Praying At The Church of Feeling Good

“…We have come to be danced

not the hold our breath and wallow in the shallow end of the floor dance 
but the meeting of the trinity: the body, breath & beat dance 
the shout hallelujah from the top of our thighs dance 
the mother may I? 
yes you may take 10 giant leaps dance 
the Olly Olly Oxen Free Free Free dance 
the everyone can come to our heaven dance…” 
– Jewel Mathieson.

Jocelyn Gordon and Lisa Goettel can’t even remember when they decided to work together: they just had an instant connection. 
“It was so sweet,” says Lisa. “I’ve never experienced a better collaboration. We call it our elevated partnership.” 
The pair have been working together for about three years, Lisa based in Monterey in California’s Bay area and Jocelyn recently relocating to Bali more permanently.

The idea behind their Bhakti Boogie® Yoga & Rise Up Singing experience is to encourage you to release barriers between you and your most authentic, joyful expression. I’ve been privileged to study vocal technique and had years of singing lessons but all that training means I’m best in controlled circumstances. Jumping around in a wet, muddy Lawn Pavillion with 50 other sweaty, effusive festival-goers is the perfect way to shake up my singing practice. And shake it up, we do.

After a brief explanation – “Dancing and singing are two of the most natural human expressions” – Jocelyn Gordon and Lisa Goettel lead us into a few breathing and simple movement exercises. But after initial warm ups and a bit of tapping, we got straight down to business. The business, that is, of tapping all over our partners. We slapped and pounded each other’s backs, buttocks and legs, leaving our bodies tingling and alive. 
Nothing says icebreaker like a good ol’ slap of someone’s booty.

Within the first few minutes, Lisa had us clapping in time and singing simple melodies before we were placed in groups and did the same in four parts. Anyone who’s been involved with a choir knows that can be a difficult process, but Lisa led us with a simplicity and ease of someone who really wants it to be fun. 
“True hedonism is rare and I don’t think we allow ourselves to feel good enough in our lives,” says Lisa. “So we teach this to feel good and to help people feel good. I call it “praying at the church of feeling good. I feel like that’s what’s going to heal the world.”

I felt really self conscious during the first dancing portions of the workshop, especially when there were a dozen people standing at the periphery with cameras and mobile phones, filming and snapping away. It’s a testament to Jocelyn and Lisa’s ability to hold the space that eventually, I forgot about the cameras and let go, throwing my arms, legs and body about in joyful abandon.

The highlight for me? Discovering my inner diva and belting out Madonna’s Like a Prayer came pretty close. But scooching in close to my new sweaty dance partners and singing I’m Gonna Let It Shine to close our practice was joyous and beautiful. To create that level of love, trust and community in just 90 minutes really takes something – and judging by the sweet voices and enormous smiles of the people in that circle, it’s something Lisa and Jocelyn have in spades.

*As of today, Lisa and Jocelyn’s retreat here in Ubud had 3 spaces left but they are also offering one night of singing and dance as part of the retreat on April 2nd, open to anyone who would like to experience what they do. You can contact Lisa [email protected] or Jocelyn [email protected] to find out more.

Written by : Megan Flamer