Building Physical and Emotional Awareness of Self and Other

Two people in a room.  They each focus their awareness on their centre of weight and balance. Feet slightly apart, back straight, bum slightly tucked in, you know the drill.

A conversation ensues about whether it is relaxing to hold the arms as if one is hugging a tree.  One thinks it is.  The other thinks it induces stress.

After a while they agree to differ.

The Brain/Body Game
They play a touching game.  The aim is to work the body around the centre, becoming very aware and sensitive to each part, and aware to outside forces working on the body.

One stands in this neutral (minus tree hugging) position.  They close their eyes.  The other, gently, touches the first and slowly pushes their body.  The first person doesn't know which part of their body will be pushed, but must respond by moving in the direction of the push, as much as they can, without going off balance.  This is done many times, the hips, legs, arms, bottom, back, shoulders, legs, neck, face and head are all moved by the first person, in response to the gentle push by the second.  At the end of each movement the body is returned to rest position.  In a sense, they second person acts as the brain that orders the movement of the first person.  The more sensitive and responsive the first person is to the touch of the second person, the freer, easier, and smoother is the movement.

This is building several things; body awareness, other awareness and sensitivity, complicite, balance and focus in movement, trust, co-operation and communication of purpose (as the second person must be clear in their instruction).  It is also extremely relaxing, as after a while the pair learn each others rhythm, range of movement and style of purpose.

It will be interesting to watch others doing this when we have the full group.

Variations of this included moving different parts of the body at one time, for instance both arms, or shoulder and hip, or the second person touching the first person with different parts of their own body, e.g., the head or the hips.

We found that the instruction was clearer when the second person started the movement before the touch occurred.  Also when both participants, focussed on the whole body, and was prepared to move the whole body in response to the touch, rather than just the immediate part that was touched.  it was important for the knees to be relaxed and the feet to be firmly rooted.

Blind Dancing
In a second game, the first person closed their eyes, and was led in a dance around the room by the first person.  Involved a lot of trust, as unlike the first game, in which the first person was firmly rooted, this one involved travel.  Again the body should be relaxed, to give the appearance of a smoothly flowing dance.  It involves body awareness over a larger distance, and a greater variety of movements is possible.  Again, this can be very relaxing, as long as the two participants are very aware of each other, the second is able to give clear and reasonable instruction and the first is able to be sensitive to the instruction and trusting.

Can be a challenge, but worth working on this one.

Mirroring
finally, and to end the session, the two play the mirroring game.  Taking it in turns, in a non-pre-defined format, they each lead and follow in the mirroring.  occasionally, they each manage to lead with one body part, and follow with another, simultaneously.

Messages are communicated and themes shift in travel as a voiceless story is told through the actions of the mirroring, the pair are having a conversation, responding to each others lead by offering their own interpretation and response.  Themes are around comprehension, communication (non-verbal), clarity and focus.  Awareness of whole body of self and other.  Reflecting levels of tension, and themes of emotion, comedy, intrigue, horror, suspense, being prepared for whatever may happen next.

These three activities took place over a 2 hour period.  It was a much needed and deeply relaxing session.

I am looking forward to working more with these themes of building physical and emotional awareness of self and other in future group sessions.