Step Into the Shadows With Expressive Art, Sound, and Kundalini Yoga

In our fast-paced world, it's easy to feel disconnected from who we truly are. Daily responsibilities often bury our inner voice, leaving us feeling lost and unfulfilled. In my journey of Yoga one of the greatest discoveries has been the tension that exist between opposites on our lives. We want safety, but we get bored and want excitement. We want commitment but we want spontaneity. Engaging with a personal yoga practice becomes a refuge—a sacred space for self-discovery, emotional growth, and a real sense of connectedness to these opposites. It is the showing up with curiosity for these dynamics, these push and pulls that creates an aliveness and mystery in our live. This is why the Self Study piece of the Yoga Philosophy has become so important to my how I teach and express Yoga. If you want to feel well in your body the body and the mind seek aliveness. In other languages, it's called desire or eros. In other languages it's called desire or passion or eros, but not just sexual as we might interpret it in our American language, it's more a feeling of being alive. The way I have learned and experienced this feeling of alive is that awakened by our curiosity of our own depths of being or of the depth of other beings. One of my favorite quotes is by Heraclitus says;

"The soul is undiscovered though explored forever to a depth beyond report."

It is the hidden corners of our mind and body that holds the depth of our being and are revealed through symbols in movement, art, and sound. Jung said, "What if unlocking your full potential lies in the shadow of your mind?"

The Power of Self Study Practice

A personal Yoga practice goes beyond fitness and invites us to be curious and explore our inner world through our experience with the body. Each pose and deep breath allows us to connect with our feelings, thoughts, and images. As we flow through our movements, we become increasingly aware of the sensations in our bodies, which often mirror the emotions we may not even recognize are there. This awareness marks the beginning of our Personal Practice and Self Study.

Within the safe space of yoga, we face our fears and insecurities. Instead of hiding from them, we learn to embrace these facets of ourselves. For example, research indicates that individuals who engage with their emotions, ideas, and images through practices like yoga, art, music, writing demonstrate improved emotional resilience and better stress management. Recognizing what hidsin our own shadows allows us to understand how it affects our relationship to life itself, fostering essential emotional growth that can help us navigate challenges with increased compassion, curisity, and more of the tools we have within us.

Building a Relationship with Our Shadows

Exploring our shadows can seem intimidating, yet it often proves to be a rewarding experience. There are many ways to engage with the parts of ourselves we might shy away from. Yoga is an effective method. The freedom of movement can help us express emotions we struggle to articulate. For example, a simple pose like Downward Dog may help release tension and emotions that manifest physically, such as tightness in the shoulders or back from carrying the weight of sole responsibility on our shoulders. Down Dog teaches us how to distribute and share the weight and rely on the foundations we have in people, values, and emotional balance. The load is a more manageable when it is distributed.

Expressive art offers another enriching avenue for exploration. Be it painting, sketching, or crafting with clay, art allows us to communicate our inner experiences in ways that words may fail. For instance, a study conducted by the American Journal of Public Health revealed that creating art can lead to significant reductions in stress and anxiety. By externalizing our feelings through creative expression, we gain valuable insights into our emotional well-being.

Sound is also a key player in this transformative process. Engaging with sound—whether through chanting, singing, or simply expressing our feelings vocally—can help release pent-up energy and promote healing. Participants in sound therapy have reported a 60% improvement in feelings of relaxation and clarity. By exploring these various creative channels, we can nurture a richer relationship with every aspect of ourselves.

Join Jessica for a guided tour into the shadows of this season

Join Us for a Transformative Experience

This fall, we invite you to confront your inner challenges at our workshop titled;

"Shadow Work: Expressive Art, Sound, and Kundalini"

Led by Jessica Tracy

Mark your calendars for October 11

12:30 PM to 3 PM

Learn More & Register Here to Join!

This workshop combines the potent practices of expressive art, sound healing, and Kundalini yoga to provide a truly transformative experience.

Participants will engage in diverse techniques aimed at self-exploration and emotional integration. Through guided hands-on expressive activities, sound therapy, and the option to continue integration with Jessica in a 30 minute virtual 1 on 1 follow up session and or a virtual group Kundalini Class. You will have the chance to explore your innermost thoughts in a supportive environment. This event goes beyond learning; it's about cultivating a safe space for open-hearted exploration and growth.

Regardless of your experience level, everyone is welcome. The focus is on personal discovery, not perfection. By gathering as a community, we can uplift and encourage one another on our journeys toward wholeness.

The Benefits of Shadow Work

Participating in shadow work may yield significant benefits. As we face and integrate our hidden feelings, a profound sense of liberation often follows. Many people report an increase in overall happiness and a reduction in self-doubt when they begin to acknowledge their shadows. In many ways it may feel like a coming home to yourself in a way that finally feels like true love and acceptance so that we are lighter to now move forward. Someone once said to me that, "you can't move into the next chapter, phase, or experience of life if you have one foot still stuck in the door behind you."

Moreover, engaging with our hidden emotions enhances emotional intelligence. When we understand the energetic truth of what triggers us to act or feel a certain way, we respond more mindfully to both ourselves and others. This is supported by research that shows emotional intelligence can improve personal relationships and workplace dynamics by upwards of 30%.

Additionally, the creative practices found in art and sound therapy often lead to breakthroughs in self-awareness. These activities may reveal insights that have been buried, illuminating new paths toward taking new actions and personal growth. Embracing our shadows allows us to foster a sense of wholeness that empowers us to live genuinely and with access to our fullest potential.

The art of expression through Jungian Psychology

Embrace Your Journey to Wholeness

Jessica is a Certified Jungian Coach who blends Jung's psychological principles with modern coaching tools and neuroplasticity techniques for lasting transformation. With nearly 20 years of professional experience- including leadership roles in sales, business development, consulting, and as a CEO- she brings real world expertise. Fueled by her own transformation through Jungian psychology, Jessica's coaching offers both practical strategies and profound personal insight, empowering clients to achieve meaningful, sustainable results through evidence based tools.

Join us this fall for the workshop "Shadow Work: Expressive Art, Sound, and Kundalini" with Jessica Tracy. Together, we will explore the depths of our inner worlds, courageously embracing the shadows that shape our lives. This experience promises to be a journey of connection, growth, and self-acceptance.

Step into your shadows and discover the light that awaits within. We are excited to share this journey with you!