Explore the cultivation of luminous life-force in our bodies - to heighten presence and awareness, elevate our creative spiritual capacities and return to realise a state of balance and clarity - through the practice of Kundalini Yoga and Sound Medicine, in ceremony with the powerfully heart opening spirit of the plant Cacao.
Held and Facilitated by Annabelle Stapleton-Crittenden and Lani Rocillo.
is known as the yoga of awareness. As a technology it combines pranayama, asana, mantra and meditation to safely raise the Kundalini energy up from the base of the spine, removing obstacles and healing energetic blocks as it goes. We develop our strength, flexibility, and coordination, expand our lung capacity, improve the balance of our nervous and endocrine systems, nurture our intuition, induce states of deep meditation, provide powerful detoxification for the body-mind-spirit and much more. Kundalini energy is akin to what has also been named qi, élan vital and life force energy, amongst other things.
In today’s culture which readily overstimulates our attention and encourages instant gratification, it’s particularly profound to cultivate a space to focus, connect, breathe, release, envision and project.
is the intentional use of sound to harmonise dissonances in the physical, emotional, mental and etheric body. Facilitating the expansion of self awareness, compassionate perspective, enhanced creativity, balanced health and total well being.
is a powerfully nurturing plant used for its medicinal properties for thousands of years. It supports physical health, psychological well being and improves cognitive function. In it's pure and raw form cocoa is abundant in antioxidants which prevent premature cellular ageing and disease. it is rich in mood-enhancing agents such as dopamine, serotonin and phenethylamine which stimulates the nervous system and triggers the release of pleasurable compounds known as endorphins. It nourishes the heart and encourages heightened intuitive, sensory and emotional awareness.
The Cacao for this ceremony comes from the region of Lago Atitlan, Guatemala, which ancient trees, fruits and seeds have been grown, tended and harvested in a sacred way by their guardians of many generations, so that the purity of their wisdom retained and passed on.
To the Mayans Cacao symbolises community, celebration and intercultural exchange.
Annabelle Stapleton-Crittenden is an artist and a yoga teacher.
She has practiced various styles for over ten years and found deepest resonance with Kundalini Yoga. She is fascinated by the transformational capacity of movement, breath, sound and the imagination. Annabelle weaves her experience as a performance artist and storyteller into her classes, holding space for people to intimately encounter and challenge themselves, to tune into the interdependence of our mental, physical and spiritual bodies, and to be moved by innermost creative capacity. She teaches so that we might each develop a sincere relationship to the higher self; to deeply value and acknowledge our unique bodies and histories; to cultivate compassion, respect and collectivity; and so that we might live with vibrant radiance and joy whilst courageously facing our most difficult challenges in life. Her classes are suitable for all levels of experience. If you have any concerns, particularly regarding serious or chronic injuries or conditions which you think may effect your ability to participate, please get in touch with her in advance so we can make sure you feel as safe and comfortable as possible when taking part. Everyone is welcome.
is a healing arts practitioner and musician trained in Sound Therapy, Energy Medicine and Shamanic Practice. She works with the mediums of sound, plants and performance medicine with the intention of opening space to explore the multi-dimensional memory, so that we may access our natural capacity to embody balanced health, compassionate purpose and grounded potential. Inspired by the holistic approach in the creative process, she integrates wisdom discoveries from ancient spirit medicine traditions and contemporary platforms in her evolving practice.
She holds ceremonial gatherings, facilitates personal therapeutic sessions and collaborates in art and music projects that innovate boundaries of culture towards strengthening the unified purpose of nature.
Lani is creator of Wisdom Roundhouse, a multi-disciplinary healing arts platform nurturing wellness and expansion of awareness through creative expressions of the language of nature.