Moves

A Sourcebook of Ideas for Body Awareness and Creative Movement

Katya Bloom, Rosa Shreeves

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2014
• ISBN:
  9781134404131
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Performing Arts

First Published in 1998. The aim of this book is to reawaken awareness of the body feels; rekindle imagination; provide starting points for both developing greater self-awareness and creating expressive movement. 'Moves' suggests a wealth of exercises which stem from the natural movement of the body and are therefore accessible to anyone. As you respond to the material in this book you may notice changes in yourself, such as greater physical and emotional freedom, a lessening of anxiety and constriction, a new found sense of flow, flexibility and strength and a greater responsiveness to others and to the environment.

PART ONE

1

INNER LOOKING AND LISTENING

Through our physical selves we receive sensory information and impressions from the outside world. We interact with our surroundings by means of our senses, our movement and our responses. We experience ourselves through our bodies. Within ourselves we make sense of the external world and at the same time use our thoughts and imaginings to propel courses of action. Our inner world of feelings, dreams, memories and images is as real and necessary to us as food and water. When we nourish both our unique inner world and our interaction with the outer we may find a balance, a state of being which is neither too inturned nor over active. In a receptive state energy from ourselves can flow outwards and energy from without can flow in. We are connected to all life.

It is when we are still and silent that we can most easily contact our inner world and connect it to our outer experience. To observe yourself in stillness is a meditative discipline, to gradually bring the body and mind to rest so that you finally arrive at the place of stillness… and you settle into that place for as long as you like. In the beginning of tuning in to the world of inner space, the flow of feelings, the sensations of bones and muscles, there is a waiting period, a transition time for calming and slowing, leaving the outer world of thinking and doing behind and receiving the impressions of your inner world.

Inner listening is a quiet, attentive tuning in, with a willingness to accept all that is in you, and a curiosity to discover all that you are. Stillness is the place to begin from, to go consciously out to the moving, thinking and doing of life. There is a rhythmic flow for all of us between movement and stillness. We can grow to consciously know and respond to this pattern.

Emptying

Opening the pores of the skin…

Loosening the tissues of the

muscles and the organs

Quietening the chatter of the mind…

Emptying the body of excess tension

What remains is the quiet flow of breath

the pulsing of heart and blood

and the warm secure knowledge that

YOU are there… deeply permeating your every cell

with the Essence that is you.

Basic positions

Throughout the book the basic body positions of

folded position

sitting

standing

kneeling on all fours

or, lying down on the back

are frequently suggested as starting positions.

Before beginning any exercise, take some time to become aware of yourself in the starting position. Feel your contact with the ground. Try to release any unnecessary tension in your body. Aim for a balanced position where the right and left sides of your body are equal. Think of your head as in line with your spine, not pulled back or thrusting forward or off to one side. Often we have habitual imbalances in our posture but generally these become less as our body awareness increases.

Folded position

Sitting back on your heels, forehead resting on the floor. Notice the placement of the different parts of your body in the starting positions to help you get the most out of each exercise.

Sitting

Legs crossed or soles of the feet touching. Back straight but relaxed. Shoulders and arms hang down easily.

Standing

Head in line with the spine. Feet straight forward a little apart. Think of the base of the spine dropping as the arms hang, the knees soften and the head floats up. This helps avoid a rigid back, and allows its natural curves.

Kneeling on all fours

Hands under shoulders. Knees under hips. Spine relaxed and outstretched.

Lying down on your back (a)

Head centred in line with your spine. Arms relaxed outstretched or at your sides. Legs flopped outwards and the back of the neck long.

Or:

Lying down on your back (b)

Knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Knees and feet a little apart. Find the most comfortable, balanced position for your legs and back.

“At the beginning of a movement session I am more aware of my surroundings than myself I have no interest in my body. I do not feel The idea of moving is remote. I listen to the traffic. I notice the chilly room. In other words I focus on my surroundings, allowing them to distract me from myself I need to listen' inwards”.

A sitting meditation

Use this exercise for focussing inwards, leaving behind all concerns and distractions. Find an easy balanced sitting position, against a wall or on a cushion perhaps. Close your eyes to begin

Sit on the floor

Motionless as a stone

Listen in the stillness

To the sounds...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half Title Page
• Series Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Introduction to the Series
• Figures
• Acknowledgements
• Preface
• Introduction
• Part One
• Part Two
• Part Three
• Bibliography
• Index