially, and the newer, more scandalous version popular with young Ivorians. The more modern version—and the one most closely related to twerking—is considered obscene and suggestive by some, and unfortunately, its traditional roots haven’t...

Shaking to Release Trauma As many of us know, stress is both psychological and physical. Physical manifestations of stress can include lock jaw, GI issues, and even pain in areas such as the back, neck, and shoulders.  One of the physical ways the body responds to stress is through shaking. Shaking is a natural response to extreme stress, whether it's actual life or death, or just perceived that way. Think about the last time you were "freezing" or very anxious, nervous, or scared, you body was probably trembling.  This "shaking ability exists in all mammals and humans. It is the body’s...