​Today, we celebrate the Lunar New Year. Growing up, I loved celebrating this day. Many festivities awakened all my senses. 

There were the sounds, the colors, the smell and taste of delicious food, and the red envelopes representing prosperity, good health, and abundance. Today, I wish all of this for everyone. 

This year, we welcome the Year of the Snake. Snakes move with precision, sensing the world around them with heightened awareness. In turbulent times, the snake teaches us to be adaptable, move wisely, and conserve energy when needed.

Just as the snake stays close to the earth, grounded and attuned, our movement practices offer space to center ourselves. In movement, we shed the weight of stress, tune into our internal rhythms, and reconnect with our shared divinity. We are reminded that we are not alone. We are supported and can face the world with steadiness and strength.

To this end, I would like to let you know about upcoming events:

Shamanic Journey and Movement

This workshop is a ceremony—an invitation to the subconscious and spirit world to guide and support us.

Riding the drumbeat, we connect not just through our device screens but through a shared field of energy, tapping into another realm together. This journey allows us to see and sense each other beyond the physical, deepening our connection in ways that transcend words.

We begin with 20 minutes of movement, grounding ourselves and setting our intentions. Then, we gather, close the Zoom room, and embark on the shamanic drumming journey. We conclude with 15–20 minutes of movement, embodying the medicine of our experience and dancing to each other’s journeys, followed by time to share. Each session lasts about two hours, though spirit has its own timing, so we allow flexibility at the end.

A 7-week virtual committed group begins Monday, February 3. If you’d like to join, email me at [email protected]. Please complete the Shamanic Journey application here if you haven’t participated in one of these series with me.

• Space is limited. Pre-registration is required.
• Sliding Scale: $275–$375
• Contact Sylvie at [email protected] to register.

BIPOC Class in Oakland

If you are in the San Francisco Bay area and need to move your body to release stress, join Sapana Doshi for her Merge and Emerge: Freedom Dance for BIPOC class this weekend.

• Saturday, February 1 | 10:30 am – 12:00 pm (Doors close at 10:50 AM to preserve the ceremonial container)
• Interplay Studio | 2273 Telegraph Ave, OAK (Enter at the 23rd Street entrance)
• Exchange: $20 (No one turned away for lack of funds)

As we navigate the Year of the Snake, remember—isolation only deepens feelings of despair. Reach out, dance, and connect. We are stronger when we unite, unified by our shared spirit, rhythm, and resilience. We are not alone; we are enveloped in the divine.

With love and blessings,
Sylvie & the SDP Team