Alyssa Grant

Over the weeks I grew more comfortable moving and using my voice in a collective effort. Each class was a creation of something new and fresh as we moved into the unknown. Each moment, through silence or sound, was an improvisation of what was present and alive in ourselves and in the room. I think it was the sense of there not being any “rules” or “shoulds” for how things were to look or sound, but rather we were encouraged and inspired to be nothing but ourselves, and were graciously given the freedom to express whatever it was that we were feeling. Most importantly, I felt Anita and the class held a safe space conducive to positive growth, healing and acceptance.

I didn’t only feel my body opening up and gaining a sense of liberation through organic movements, but I was also surprised at the balancing opposition of how subtle and powerful the breath is. Simply by tuning in with this natural occurrence on a more conscious level created a connection with each movement of my body and voice as the overall effort in myself and muscles diminished. It was as if once the channels were open, the voice became like a river and was able to flow a little more freely as we continued to explore new edges of fear while releasing a little more resistance with each breath. This was was a huge theme in the classes that became less scary and unknown through out the course.

I enjoyed the sequential growth over the 8 weeks, and felt improvements with how I was able to drop into my body and feel that aliveness alongside my fellow classmates. I noticed I was less fearful of making sound, and more confident speaking and singing in a group each class leading up to doing this in public! The improvisation is exhilarating, scary at first, but using the tools Anita provided gave me a sense of confidence to keep trusting in the breath, relax into the movements and if anything, lean into the fear! I couldn’t believe I performed, both with a group and solo, and was surprised at how much I actually enjoyed it! I felt empowered and positively energized post-performance, and the high lasted a few days. Knowing that I did it has left me with an inspiring motivation to keep moving, singing and following my breath.

I am extremely grateful for Anita’s body-led singing courses. She truly is an activist and an educator. It’s clear she has been doing inner work and continues to grow in her own body, perspective and soul on a daily basis. She does an excellent job creating the space to translate her personal and professional knowledge into a creative, dynamic experience for participants. I really resonated with her teaching style as a yogini and a singer (but only singing in my private space), yet I was able to explore the freedom that I love about singing in my shower or car in a group setting where the energy of feeling alive was amplified. I was amazed at the power of connecting with those present in the room and being open to share the experience of collective improvisation, and the excitement still flows through me, eager to continue exploring the inner workings of my body and voice in an outward experience.

–Alyssa Grant