“Stop acting as if life is a dress rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed. – Wayne Dyer
ACTING IN THE PRESENT MOMENT
The actor is in the ‘present moment’ when connected to Ground and Centre Awareness. Why is this? It is because when the actor lands in present time she is inhabiting the body. The mind can travel into the future, the imagination can travel into the future, but the body can only exist in the moment. It cannot move backwards or forwards in time.
We use the power of our imaginations in order to achieve this state of being.
Your imagination is powerful beyond measure. It is a universe filled with creativity. Learn to use your imagination to connect you to the ground and to your center.
GROUNDED ACTING
Stand in the image of a tree. Imagine big strong roots making their way from the balls of your feet, the arches of your feet and the heels of your feet. Allow these roots to penetrate through the earth’s surface and continue down through layer upon layer of rock and dirt and water until you plug in to the core of mother earth.
In our Toronto acting class, two actors are coached on staying grounded during a powerfully charged scene
Then make your way to the crown of your head and visualize a lotus flower opening it’s thousands of petals. Reach high, high up with your imagination; through the sun and clouds and sky and the earth’s atmosphere; up through the planets and stars and black space. All the way up to a circle of beings of white light. Allow that white light to cascade down, bathing your internal organs and cocooning you in the white light of consciousness.
Lastly, drop your mind into your belly center which is about two or three fingers below your belly button. Breathe into that as you go in search of a still place in your belly. The eye of the storm. The trunk of the tree. You are now in Ground and Centre Awareness.
Many of my ideas and exercises for grounding come from 7 years training in bioenergetics through the Southern Ontario Society of Bioenergetics and the Integral Healing Centre.
All characters exist inside of you because you are connected to the “Collective Unconscious”. You are enough! Believe in that….
Cindy Tanas Actors Studio teaches acting classes for Theatre and Film in Toronto and the GTA, Collingwood and Southern Georgian Bay.
Connect with Cindy for a free consultation
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Acting Teacher / Mentor / Life Coach Cindy Tanas, has run a highly reputable and successful Toronto acting school for over 25 years. She teaches Acting Classes for beginners and experienced actors. Cindy is a member of ACTRA, former Chair and member of TAAS (Toronto Association of Acting Studios) and member of Theatre Ontario.
Cindy Tanas Actors Studio offers a holistic approach to acting in Toronto since 1995. Both in person and online acting classes are available.
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