TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN…
Movement is such an important part of my life. It helps to ground me, helps me to get out of my head and brings me so much joy. Movement has always been a way into a meditative state for me. As I begin to focus on my breath, the contact with the floor, the tension and release in my body, everything around me appears to quieten down. My focus turns inwards and often times I enter a state known as ‘flow’.
“…being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost.”
Maybe you’ve been engrossed in something you’re writing or creating and time flies by without you even noticing? Then you’ve been in that magical state of flow. This often happens to me when creating new choreographies where the combination of analysing and listening deeply to the music combined with the physical act of movement is an especially powerful experience of flow.
LET IT FLOW…
During the recent lockdown I created a FLOW challenge online. Under stress and when living with uncertainty, it’s pretty difficult to enter a state of flow, let alone remain relaxed!
“Right now we’re all feeling a little out of control, but fighting against the situation will only lead to more frustration. Now more than ever we need to concentrate on the things we can control and where not, just go with the flow…”
Knowing how much morning rituals can help us create productive and fulfilling days, I decided to create 5 short sequences (one for every day of the week) that could be danced alone or in combination at the beginning of the day.
The challenge participants learnt the combinations by video and were encouraged to concentrate on different aspects every day. Be it on the breath, the transitions between combinations, flowing the arms seamlessly into each other or engaging the core whilst relaxing shoulders, neck, face and jaw. We then met via Zoom and danced the combination together.
GIVE IT A TRY…
If you missed the challenge, no worries - you can still learn the combination for yourself from the following videos.
You can use this flow sequence in different ways. Some of the combinations can be performed at a basic or more advanced level. Different options are shown in the videos. Try to find a piece of music to dance to with a clear and constant rhythm.
Learn the combinations separately or try to flow them together.
Dance the combinations in chronological order or get playful and mix up the order.
Combinations 1, 2 and 5 can be used on their own for warming up.
Get creative! Do one combination slowly, another combination double time.
Repeat the combination once on the right and once on the left and move onto the next combination - or stay with one combination for as long as you like.
OR JOIN MY WORKSHOP...
Using dynamic stretching and strength-building exercises to prepare our bodies and help us focus within, we’ll learn a simple flowing combination. Enjoy 2 hours with yourself!
The workshop takes place on Saturday 22nd August between 14.00 - 16.00. You can register here >>
The workshop is built as follows:
DYNAMIC STRETCHING
Create flexibility with intention, focus, patience and strength using dynamic movements
STRENGTHEN
Build deep strength in every major muscle group with body weight and barre exercises on the mat.
FLOW
Drop into the flow state with a fluid dance combination. Once you’ve learnt the simple sequence we’ll play with different tempos and change the dynamic depending on the music. Focusing on the breath plus the transitions between the moves, you’ll find you soon slip effortlessly from one move into another creating a moving meditation of energised focus.
SURRENDER
Let go…using deep stretches and long holds we’ll dissolve tension in the tightest areas of our bodies
Photos in blog: Leah Mosquera >>
Cover photo: Roland Soldi >>