Apr 19, 2013
This session was marked by a cohesion of the teaching styles and interests of each facilitator. Julie, Mirae, Lindsey and I all came to the workshop with some very clear plans on how we were going to lead our respective sections. We focused on space as the overarching theme.
Julie- sensing the floating of the bones (Alexander technique), using this radical shift in perspective to guide the exploring of the energy body
Hailey- tree dance (rooting through the feet, extending out the arms, closing eyes and feeling the dance of balance), version of Irene Dowd’s hand dance, hand dance dialogue improvisation
Lindsey- tensegrity lines, animal bodies and how these two connect, moving through space in animal body interacting with others, experimenting with change of quality of space (thick, airy)
Mirae- focus on dimensions of space: horizontal, sagittal, vertical and corresponding sounds (a, o, e), toning with voice in space
We ended with a composition score, experimenting with group shape, taking a journey/allowing the shape to transform and travel through space, then finding an ending in shape with the group once again.
Facilitation requires choices, and so in making choices, we do not always please everyone. While some participants are veterans of the practice and want more time to improvise, there are others that come to the practice for the first time, in which case we will go through the fundamentals of the workshop.
Sometimes the best method to deal with the distracted mind, or mind that becomes easily preoccupied with thoughts, is to focus on rhythm. Within rhythmic structures, there is safety. The heartbeat of the earth is incredibly healing, and this rhythm not only creates safety but is also a container within which to experiment.
This workshop was an active and very full workshop. We covered a lot of material, and so we discussed that we would not introduce anything new next time. Our task is to condense, congeal and fulfill what we have already done. As facilitators and mentees, we will be walking away from these workshops with a co-created workshop that we can carry with us.
Some clarifications on the differences between the bandas and the chakras and I understand it:
Bandas: basic and physiological – bones and ligaments, an example is the physics of the rebound, intersects imagination/imagery, come from yoga sutras and Upanishads (came before Hinduism), an indigenous and older discovery
Chakras: a mediated, later development, in India and gave birth to several different lineages, more focused on meditation and not as physically rooted as bandas