What's your modality?

How do you explore movement? How does your type of exploration bring you more self awareness? What do you love about the form? What is challenging about the form? Do you participate in more than one type of practice? What does each give you? Would you suggest your form to everyone? Or, is it more particular?

Re: What's your modality?

I practice two primary forms of movement awareness: The Feldenkrais Method® and Contact Improvisation. For me they are complementary forms of exploration because they each approach awareness from opposite ends of a spectrum. Feldenkrais is, at first, concerned with the internal sensation of movement - what does it feel like? what are you sensing? Most of the group lessons (and individual sessions) are done with your eyes closed so that you can focus inward on your sensations, feelings and observations. Contact Improvisation starts with contact with another person - so, immediately you are aware of information in the form of touch coming from the outside. A major part of the practice is to become more sensitive to this input, to be able to be more aware of subtle shifts with your partner and follow these sensations and shifts. So, one form begins with inner tuning and eventually moves outward into the world and the other begins with input from the outside and moves into ones ability to be aware and respond.

Re: What's your modality?

hey there,

A little more about the work of sensationand form that I mentioned before.The practice of sensation and form as I learned it begins with what Andrew calls constructing the body. This is kind of like moving from the expansive place of cellular awareness gradually moving to awareness of individual muscles, and organs, then moving more and more outward experience of the body to our senses and finally our contact with the outer world. Up until this point our focus is internal our eyes are closed and little attention is paid to the outer environment. When we finally open our eyes we begin to recieve influence from the outer world and continue to explore our relationship to the outer world.

So we naturally begin to be influenced by the outer environment and we move naturally in response to what the outer world offers us without leaving behind the sensitivity to the information and inspiration that our bodymind is offering to us. Naturally we begin to work with who or what is in the space. So I guess this form is similar to Feldenkrais in that it begins with the inner world. Anyhow I find this to be a helpful guide to moving authentically with my body and letting myself be influenced from the outside world.

Re: What's your modality?

I’m curious about this development of awareness of cells, organs, muscles, etc.. Have you ever looked into Body Mind Centering - it is a form developed by Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen. And one of the main studies of this method is exploring and experiencing the “mind” of each body system - ie. skeletal, muscular, organs, nervious, etc.. And that each system has a way that it initiates, influences and informs our movment and consciousness. It is very movement based - you actually move these systems. Very interesting work and challenging.

Re: What's your modality?

Hi out there,

I have explored some BMC, and find it to be amazing work! Daniel, in response to your curiosity around the relationship of constucting the body and BMC (Body Mind Centering) I don't know if there is a formal connection, but there is definitely a similar quality in my experience. In the process of constructing the body seems to come completely alive as we inhabit it more fully. This is something that I find happens in BMC.

Peace out,
Paul

Re: What's your modality?

I practice Tae Kwon Do and Yoga. Used to do contact improv and loved it. Haven't done it for ten years but would love to get into again. Look forward to learning more here about other times of movement awareness….

Re: What's your modality?

Lovely discussion I hope more join. I love improvising with others, whether it is contact improv or not, the process fascinates me. The realm of self and other and how the self relates to other is a huge part of my Dance and Dharma practice. I find that Contact teaches endlessly about interpersonal dynamics. I don't think there is a limit or end to what contact can offer in this area unless one reaches an end to their own development in this area. Is this possible?

But what I find is that in improvising with others there is more awreness and sensitivity to develop in order to truly collaborate. This is exciting!  More sensitivity becomes necessary. Recently trying on some of the work that Andrew Marcus has developed called Sensation and Form has given me great tools to explore this domain. Anyhow, I kinda gotta go, more later.

Bye

Cuddling as a modality: Cuddle Parties...

If you’ve been curious about Cuddle Parties, I’m the guy who created the whole thing. What originally grew out of workshop I was running for massage therapists to practice getting more touch back in their lives, CP’s exploded into a global conversation within five weeks of launching it. Now, almost three years later, we’ve got trained and certified facilitators leading Cuddle Parties on three continents and four countries.

I’ve seen what amazing things people have gotten out of rediscovering non-sexual touch and intimacy and affection, and my mind contiues to be blown away by all of this. We’re even recognized by the American Massage Therapist Association (Cuddle Parties and our weekend training programs count towards CEU’s for AMTA massage therapists - crazy, but true!)

So, yeah, I’m a cuddler. My movement awareness practices consist of the horizontal hugs and the subtle movements of spooning! I’m blessed to call this one of my modalities.

For those of you who might want to explore getting certified to lead these workshops, we’re running a holiday registration special till the end of the year. Here’s more info on that…

Hugs,
REiD

Register by Dec 31 and save $300 on any of 2007’s Cuddle Party FACILITATOR TRAINING and CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS!

March 2-4, San Francisco, CA
June 8-10, Seattle, WA
June 22-24, Montgomery, AL
Sept 28-30, New York, NY

Whether you are new to running events for groups, or have been facilitating for years, this interactive, hands-on training will provide you with the tools you need to enhance your confidence, create new depth to your presentations, and improve your ability to create relatedness with just about anyone.

Already happening in four countries on three continents, Cuddle Party’s unique approach to blending workshop with social event has everyone talking. Come learn the inner workings behind facilitating these communication and intimacy workshops from the creators themselves and see what’s made Cuddle Party a global conversation in less than three years.

Register by Dec 31 and receive $300 off the Training Weekend, or the Training and Certification program.
Go to cuddleparty.com/training to learn more and to register today…

If you are a member of the American Massage Therapy Association, the Training Weekend counts towards 24.5 CEUs! Fulfill on your CEU requirments while taking the first step towards a valuable add-on workshop to your exiisting masage business. A great idea for any and all healers, instructors and workshop leaders looking to expand their offerings, come be a part of our community of certified Cuddle Party Facilitators and a growing phenomenon!

“Of ALL the workshops I’ve attended, the Cuddle Party Facilitator Training has given me the most practical and useful tools to create and maintain direct, open and honest communication with EVERYONE in my life DAILY.”
- Tracy Ross, massage therapist & certified Cuddle Party Facilitator

More information at cuddleparty.com/training or call Cuddle Party co-creator Marcia Baczynski at 212-737-6368

Re: What's your modality?

Hi all~

Everyone is in to such cool things! Let’s see, where do I begin?

LMT (Shiatsu/Thai Yoga/Craniosacral/assisted stretching)” I love how I can help someone else to feel better at the same time that I can energize myself during a session, without feeling like I’ve “worked!”

Classical Pilates, creator of Bellates(R) (Pilates for Bellydancers): I love the mind-body connection with Pilates. I like Yoga, but feel more grounded and balanced with Pilates, so I love Pilates! I created Bellates after seeing what great complimentary practices they are for each other and I wanted to share the benefits I’ve reaped from Pilates with my bellydance students, friends and colleagues. Pilates kept me dancing and I am ever so grateful! Pilates is accessible to everyone; if you are limited in your mobility there are modifications of most of the exercies that can still reap rewards. Just make sure you are studying with someone who has had adequate training to avoid injuries.

Tribal/Fusion Bellydance:This is a passion in my life (I have several!) Bellydance unites women and especially Tribal Bellydance with the focus on group dancing which is largely improvisational within a common dance vocabulary. I love the tribe vibe from a group who’s worked together for a while and I love the freedom of expression that Fusion bellydance allows for more choreographed works of art. Classical bellydance focuses more on the soloist and that is very beautiful and elegant and celebrates feminine beauty and grace. Anyone can bellydance - all shapes, sizes and ages!

Bright blessings,
Bhrigha
http://www.bhrigha.com