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It’s common for people participating in a haka workshop to resist and refuse to participate. I recognize it immediately. They’ll demonstratively stand with their arms crossed, lean against the wall, pick up their phones, or start chatting and laughing with other participants. This is disrespectful to the trainer and the haka.
In this article, I’ll explain the types of resistance I see in participants, why they happen, what they mean, and how you can better manage them.
When Participation Isn’t a Choice
Often, the haka is used as an energizer or in workshops because clients want it to be part of an event or team meeting. The participants haven’t had a choice, and it feels like a “must.” I recently heard from a group that it felt like a chore. As a trainer or facilitator, you’re immediately behind.
->Reading tip: When is a haka Workshop Most Effective?
Ideally, you work with people who are motivated, curious, and have chosen to join a haka. This often ensures that the haka is a success, with lots of energy, expression, and enjoyment. But if participants are required to join, it’s an extra challenge for you as a trainer or facilitator to convince them to participate.
I take a gentle approach at the beginning of the workshop. I don’t immediately start shouting or demanding provocative expressions from the participants. First, I talk about the haka, its origins, and its meaning. Then I bridge the gap to what the participants will gain from it and what elements they can use in their daily lives to gain more self-confidence, connect better with others, and take responsibility. This allows them to live a life with more fulfillment, pleasure, joy, and perhaps more love.
I make them aware of their bodies and the people around them, and encourage them to activate their bodies in a playful yet powerful way.
A key element of the haka is the Golden Contract. I ask participants to step outside their comfort zone and participate. I ask them to perform the haka respectfully and to have fun. In consultation with the client, I sometimes ask participants to leave if they don’t want to. Once, half the hall emptied, which was painful, but the haka was so pure and powerful.
I explain that everything is fine and nothing is wrong, as long as you participate. If you don’t want to participate, I can’t force you, but you do have a choice: do I stay in this fixed mindset, or do I want to grow?
->Reading tip: How to Elevate Your Mindset
When Timing and Context Work Against You
I once gave a haka workshop after participants had just cycled 80 km from Rotterdam to Amsterdam. It was a beautiful location in a stadium, but the participants were too tired. That happened to me again recently. A group of young people had just completed a boot camp as part of their education, and the haka was the closing activity of the weekend. The boys and girls were incredibly tired, and most of them weren’t in the mood.
I quickly noticed this because people started talking. Next, I engaged them in conversation and explained again what the haka is, emphasizing that unity is a key element in performing it. I asked them: “What do you want?” “Doing!” they replied. And then I started talking less about the haka, and we practiced the action moves.
I always try to consult with the client as much as possible in advance to find out what’s going on, what the group needs, and what I need to know. Sometimes, you only discover it on the spot, so it’s important to talk about it and find out what the group wants and needs. And sometimes, it’s not a haka workshop, but a talk from me about the Māori and the different types of haka.
Awkwardness and the Fear of Standing Out
Would you start shouting and expressing yourself more intensely? I can imagine you wouldn’t want to, especially if you didn’t choose to. You don’t want to stand out to your peers, executives, managers, or classmates.
A haka requires you to be vulnerable, and others might react by laughing at you. There’s shame in standing out and peer pressure not to. I can imagine that. Luckily, I don’t experience it that much myself.
Vulnerability has become a catch-all term. It’s leadership jargon. What does it mean to be vulnerable? For me, it means letting others know I’m available. I don’t hide behind a mask. I am myself, and that is my authentic self, my strength.
How do you deal with discomfort? It’s often a fear of being judged. In my experience, you can’t suppress or ignore it. Laughing it off isn’t an option either. You have to master it. So don’t start with something big, but take small steps that are already a challenge. This applies not only to the haka but to any project, wish, or goal in your life.
During a haka workshop, I acknowledge the discomfort and discuss it. Then we learn the haka in small steps. During the process, I regularly check in and ask, “Kei te pai?” (Are you okay?). If so, we move on.
How the Location Shapes the haka Experience
I come to many special places, but sometimes the location doesn’t serve the purpose of a haka and the group. Because the external conditions aren’t ideal, resistance can arise during a haka workshop.
Sometimes it’s small things, like a noisy coffee machine, another group doing a mindfulness training next to us, or the staff busy preparing lunch. Anything that moves or makes noise is distracting and can lead to resistance. In those cases, it’s helpful to find a better location.
Often, clients want to do the haka outside to get some fresh air. There’s a lot of movement there too, and passersby can stop to watch what we’re doing. This creates a sense of insecurity. A large open space can also feel unsafe for participants. If there’s no safety, resistance arises.
If a group wants to work outside, I try to find a sheltered spot where there are no distractions. But if it gets cold or rains, there’s resistance. That’s why I prefer to do a haka workshop indoors (where a lot of noise is allowed). It’s safer there, and it contributes to a positive haka experience.
Furthermore, there’s the Māori belief that if you don’t perform the haka properly, you lose face to nature outdoors. In that case, it’s better to practice indoors and only move outdoors once participants have mastered the haka and are confident enough to express themselves.
When Enthusiasm Turns Into Distraction
Recently, after a workshop, a woman came up to me and told me she was so excited for the haka. To her regret, she didn’t feel the power, the energy of the haka. I don’t hear that often, and it surprised me. It’s possible she was distracted by something in her work or life.
You can’t feel the haka if you’re thinking about the past or the future. You need to be in the present moment, moving full speed ahead. This woman wanted to do that, but she couldn’t. Perhaps she was too eager and too enthusiastic. I recognize that in myself.
In those cases, it’s actually better to take a step back (for myself) before completely losing myself in something. I then breathe calmly and ask myself what I want, what’s needed now, and where I want to go. I often think about my WHY, my spark. That also gives me peace of mind when I’m too eager for something. For me, I can then experience it more consciously.
Sometimes it’s too much fun because the group is being rowdy. Then the haka is performed disrespectfully. I ask the group not to shout or do anything other than what I’m teaching them (no offensive words or gestures). If they can’t, I stop the haka and explain more about the customs of the Māori.
The rowdiness can be the result of alcohol and drug use. That doesn’t go well with haka and is a reason for me to stop the haka immediately.
“It’s Not Mine”: Recognizing Cultural Boundaries
“I really want to dance the haka, but it’s not mine,” a man told me after a haka workshop. He had participated enthusiastically, but he too didn’t feel the haka. This was not because he was distracted, but because it wasn’t his and caused resistance. That was a wise observation.
The haka belongs to the Māori. It’s their power dance. We are allowed to feel it, but it’s not ours, Pākehā (non-Māori). The man was searching for an ancient Germanic energy. I don’t know that, but I do know that every group, culture, or family can create its own power dance.
It’s based on the stories of where a group comes from, who they are (their values, talents, and strengths), and where they’re going (their vision). I’ve helped several groups create their own power dance. We don’t call it a haka.
Create Your Own Power Dance
Would you also like to discover your own power dance? We use the haka as inspiration, but based on your stories and wishes, we create a unique dance. I can help you and your group develop a power dance that reflects your identity.
Contact me today to find out how I work and how I can help you.
What do you (as a trainer, facilitator, or participant) do when you experience resistance during a workshop or training?
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