Page 90 - How to Shine on Stage

ment awareness enables one to move more fluidly and helps to reduce
various types of pain, muscular imbalances, movement disorders, obsta-
cles, and injuries (Jain et al., 2004). The Feldenkrais method can help us
to free ourselves from dysfunctional bodily patterns or learn new ways of
moving and thinking. This method is usually taught in positions that less-
en the effects of gravity (such as lying down, sitting), and employs move-
ments such as rolling and crawling. The Feldenkrais method typically
does not address posture directly, whereas the Alexander technique fo-
88 cuses on dynamic posture (Jain et al., 2004). This method uses two tech-
niques: awareness through movement and functional integration. During
an awareness through movement session, the instructor verbally guides
a group or individual through a series of movements to explore system-
How to Shine on Stage dents are encouraged to experiment with movements freely. Ideally, the
atically the relationship between the body position and space. The stu-
students become more aware of their movements independently, with-
out the practitioner directing the experience. Each individual attempts
to perfect the movements at their own pace. The impact of the technique
soon becomes apparent: well-being improves very quickly, movement be-
comes lighter and more efficient, and this is reflected in the performance
of everyday tasks, which the individual performs more easily and with
greater satisfaction. The second technique is individual and adapted to
each student. Unlike the first, it is mainly centred on touch, not verbal in-
structions. The use of touch creates new experiences for the student (Jain
et al., 2004). The teacher uses gentle touches and movements as a tool to
remove the habitual harmful movement patterns and replace them with
new, more functional patterns instead. The Feldenkreis method is popu-
lar especially among professional athletes and artists who perform a lot,
as it helps them improve their performance (Jain et al., 2004).
The BMC (Body-Mind Centering) method is an integrated, holistic,
and embodied approach to movement, experiencing of the body, and
consciousness (Hartley, 1995). It was developed by Bonnie Bainbridge
Cohen, who drew on her knowledge of anatomical, physiological, psy-
chophysical, and developmental principles to devise a specific application
of movement, touch, voice, and mind. The uniqueness of this method lies
in the specificity with which each of the body systems can be embod-
ied and integrated. It is a creative process involving self-discovery in a
state of openness of the body and mind. The ultimate goal is to discov-
er the ease that underlies transformation. BMC is based on the embod-
iment and application of anatomical, physiological, psychophysical, and
developmental principles, utilizing movement, touch, voice, and mind.
The method combines both Western medicine and science (anatomy,