Gina Holloway Mulder is a woman who wears many hats. As an artist, editor and lecturer, she has a wealth of knowledge and her assortment of many books – mostly academic and theoretical – bears testimony to her constantly learning, or trying to discover new ways of understanding the human condition. She is also a wife and mum who, in between school runs, extramural activities and early morning lifesaving training with her tween, Grace, takes charge of household chores.
“I am often asked what it is I do; I use my understanding of the integration of body, mind and voice to help people overcome communication problems, psychological inhibitions, emotional difficulties and some physical complaints – ultimately to heal. I’ve been researching, developing and sharing my approach locally and abroad for more than 20 years, so I truly believe this is my calling.”
Gina says her childhood experiences steered her to this ground-breaking expressive arts therapy that includes breathwork – many are unaware of their breathing and how to breathe.
“I’ve always been athletic. From the age of seven, I did speech and drama and a big part of this is learning to use your voice and breath effectively.”
When Gina was 16 she developed exercise-induced asthma. Through drama studies at university she learnt more about how the breath influenced voice, the body and its movement. And how breath was a key aspect of self-expression and emotion.
“I realised there was more going on than inhaling and exhaling and that there was a deeper connection between breath, emotion and self, as well as breath and one’s psychological state. I also realised that my asthma had disappeared … all of these breathing techniques had helped me.”
Gina went on to study Voice Movement Therapy in the USA and is internationally registered. “Here my understanding of the bodymind and breath and the relationship between these and emotional states deepened. I believe my training in drama and life experiences gave me a solid foundation when it came to me pursuing the therapeutic value of movement and self-expression, and ultimately practicing Voice Movement Therapy.”
Voice Movement Therapy (or VMT) is a creative and embodied psychotherapy that prioritises the voice as the vehicle of transformation, says Gina. Digging deeper into how VMT works, she says it’s like a singing lesson, a massage, a counselling consultation, an acting class and a creative movement session – all rolled into one.
“We all use our voices – through words, tone, volume, pitch, rhythm, and our body – in gesture and movement quality, to express who we are and what we need to convey to others. Our histories and stories are held in our bodies and our voices, I ‘read’ or understand a person and where they find themselves emotionally through the way they move and/or sound.”
Gina says breathwork is the basis and starting point for all her work. It also forms the foundation of her own daily practise which incorporates movement and voice. People stop breathing for various reasons, says Gina. One reason is to disconnect from feelings and emotions. In breathwork sessions, focus is on the breath and movement, and may incorporate some sound if a client feels comfortable to do so.
“The embodied voicework I practice is still on the very edge of therapeutic progress. It is very new as a modality – with only about 40 registered practitioners in the world – and it hasn’t had the spotlight like practices such as yoga. Breathing however is more familiar and current, something Covid has also highlighted, and I believe a pathway into other bodymind and vocal therapeutic practices that will benefit people.”
When consulting with a client, Gina explores their breathing, posture and gesture. And looks to see where the body and energy is blocked.
“Regardless of who comes to me – a child who has selective mutism or ADHD, a professional singer whose range has diminished, a business woman who battles to be assertive, or a person who feels they are not thriving, VMT gives me the tools to meet the client where they are, and that’s where we start … with what the body and voice are offering.”
Gina says the work she does requires her to be present, creative and especially to improvise. So definitely not an online quick fix.
“Things that cause us pain and suffering, our traumas and shadows, frustrations, disappointments and attachments, all get stuck in our body and voice. I find ways of unlocking it all so people can find deeper connection to themselves and a sense of empowerment and truth, because when the body, mind and voice are aligned, we are resilient and grounded. Expressive arts therapies work because they engage the imagination and creativity, essentially offering the kind of experience where any matter of difficult or traumatic material can be transformed into something more positive. And it can be seen, heard and witnessed by others – which is a vital part of healing.”
The way Gina works also requires involvement of the whole body. There is movement through different postures, various stretches and even images can be used to help activate the internal senses. The work is very flexible and can accommodate people who have restricted movement. Participants are encouraged to explore exercises at home and keep a journal of their experiences and ideas.
“I am passionate about helping people to heal. One of my strengths is the ability to listen deeply, to hold and witness people in their intensity and to find creative and unexpected ways of bringing them back to themselves. When I see people thrive and experience themselves differently, it is hugely satisfying.”
Besides working with individuals who come for weekly sessions as well as small groups, Gina has been doing bespoke one-on-one intensive retreats for clients both local and international.
“These retreats allow people to really sink into themselves and do some deeply transformative work. At the end of the day, what is it that we all want? We want to feel the freedom of movement and of expression, to be free of physical and emotional pain, have energy and be alive and feel at peace with ourselves and the world.”
Gina has launched an eight-week breathwork programme, which includes exercises as well as a new integrated approach to breathing and feeling better. Sessions will be held run from One Sport & Wellness as well as Gina’s private studio in Hillcrest, and cost R650 an hour for one-on-one sessions or R1200 a person for the eight-session group programmes.
For those who wish to learn more about her work and her approach to breathwork, the first sessions start on Tuesday Sept 6 at 7.30am and Wed Sept 7 at 5.15pm. Booking is essential.
Details: 084 827 8481, [email protected]
