I am soon coming into the field of Singapore to work as a dancer with Chowk on their upcoming piece on Migration of Form, which explores the root of all movement – nature. I strongly feel the need to remember my love for dancing. Somewhere along the way, I lost it.
I lost this love due to economic pressures – to support family, most especially the caregiving demands of elders. The lack of social welfare and the many other vulnerabilities of working in the global south echo these sentiments. This is not at all to victimise, but to expose on a personal level the realities of how a capitalist society redirects our deepest desires.
It brings me immense joy and sorrow to be working a dancer. It is a dream be back in rehearsals, and a curse to be limited by the industry. I echo the sentiments of therapist Patricia Dunggan “Capitalism thrives by breaking your connection to your body” from her post The Body Under Capitalism. Such thought lines still continue to strengthen my work as a bodyworker, alongside finding ways of mutual aid (in progress – more on that next time), even though they both have steep uphill climbs, I choose this work.
My redirection brought me straight into the studies of deep trauma. I find the most potent way to deepen these studies is through practice. The practice of touch, of the body, of the subtle, is one of the most gentle gateways into the traumatised field – without re-traumatising.
It took several breakdowns and a visit or ten to the brain trauma center; to finally come across this field of Craniosacral therapy many years ago that truly felt like home. In many ways, I trust in this redirections, and I still believe it is what the world needs, as reflected from within.
It is now my fifth year as a somatic therapist and after diving deep into bodywork, I reclaim my joy of dancing and performing. They are such beautiful compliments alongside each other. I will relish in that for this upcoming season.
I am also offering collaboration with The Yoga House for the fourth time to offer Biodynamic Somatic Therapy. Their beautiful studio is surrounded by large trees and quiet fields. A priceless ask for a couple of hours in the busy city. I have stayed with them as my main collaborators because I find that their space is so supportive for the effectiveness of sessions.
After years of working in the center of CBD on Robinsons Road for Soma Clinic, to working from my own home along East Coast Park for over two years, to SOL Therapy at Kampong Glam, and now The Yoga House at Dempsey. With quite an exploration around Singapore, partially due to rampant inflation – again another redirection (I would have gladly stayed steady working fairly peacefully at my home along East Coast). All of this to say – after mapping out such varied spaces across Singapore, I find that sessions are most effective when we are surrounded by nature.
Nature as not a passive or decorative element. It is an active companion and key player in what we do. In my context, somatic’s taps into the subtle field, which brings the body into a deep into a rest and digest state swiftly. The environment where we practice needs to work with us to support this state to emerge.
Although Dempsey has its post reputation and it brings up critical questions of who has access to such green spaces in Singapore… the trees continue to tower over the buildings, perceiving a much wider network beneath and above us.
Having large trees near by, spaciousness around, and quiet – they will be my main collaborators for these sessions. In spite of the societal complexities, we continue the work of care, of holding, and of repair. I am grateful to find the right space in the density of Singapore for such a potent space to be possible for such deep work.
Returning to the body, remembering its life force, dynamic stillness amidst chaos, and allowing yourself to receive – are all acts of peaceful rebellion.
