About Moving Rasa
Isolation and unhealed harm fracture community life. We use relational, somatic improvisation to rebuild connection and co-create consent-centered culture with Southeast Asian, Pacific Islander, Black, and Indigenous communities and their allies.
Mission
Moving Rasa supports people of all backgrounds, including Southeast Asian, Pacific Islander, Black, and Indigenous communities across ability and age, in transforming their relationship to masculinity, culture, and the body through Southeast Asian-rooted somatic practices.
We cultivate joy, healing, and leadership to disrupt patterns of harm and create cultures of connection, empowering individuals and groups to reclaim their narratives, reconnect with their bodies, and build stronger, more resilient communities.
Vision
Our primary vision is to create safe, affirming spaces where BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ communities can engage in movement-based inquiry, healing, and transformation.
We are especially committed to supporting survivors of trauma and addressing the role of masculinity in both harm and healing. Through specialized training and somatic practice rooted in Southeast Asian wisdom, we provide tools for individuals to reconnect with their bodies and the land, reclaim agency, and foster caring cultural creation in their community.
What is Rasa?
Rasa is the Indonesian word for taste or essence. The Moving Rasa framework integrates principles of somatics, community organizing, and survivor-informed practices to create a safe and inclusive space where individuals can engage in experiential learning to connect with their Rasa. Through this process, we all develop the capacity to co-regulate our nervous systems, navigate relationships, and align with what feels meaningful.
Why this matters:
Loneliness is widespread and harmful. Lacking social connection raises premature-death risk (similar to smoking ~15 cigarettes/day) and is linked to higher heart disease and stroke risk.
Sexual violence and DV/IPV are common; our spaces are consent-first and paced for survivors. 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men have experienced attempted or completed rape. Our spaces are survivor-safe and consent-first.
Our Approach
Indonesian philosophy: Scaffolds growth and transformation of our consciousness on indigenous world views.
Body Awareness: Helping individuals reconnect with their bodies and lived experiences.
Community Connection: Encouraging co-regulation, investigation, and co-creation within communities.
Cultural Reflection: Supporting the recovery of relationships to culture and community.
Core Values
Trust: Building safe and supportive environments.
Vulnerability: Encouraging openness and honesty.
Cooperation: Promoting teamwork and mutual support.
Perseverance: Cultivating resilience and determination.
Play: Embracing joy and creativity in movement.
Wisdom: Valuing lived experiences and diverse perspectives.