Reiki, Belly Dance and Lola
Lola Kennedy, arms in prayer position at Tahquamenon Falls
Northern Life Yoga is very fortunate to provide a unique healing modality to our community, called Reiki. Our knowledgeable and passionate yoga instructor Lola Kennedy became a Reiki Master in 2017. She was drawn to the ancient Japanese energy healing art form when she was looking for guidance through a tough time in her life and her friend, who is also a Reiki Practitioner, had recommended it. Lola was always interested in massage, but she was hesitant about it and looking for something similar but different. It wasn’t until she was in New York studying musical theater that her classmate asked her to massage her arm and said, “You have healing hands.” It was then she knew she was in the wrong place and Reiki brought her home mentally, and literally.
Rei “meaning universal” and Ki “meaning life force energy”
Once she had that experience, she came home to Sault Ste. Marie, and began working at the health food store. A week after she was recommended Reiki, her mom, a dedicated Northern Life Yoga member, found a pamphlet about someone teaching Reiki in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. At that moment, it was as if everything aligned and her experiences were all pointing her towards Reiki. So, she began her training.
Lola explains Reiki as an “Energy healing modality that compliments treatments of our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual ailments. Similar to massage, but it is a massage for your subtle bodies. Reiki is perfect and complete in the conscious and subconscious level. There are no limits to Reiki’s impact.”
If you think about it, everything in the world has energy; the leaves, the animals, the waves, the wind, and us. This energy is all communicable, we have the ability to hone in on this energy and transfer it on a more conscious level. This of course takes training just like any other skill or profession.
Throughout Lola’s training she’s had some amazing experiences that showed her this is what she was meant to do. She recalls a time she was assisting in a group Reiki practice, and she was sitting at someone’s head and the feeling of unconditional love came over her.
“Every wall was let down and we were all connected. It helps you see there is nothing different from one another. We’re all just energetic beings trying our hardest.” - Lola Kennedy
Lola has continued her education in the healing art of Reiki. She is working towards becoming a Certified Reiki Teacher and will be able to take on students in the near future. For her and many other people a grounding, healing, Reiki session has become part of their self-care routine; just as someone would go get a massage or their nails done, they would go to Reiki. Northern Life Yoga is proud to hold Yin & Reiki events regularly. As Lola says, “The energy in the group practices amplifies the connection and healing when we have similar intentions to relax and be in our bodies.” Of course, the one-on-one connection is beautiful as well.
“Reiki will meet you where you’re at and is as amazing supportive tool in life’s good times and hard times. It is something to fall back on and is always there for you in your highs and lows.” – Lola Kennedy
Lola’s expertise goes far beyond Reiki. She is passionate about Belly Dance and instructs our Gentle Flow yoga classes as well.
Gentle Flow yoga classes are every
Tuesday and Thursday at 9:30 – 10:30 am with Lola
Wednesday from 4:00 – 5:00 pm with Nancy.
Belly Dance
Is a type of dance that was made for the female body, although men of course are welcome to dance too! There are many opinions of where Belly Dance originated and is possibly 100’s if not 1,000’s of years old. the most popular one is it originated from Northern Africa by an Egyptian queen who would practice the dance during pregnancy, from there it’s thought the gypsy’s brought it down and throughout Africa. The theory behind practicing for pre- and post-partum is that the movement warms, strengthens, and stretches the women’s pelvic floor, which prepares her for pre- and post-partum.
In the 20’s it came to the Eurocentric era where men would be entranced by the women practicing and dancing. Very often the women would dance in the street, it was very much a street performing art. Along with it spreading into Europe it was brought to World Fair in Chicago, beginning its journey into America.
It is important to note that every culture performs Belly Dancing in their own way that was transformed throughout their ancestry. One thing has stayed the same though, women came together to dance. Commonly, in America women would come together to dance and enjoy the community it brought.
Many people get intimidated by the dance, but really, it’s for everyone. The dance brings you more connected to your body in an intrinsic form.
As Lola explains, “We’re so in our heads we forget we can move that way. In our society we’re often judged for moving that way because it’s too sensual or provocative; but really it’s just so much fun to get together and dance.” “For me it brought me home to my body.”
Lola’s kind and open demeanor brings a refreshing, positive space. In her class you can expect each movement to be broken down, to move in different ways, and to connect to your body. The space is free of judgement and safe to be whoever you want. Belly Dance helps in so many ways, it challenges you to use your brain in new ways, it helps with bone density for weight bearing movement, and really helps you connect to your body.
