13
Movement
Bringing confidence + the unconscious mind to light through physical self-expression.
CREATIVE SELF-CARE
Creative Movement is the act of exploring your body’s natural energy through space. It is an expression of the innate creative energy we are all born with and, when activated, has the ability to heal, relieve physical tension, and build self-awareness.
Moving your body organically, without premeditated expectation, can bypass the conscious mind and bring unconscious tendencies to the surface. This simple act allows you to live as the whole person that you are; where mind, body, and spirit are a connected, collaborative system.
Evening Ritual
Guided Isolation
Reserve 15 minutes each day, to ground yourself inside your body with this guided isolation exercise from this month’s contributor, Reshma Gajjar.
Reshma Gajjar is a first generation American performing artist multi-hyphenate - actor and dancer. Balancing one foot in the industry and the other in the arts, she has toured with pop stars like Madonna, opened the film La La Land, as well as modeled for inclusive brands, acted in independent films and various forms of theater. Find Reshma through her website and instagram.
I'm not interested in how people move, but what moves them.
— Pina Bausch
MONTHLY THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY
EXTRACTING THE UNCONSCIOUS THROUGH CREATIVE MOVEMENT
This month’s therapeutic activity sheds light on the way in which moving our bodies taps into the unconscious mind. With 95% of our brain activity happening in the unconscious realm, consider this activity a portal to what lies beyond conscious awareness.
Materials: Sketchbook, simple drawing tools such as (colored) pencils.
1. Turn to a page in your sketchbook and loosely draw a figure representing yourself. Stick-figures are acceptable!
2. Find a room or space outside where you’ll be able to fully express yourself and move without limitation.
3. Choose a song from the playlist below (or select a favorite song that you know you love to dance to).
4. Turn the volume up and press play. Let your body move to the music organically. Close your eyes and let go of control. Allow your body to move without judgement from your mind.
5. Repeat as many times as it takes to fully let go.
6. Come back to the figure you drew in your sketchbook and reflect on your movement experience. 6. How did your body feel while expressing itself? Apply patterns, colors, and words to the different body parts to depict the feelings that arose throughout the experience. Focus on what you sensed in your mind (ie: freedom, excitement, joy), spirit (ie: inspiration, enlightenment, wholeness), and body (ie: tension, surprise, fluidity).
7. Write more about what came up for you on an adjacent page.
Explore realms of Creative Movement ⎯
CULTURAL INSIGHTS
Laina Miller is an Artist, Creative Wellness Consultant, and Social Emotional Arts Instructor. All viewpoints and activities expressed were generated from personal and professional experience and bolstered by favorite mentors, readings, and teachers. The aforementioned have been cited whenever possible. For additional support, please reach out to a trusted mental health advisor.
Some of the links above may be affiliates, which means a small commission is made if you purchase. All products have been authentically chosen with your amusement, education, and enlightenment in mind. The affiliate opportunity is always secondary.