MAKE MOVING FUN AGAIN
Practicing Tai Chi (modified to be more playful) with a partner is like having a conversation through movement.
To play with another person, you must pay attention to the other person's needs, not just your own. You must overcome narcissism. You must learn to share. You must learn to negotiate and blend movements and ideas.
When Chip Conrad and I sit down together to discuss human movement our discussion usually turns towards strength, art and utility. Here’s a quick little video of a recent sit down in my very own Strength Garden.
We’ll be moving, playing and lifting at our upcoming Art of Strength workshop but I have a feeling there will be a fair share of physical culture philosophy and nostalgia.
As you know I’m a very avid reader and Creativity is one of my favorite genres to research and study. I thought I’d share some highlights from two of my favorite books and walking and handcraft and its relationship to creativity.
The above highlight comes from Handmade- Creative Focus in the Age of Distraction.
It’s written by Gary Rogowski, a woodworker but his thoughts on creativity reaches well beyond just woodworking.
The two highlights above come from Rick Rubin’s new book The Creative Act.
These are the ropes I use mostly:
Flow Ropes (Amazon Brand)
I’ll be doing some rope reviews shortly.
I’ve been asked to share a few details about what happens exactly at a Creative Movement Live workshop.
So I thought I’d be all formal and list a few objectives of the class to give you a better idea of what takes place.
Objective:
To develop quality movement and to experience the joy that comes with it. Joy makes everything easier and easy is productive. Less friction equals more momentum, and more momentum equals better results.
To build rapport with yourself, your training partners and the client or athlete. Most of the games and drills we’ll explore are cooperative challenges and shared successes.
If we can get ourselves & our clients/artists/athletes minds out of the workplace and into their bodies and training session we’ve done a good job.
Each creative movement is specifically designed to establish rapport and enthusiasm while addressing the entire spectrum of athletic develop and human movement.
In this workshop you’ll learn and practice exercises from several traditions such as martial arts, gymnastic and old school physical culture.
You’ll also learn to adapt several training tools into your creative movement program such as medicine balls, ropes, bands and agility equipment. Many times we’ll be combining those tools as well.
Other Objectives:
Getting comfortable with the drills. How to coach them, what to encourage and what to avoid.
Where does it fit within the overall program? Creative movement training can be used very effectively in several locations during the training session, such as the warm-up, active recovery or part of an intense circuit. creative movement training is very versatile, for example, it also works very well as an initial ice-breaker with a first time client.
Explaining the benefits. Clients may not associate play with results. It’s best to approach this question in a hands-on manner while demonstrating some drills that focus on the clients wants and needs. For example, there are many play-based drills that directly train the “core.” It’s hard to deny a training effect after a few moments.
Working with the variables. The variables are endless, timing, tools, rhythms, stability, balance, laughter, joy, self- expression and creativity to name a few.
Hope to see you there: Creative Movement Live Brooklyn
Living life as an Artist is a Practice.
You are either engaging in the practice or you are not.
It makes no sense to say you’re not good at it. It’s like saying, “ I’m not good at being a monk.” You are either living as a monk or you are not.
We tend to think of the Artist’s work as the output.
But.
The real work of the Artist is a way of being in the world.
Thank you Rick Rubin and The Creative Act.
I write more about practice here: Every Practice has a Space, and that Space is Sacred.
In my Creative Movement Live workshops everyone moves with everyone...And often times it's the fine motor control work that people need/want the most.
And, as a teacher, artist, and leader, I try to get the creative process moving, step aside, and give it a chance to find its own way.
The task of this movement situation is to keep the yoga block wedged between both players/artists as they move through some patterns.
This is no right or wrong. Just play, create riddles and movement situations to help one another create and grow.
I borrow heavily from martial arts and their particular approach to creative movement and problem solving, as well as physical and artistic expression.
Creative Movement is a poetic, playful discipline which aims to revitalize and rejuvenate an individual's ability to deeply perceive and listen to the body and develop expressive and creative potential.
The physical body, is a source and medium of our artistic life and is considered an essential element in the creative process, despite the artistic language in which it may be realized.
We use physical practices that are simple, enjoyable and repeatable. We design play-based activities that encourage physical freedom, creativity and vitality. And because we are artist, creative movers, we are not bound by any one discipline or way. We use, we steal and repurpose ideas, tools and resources from the old ways. We cultivate a way that is adaptive and alive to create a beautifully moving, adaptable and creative human being.
Creative Movement Live Workshops
Creative Movement is a general term used in a broad field of physical disciplines connected to the relationship between body, mind, and creative spirit.
I borrow heavily from martial arts and their particular approach to creative movement and problem solving, as well as physical and artistic expression. Creative Movement is a poetic, playful discipline which aims to revitalize and rejuvenate an individual's ability to deeply perceive and listen to the body and develop expressive and creative potential.
The physical body, is a source and medium of our artistic life and is considered an essential element in the creative process, despite the artistic language in which it may be realized.
Hope to work with you soon.
I know “Authenticity”is a buzz word right now. But it remains a great way to describe what it is that we’re searching for in our own creative movement practice or moving art.
It’s also what we’re searching for in our work. We want to present ourselves and our work as we are, authentically.
Everyone benefits when we show up as our selves. Below I share two stories from personal interactions I had with two younger coaches/teachers. Seeing them happier in their coaching/teaching profession warms my heart.
The video below is of a mentor of mine Linda from Fighting Monkey Practice.
Linda is a dancer and an incredible mover and teacher. I wanted to show you this video within the context of Authentic Movement. Now Linda could just give her students planks or push-ups to strengthen their core, shoulders and chest. Or, as she has done here, give those students something more playful, more artistic, more authentic to her own training and lineage.
Which one do you think her students enjoy more? Which one has more engagement and encourages physical expression? Which one will keep them coming back for more?
I speak much more about Fighting Monkey here: How to Get Smashed & Keep Going.
My calling is to help you become skillful and creative through establishing a direct connection between you, your environment and your task. Not pulling away from it by becoming an automatic and reflexive robot. As a moving or martial artist, or just someone that wants to enjoy the physical world around them, we must become adaptive problem solvers and creative decision makers.
One of the best ways to help cultivate these elements is through partner play. Below Molly and Alex do a wonderful job of communicating with one another as well as with the tool that’s between them.
