| Devised from and developed for complete movement in Oriental Dance, Rotational Yoga has been piloted in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East to an audience of dancers whose feedback and practise development has shown complete turnaround effects in the way dancers heal from severe injury, gain intensive body knowledge and approach performance with increased confidence, stamina and range of movement.
Beverley Joffe |
Rotational Yoga?
As its name implies, it takes foundation in the full rotation of all the body’s joints. In this, it has taken great inspiration from Oriental Dance and goes deep into the command of isolation to strengthen individual muscles. The concept is in marking points of axis whilst locking the base in true alignment and then gently increasing the degree of tilt to bend deeper. Sets are devised to begin with X / Y axis linear tilts and then once extreme points of tilt are marked, the yoga aims to manoeuvre the body along the rotational axis, beginning in small circles and enlarging to claim the body’s free movement between the extreme points.
The neurological system – controlling thought creating muscle movement – is deeply activated, affecting increased co-ordination and reflex. And of course the chakra system, presented in the body as the main centres where nerves cluster are methodically worked – as is taught by traditional yoga.
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 Yoga Mastering
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Body strength | But what makes Rotational Yoga different?
Its form seeks to locate injury or blocks in the body and eradicate them through the systematic testing of all body joins, for it is only when pressure is applied that pain surfaces and by the same token, it is this very pressure that nourishes all areas with blood flow, tissue massage and gland secretion. Rotational Yoga claims most of its success through correcting alignments in the body. This, in essence, allows the body to heal itself.
How did this form of thinking come about?
My own journey has travelled through many disciplines in performance, dance, martial and healing art, and, especially as a child, disciplined instruction for stretching was not thorough enough for me to prevent or manage injury. My yoga studies culminated in a five-year long apprenticeship in a Hatha yoga ashram where I developed methods to completely heal multiple severe long term injuries, including displaced knee-caps, groin trauma, neck trauma weakened by continual sprains, weakened ankles and displaced foot alignment.
Refusing surgery was my only option on multiple affected areas, especially knees and feet, due to an innate belief in the body’s ability to heal itself. Saying this, I have also worked long term with dancers who have had both successful and non-successful surgical procedures and the results are always the same…
The body responds to Rotational Yoga where many other treatments have failed. Why?
The philosophy of Rotational Yoga expects every person’s body to be an absolute unique blueprint. From the astrological, personality-based influences to the muscular-skeletal frame, every person has a different path of work to be done to correct problems and come into true alignment. Group sets are devised, as stated, to locate areas for work, and encouragement is strong to weigh individual necessity on this scale, to take more time and focus to weak areas and strengthen them.
Personal blocks are also addressed, as practitioners are encouraged to release fear-based blocks where natural impulses for protecting injured or emotionally-affected areas are preventing free, complete movement.
Rotational Yoga has roots in metaphysical/ spiritual traditions of Sacred Geometry.
Working with both internal and external space connects the practitioner to universal current… a vital component of space, especially to those who perform and work with the shapes their body produces in relation to the area they are performing in. Considering the background of a stage… the lighting and the choreography remain locked in two-dimensional concepts, whilst nurturing the performance as a multi-dimensional entity taps the individual into unlimited energy sources.
Body Mastering |
Ancient Hindu philosophy discusses the “Gods of Direction” and indeed a recollection of Indian and ancient Egyptian astrology will re-emphasise the importance placed on relativity.
By exploring first your internal geometry in yoga posture, the next step is to move between the postures with universal grace, extending and lifting “up and out” towards external points. On a purely physical level, this creates more space in the body which free it from a compacting tendency and support healing on a molecular level where shifts occur due to the movement of particles who require space to redistribute.
Meditation forms an integral part of nurturing your individual knowledge of sacred geometry. Many postures in Rotational Yoga develop this sacred space awareness. One posture called “The River of Life” has the practitioner balancing on the side with the limbs folded in a “double helix” position and palms pressed together. The meditation here is to focus on the concept of within/ without and visualise the body existing within a streaming river which symbolises the universal current. Simultaneously empowering and humbling, such exercises awaken the soul consciousness.
For Oriental dancers who embody “the spirit in motion” or “dance of the soul”, developing strength and connection off-stage makes a visible difference on-stage. Commercial benefits of effortless backbends, leg splits and Turkish drops mark the performance of one who takes the time and patience to clean and maintain the “inner temple”, and yet, working with subtle energy translates to not even needing to create excessive movement… a mere presence, hand gesture or fractional ripple of the spine displays a free and relaxed body, which impacts the audience with warmth, sensuality and connection.
Studying Rotational Yoga
I am currently running two-hour weekly workshop classes in Archway, London, on Mondays 630-830 on “Rotational Yoga for Oriental Dance”, which attracts dancers of all ages and mobility, as well as other performers and yoga students. There are two teaching DVD’s available, Beginner and Advanced, and I work with a number of individuals via correspondence. I will also be running workshops in London Archway this October (afternoons). In these three hour sessions entitled “Oriental Magic”, we will cover both yoga and dance technique for performers seeking deeper meaning and focus to their work, and will cover Zar (trance) with safe and experienced guidance.
Too see more of my work visit www.ishtar.moonfruit.com
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Founder of "Rotational Yoga" taught to dancers, following long apprenticeship in different yoga styles. 
