Think of it as Movement U. You are learning how to move you. More naturally, efficiently and with a hell of a lot more ease. All the while lessening stiffness, tension and injury in daily life. It is the physical training component of the themes and principles explored in A Somanautbook.
It is a mindful movement class that works towards full body integration through the emphasis on a few clear guideposts that include:
- External alignments
- Internal relationships/principles
- Appropriate effort (quality of breath and muscle tone)
In developing awareness of these things while moving, you increase not only your range of motion, but the grace with which you move. Once you understand how the process of integrated movement feels, you can apply it to any movement or activity.
motionLab germinated out of several decades of studying how the body moves. The common thread of many martial arts, Yoga, the Alexander Technique and other mindful movement modalities is integration, which has at least two distinct aspects:
- (re)integrating the body as one single unit in movement
- (re)integrating the body with the mind
Integration is something most of us have experienced in movement as a child. The human being’s natural state is integration which most of us lose through years of habitually navigating a modern environment. It is by approaching each class as a child would, with experimentation and curiosity, that makes it a lab. Each week’s Lab focuses on a different aspect of integrated movement to train the body-mind, through warm-ups, stretches and conscious movements.
You do not need experience in Yoga, Taiji (Tai Chi), Kung-Fu, Dance or the Alexander Technique to participate, but movements and concepts from any of these practices may show up in any lab.
Among many benefits, motionLab is excellent for increasing range of motion, decreasing excess tension and preventing (or recovering from) injury. As a practitioner, you develop conscious control of how you carry yourself, both internally and externally, in your daily life.
Class is held on Tuesdays at 5p-6:15p PST on the Zooms.
For information on how to register, click here.
Have questions? Drop me a line.