Notes from December movement class

Below are some preparatory notes I made for the movement class I led a few weeks ago. It is deeply inspired by the Fighting Monkey mentorship program I am currently participating in.

Dec 1, 2024

As people arrive: Introduce yourselves & your movement background

Intro

The purpose is a life-supporting practice. In my case I operationalize this in two parts: one is digesting and integrating patterns of bodily constitution, which I'll call 'self-dialogue'. The other is presenting randomness and novel movement situations that require adaptation to the unknown. I call this 'other dialogue' and also 'movement situations'.

There are hundreds of ways of approaching either, but for our purposes we draw inspiration from traditional Chinese forms of movement and improvise on it to facilitate self-dialogue. For movement situations, we create simple games inspired by the constraints-led approach in exercise science, theater, and dance.

Part I: Self-dialogue

• Silent standing. Prompts for posture. Also internal awareness. "Aware of thoughts and sensations" → "just being"

• Arm circles. Opening, closing. Parting heaven and earth. Spinal roll.

• Leg opening. Squat rotation

Part II: Other-dialogue

• Eyes closed, palms connected. Swap, eyes still closed. Energy sphere

• Sticks: One person behind, another in front, connected via sticks & palms.