"The Birth of Shakha"

It was August 23, 2010 and I was attending Dr. Madan Kataria's 5-Day Laughter Yoga Teacher Training Workshop in Albequerque, New Mexico. He introduced the Gibberish Game in which you get to create your own language using real syllables, articulating nonsensical words. Somehow, beleive it or not, once you get started, you begin having "real" conversations.   (Complete before posting)

The word is uttered once, then four times, Dr. K. Inquires in gibberish to me about the "Shakha" and I speak to him with such force and power, it resonates through the room.

The game continues. Soon, "Shakha" begins to manifest throughout the group. Everyone explodes with laughter when Rhoda stands up, twitches her hips and says, "Shakha, boom, boom, boom"!

The room explodes into laughter and their is a sense of aliveness, power, and joy.

Throughout the day "Shakha" is spoken my Dr. K. and he looks at me. It becomes a catch phrase, an anthem of some sort.

Our name tags have not arrived and I retire to my hotel room, realizing that I don't need a name tag.

I have become "Shakha".

I feel as though "Shakha" has been birthed that day as a new living entity. 

I am now and forevermore "Shakha".

- Shakha