Viewpoints

I really enjoyed doing viewpoints. I mentioned this in the last post, but it challenged me to work with my classmates to achieve a certain goal. I liked the fact that i could go at my own pace at times. I did not need to move to slow or too fast, i just needed to have soft focus and pay attention to what my group members were doing. I feel like when we would walk around the space with music, everyone would come alive and create a character. I know at times i would be frantic, sad, or happy. These emotions would come from how other people's movements made me feel. It was just really awesome to play with that. I really liked when props were thrown in because they added a new element to the group. I was given a mask, and for some reason i really liked having it on. Looking back on it, I seemed like a scary character at first, but then it turned into trying to fit in with the rest of the group. The best part about that was that it was not planned. Like i said, i did that based on the reactions and movements of other people. I had an impulse to do certain things with the mask. Overall, I felt free in every part of viewpoints. I got to let go and connect with my classmates and it was fun. I felt alive and ready for anything that came my way. I guess that is what second circle feels like. I was constantly engaged and ready for possibility. It felt like stage presence, and it was a great feeling. At many times it put a smile on my face. I am glad i got to learn about viewpoints, and I will carry it over to other work that we do.

midterm part 2

Primary control is a dynamic, ever changing relationship that functions all the time, for better or worse, in every position. Our head, neck, and torso all have to be coordinated together in order for our body to function and move. Unreliable sensory appreciation was one of the tougher techniques to understand for me. I hope I explain this correctly, but i think it is just unnecessary tensions in the body. Our bad habits start to feel right to us, when in reality they aren't. The example for me would be slouching. I do not know I am doing it because I have done it for so long to where it starts to feel right. My kinesthetic sense is the reason I feel like it is right. Inhibition is the ability to stop, to delay our response until we are adequately prepared to make it. The example, given in the reading, is when Alexander changed his voice habits due to him being hoarse and his voice failing after a performance. He made the decision to change and fix the problem. If we choose not to respond in a habitual way, this will improve our primary control, which will give us a better balance of body and mind. Direction is giving yourself instruction before you start moving. Possibly like how Alexander gave himself direction to correct his vocals. This direction helped him have better primary control which made his voice stronger. I feel like the ends and means section just talks about the goals of Alexander while combining all of these techniques. He had to establish primary control by giving himself direction, using inhibition, and using unreliable sensory appreciation. Once he figured out his new method, he had to refine it and keep working to get better. These techniques helped him become a better actor and performer.

I am still a little confused about unreliable sensory appreciation. I understand having unnecessary tensions in the body, but I am just not sure in understand the concept of this term. Other than that, I enjoyed this reading and I liked how everything was connected. Alexander's techniques are quite interesting, and I would like to see how I can apply them to my body and overall movements. I want to finish this post with the viewpoints we learned about with Addie this week. I really enjoyed it. I felt present and in the moment, but most importantly I got to connect with my classmates. I do not know how to explain my feelings about everything, but I guess the best way to put it is that I felt like I was stepping outside of myself. I was not reserved or constricted in movement. I had a soft focus and was aware of the people around me and how they made me feel. I thought viewpoints was a great experience, and I did not think about anything, i just had an impulse to do things. Another way to say it is that I felt free, and it was a very good feeling.

Alexander Post

       The life of F.M. Alexander was one of self-discovery and practice. He loved horses and Theatre, especially Shakespeare. He was in school, but had respiratory issues and was taken out of school to be privately educated. At sixteen, financial troubles forced him to leave the country life and move to Mount Bischoff. He worked several jobs, and in the evenings he studied music, drama, and taught himself the violin. His violent temper, recurrent illness, and his distaste for commercial life enabled him to keep a job for very long. This led to him devoting himself to a career in acting. In performing his one-man shows, he found that his voice would fail and he would get very hoarse. The doctors he went to recommended that he rest his voice. There was a point where he rested his voice for two weeks, because he had a big show. During the show, his voice failed and this was a cause for great concern. The doctors recommended more rest, but he decided to take matters into his own hands and see if it was something in his performance that he was doing wrong that caused his voice to fail. He stood in front of a mirror and looked at him self while speaking. He noticed that his neck stiffened, which caused his head to retract, he depressed his larynx, and he took in breath with a gasp. He could not control all of these things, but was successful in pulling his head forward rather than back. This resulted in his voice not failing, and he did not have any lingering respiratory issues. The doctors were shocked and surprised, but were intrigued at his methods, and began to come to him on how to help some patients. These practices grew and led to alexander opening schools and training actors and non-actors on how to use their body properly. His practices ultimately increased quality of life, and trained people how to use their body properly. He died of a short illness in 1955, and his work has always been remembered. 

            "Few of us, hitherto, have given consideration to the question of the extent to which we are individually responsible for the ills our flesh is hier to." We have a choice to use our body properly, to make it more effective on stage. Alexander's bad habits caused problems with his functioning. Using the techniques of Alexander gives you better posture, which allows you to use your body better not just in everyday life, but on stage as well. His methods actually prevented illness and diseases. The toughest thing, is realizing that there is something wrong, and you want to change. Our power of choice is something Alexander calls, "Man's Supreme Inheritance." It is about using yourself in better ways to function, live, and perform. 

            Alexander argued that, "all training, of whatever kind, must be based on the understanding that the human organism always functions as a whole and can only be changed fundamentally as a whole." I think this relates to our discussion of mind and body acting against each other. If your body wants to do something, and your mind is telling you know, then you are not really acting as a whole self. We behave as if all of the things in our body work opposite of each other rather than thinking of ourselves as a whole being. A good point is made that in our education system, we are judged on our test scores, and understanding of the material. This teaches us to use our mind and learn. In physical education, we use our bodies more, but it is seen as just another school subject. I thought the interesting part was the term physical education and how the term suggests that the body and mind can be educated separately. I honestly do not think that is the case. You need your mind, just as well as your body for physical education. If we use our body and mind together, we become a whole person. This will in turn improve our use and functioning of our body as well. 

            I enjoyed reading this, and it all made sense. I never thought of the term physical education like that. Also, I did not know much about Alexander's life prior to this reading, so it was nice to see read about his journey and how he better used his body to become successful. 

Post 5

1. When no one can help you the most important thing you can do is to use self observation. No one can give you a method or technique because the moment you do that you are programmed again.

2. The difference between self-observation and self absorption is that self absorption self preoccupation. You are worried about yourself. Self-observation is to watch everything as far as possible everything in you and around you as if it were happening to someone else.

3. We suffer from our depressions and anxieties because we identify with them.

4. Anthony De Mello defines the self as someone who is a passive, detached observer. You are not interfering in or fixing anything. Just watch and observe. People try to fix things they do not understand.

5. If you understand things they will change you for the better.

6. What you judge you can not understand.

7. I think the I who says that is who you really are without believing that you are your depressions and anxieties.
      I am nice, funny, kind, caring, scared, and doubtful of myself. I think being nice, funny, kind, caring are part of my "I" or my real self. As for being scared and doubtful of myself, that is a part of my insecurities, but not who i really am. We all have things that worry us or make us doubt ourselves, but the challenge is to overcome them. I have a lot of things going for me right now that scare and worry me, but they also make me kind, nice, and caring. I think everyone has those qualities in them, but because people are constantly being judged, we are afraid to be ourselves. I am guilty of it and i will never truly know who i am, but i keep trying. It is okay to be worried or scared, because it means you care and are present. These qualities that aren't really a part of who i am bring out my better qualities. We should not be afraid to be who we are, but we are and hopefully one day that changes.


1. what happens to us, when we experience fear, stress and anxiety, is that we shorten in stature narrow in size, and we compress ourselves because of our survival mechanism. This is our fight or flight response.

2. The alexander technique enables us to choose a different response and makes us conscious to how we use our own body.

3. Nature would prefer us to be in balance.

4. The three points of contact for the foot are the base of the big toe, the base of the little toe, and the heal.

5. The three hinges in our legs are the ankles, the knee cap, and the hip

6. The hip joints are on the front of pelvis and are lower than we think.

7. Allow the pelvis to be heavy like an anchor

8. The top of the spine is between the ears and behind the eyes

9. It's funny that you ask this question, because someone asked me if i was tired the other day and i responded with my body is but my mind is not. I was physically exhausted but my mind was telling me i could do more. It was an interesting thing to fight against. Now, in my mind i knew that i should take a nap. I don't know how to explain it, but it was interesting. I think sometimes my body and mind work opposite of each other. What if if my mind was tired, but my body wasn't. I know my mind would take over and tell me to relax. I hope this makes sense, but this question is interesting to think about and i would like to explore it more in class.

Post 4

1.  Society tells our children that he or she is on probation and not really a human being. Only that he or she is a candidate for human life. We condition the child in a way to a defective sense of identity. Therefore their problems are solved with frustration and it puts their attitude towards the future because our society demands you have a future.

2. Our society's preparation for life is that we have a system of schooling in preparation for something that is going to happen. For example, kindergarten prepares us for the first grade or high school prepares us for college.

3.  We feel cheated when we meet that expectation because life feels the same as it has always been and you are conditioned to be in desperate need of a future through the schooling given to us as children.

4. The final goal of our society is retirement. You will be a senior citizen and have the wealth and the leisure to do what you always wanted.

5. The problem with living for the future is that we are never educated in living in the moment. Making plans for the future is of use only to people capable of living in the present.


1. The Chinese word for nature is ziran, which means that which happens of itself, not under any control of an outside boss

2. According to Watts, you stop the spontaneous flowering of nature if you tell it you must do it. It is like saying to someone that you must love me. When you try to command this process of spontaneity, you stop it

3. According to Watts, human beings are deep down far in is simply the fabric and structure of existence itself.

4. What is the secret of life, according to Watts, is to be completely engaged in what you are doing in the here and now.  Instead of calling it work, realize that it is play.


1. Dr. Brewer's experience of flow is when he was focusing on staying on a trail while riding a bike. It felt effortless and joyous. He said there just was, he did not feel like he was there, but after it was over his sense of self said when can i do that again?

2. According to the Harvard study mentioned by Brewer, we get caught up thinking 50 percent of the time about the future and problems in the past. We get in our own way.

3. A wandering mind is an unhappy mind

4. During meditation, the brain gets quiet and the bad part of the brain that activates when are nervous, gets quiet as well. Experienced meditators were getting in to flow. The novices got caught up thinking at some point, but learned how to get out of their own way.

5. In nine minutes, the test subject mentioned by Brewer learned the difference between getting caught up and getting out of his own way.

Reflection:
   In terms of yoga, i feel like i get caught up thinking when we do it. I say things to myself such as man this hurt or this is tough, rather than relaxing and breathing. I feel like i am just trying to make it through. I need to be engaged in what I am doing. If i tell myself things like that, i lose the state of mindfulness I once had and I take that experience out into the world. In performing, i feel like you should never try to just make it through a performance. You need to be in that moment doing the best you can, but not thinking about it. Get rid of the past or the future and just be there and that is when a good performance is noticeable and effective. In life, people realize when you are not there with them in simple conversation. We are sometimes worried about the next conversation or the next class we are going to. As a person, you figure out who you really are when you are present and in the moment. In terms of killer ball, we had to work together to achieve a task, but a certain two people had to work together as well. I notice when people are present in that game when no matter what, people are smiling and enjoying it with other people. Not worried about the next class, but worried about how they can achieve this task. This lead to us having fun and when the class was over, everyone wanted to keep playing. If there was something that stood out to in these videos, it was the secret of life and who i am as a human being. I need to be engaged in what I am doing and live in the moment. I can acknowledge the problems in classes or life problems, but i have to come back into the present in which I can be my best self.

Mindfulness

1. Dr. Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness as paying attention on purpose in the present moment judgmentally as if your life depended on it. 

2. According to Dr. Kabat-Zinn, our lives depend on mindfulness because when we pay attention, it allows us to be in control of our own lives Also, it helps us know what is going on in the outside world and with our bodies. When we know what is going on we are able to find ways to be in wiser relationships with the things going on n our lives rather than dealing with our fears and emotions. 

3. It does not matter what thing or things you pay attention to. It is the attending that is most important.  The present is when we can be in our own body fully listen to what is around us. Being in the moment is all that matters, not the thing you are paying attention to. 

4. Mindfulness is not a technique it is just opening your mind to anything and paying attention. It is a way of being in equilibrium with the outer world and the ups and downs of having a body. We have the potential to be aware and we should take advantage of it. The problem is that our in our own head and thinking to where we believe our own thoughts. If we pay attention to the present, we can see the truth clearly in the outside world.

1. Andy suggests that we take 10 minutes a day to do absolutely nothing. Also, to step back and familiarize yourself with the present moment so you can be calm and focused. 

2. According to the Harvard study cited by Andy, 47 percent of the time our minds are lost in thoughts.

3. I think no, because it is like Andy said, it is taking a step back and seeing these thoughts and feelings clearly. You can acknowledge these thoughts and feelings but then get back to what makes your present. I like to think of my thoughts and feelings like clouds passing. I got that from you in class and i really enjoy that mindset. It is like problems are passing me by and i feel relaxed and focus.

4. Andy juggling the balls relates to our balancing the sticks activity because Andy was not focusing on the balls, he was focusing on the audience. At first, when i got the stick i was focused on the stick, but when you told us to focus on something else, it got a lot easier and i was able to walk across the floor while balancing it. Andy focused on something else other than juggling and he easily juggled and when i focused on something else I was able to balance the stick. Being focused allows you to relax.

I found while doing the exercise that i was very relaxed and present. I did it with the TV on to see if it would distract me and once i finally felt relaxed i only heard my breathing. I acknowledged the TV at times, but i was able to get back to center. I find it that some thoughts were hard to just let pass by. Why is that? I guess maybe they were just to meaningful to let pass by during my meditation. It was tough to get rid of a few, but overall i had a really good experience and i felt relaxed and present. 

I also want to talk about the blindfold exercise. I said in class that i felt more alive and present because I had no idea where i was going, but the thought of not knowing was kind of exciting. I feel like we should be thinking this way even when we do not have a blindfold. We need to be present and in a state of readiness because you never know what can happen. i thought this was a great exercise and i had to develop a level of trust with my partner. When i was not blindfolded, I had to pay attention and be present with my partner and the outside world, because i had to make sure they did not get hurt or run into anything. I had to guide my partner and it required being present and in a state of readiness. 

Presence and the three circles of energy

1. Patsy defines presence as being connected with the world around you. It is being engaged with anyone you are with and actually listening to them, in which a level of intimacy is achieved. It is when you are curious and ask questions about something. This means that something grabbed your attention therefore you are engaged.

2. Presence can be lost when the other person is not present with you. A person might try to be the life of the party or they could sit around and not talk to anyone. When present, you could either help move this person into second circle, or they could move you into first or third, which means you lose presence. The challenge is to stay present when an obstacle is thrown in your way. If someone tries to ruin your day, it is tough to ignore it, but i do not think you would be present if you didn't. Like you said in class, you can acknowledge it but then go back to the place that centers you and connects you to the world. All of the sudden, you have regained presence. Sometimes people let this person ruin our day and we lose presence. I have let someone ruin my day before, and it is easier said than done to regain presence, but you learn more about yourself from the experience.

3. First circle is when you are quiet, shy, and disconnected from people. These people are present with themselves and no one else. They put up a wall to protect themselves from other people. There have been many times where i have been that guy at a party or event with friends and i felt a lone, scared, and had no motivation or desire to meet or talk to people. It is unhealthy and you could lose friends due to the constant negative energy being displayed. Digging out of the first circle is tough, but in my case it took someone to be present with me that i started to become present as well. I then saw life from a different perspective and was excited for the opportunities to meet new people. I understand being in first circle because you do not want to leave yourself open to getting hurt. You do get hurt when you open yourself, it happens to everyone, but from there you choose to regain your presence and learn or crawl back into the first circle hole.

4. Third circle is when you are overly energized and not really concerned about other people. It is more of a fake presence just so people hear or see you. I am guilty of being in the third circle at times. I have been the person who is loud and excessive at times, and people definitely saw it as annoying and as if i was trying to be the center of attention. At the times yes I was, i wanted to be noticed and i was in that awkward state in which i did not know how to do that. I quickly figured out that was not the way to go about it, and today i am not an attention seeker. At the time, i was trying to be someone i'm not.

5. Second circle is being fully engaged with another person, listening to them, and caring about what they have to say. For me, it was a specific person that made me feel fully engaged and helped me become present. I wanted to listen to everything she had to say because she made me feel important with her presence. I started to become comfortable and found myself being open with her and other people. It was scary at first, but i felt alive. I remember being in second circle with this person when i was rehearsing with her. Nobody was hiding from the other and it was constant back and forth talking about something and then something else would come up out of that conversation that would start a whole other conversation. Before you know it, we were just laughing about random things and got to know the other. I remember feeling vulnerable, but excited and comfortable at the same time. I feel like this experience has allowed me to be more open with people and has lead me to meet some wonderful people as well.

THTR 1029 Blog Entry 1

1. I am taking this class because It is required for my major, but I also want to learn to use my body more effectively on stage. Also, i want to learn how to focus and be in tune with my breathe

2. I am a double major in kinesiology: sports studies and Theatre with a concentration in Performance

3. I would say i am a little bit of both. I am sometimes outgoing and sometimes very quiet.

4. I am interested in acting and musical theatre. Other than that i coach basketball for a high school and i like that as well.

5. I think presence is being visible in any setting, but you have to make yourself visible and talk to people and listen to what other people have to say. It is tuning in to the other. I think at points i am present and then i get distracted.

6. I feel like i have not utilized my body enough. I want my body to get stronger and flexible to where i feel comfortable moving.

7. Well I have played a lot of sports and i am confident in the fact that i can move fast and that is what i most proud of. I want to slow down my movements though and have clear movements if that makes sense.

8. I am not really self-conscious. I like to be moving all the time. I do not like to sit around for long periods of time.

9. I hope to be more in touch with my breath and my body. I want to be flexible and challenged. For me, i learn when i am given a challenge.

10. To be honest I am not sure. I wanted to be a coach, but now i have a passion and love for theatre. I can't say exactly where i will be in five or ten years, but i know I will be happy and doing what i love.