“Chakras are organizational centers for the reception, assimilation, and transmission of life-force energy. They are stepping stones between heaven and earth.” – Anodea Judith
THE ACTOR’S PRESENCE
Integration of mind, body and energy makes ‘presence’ in the actor possible. Anodea Judith (Eastern Body Western Mind) talks about two energy currents running from the ground up through the body and from consciousness down through the body. These two currents keep us grounded and aware.
There are also two horizontal currents flowing into and out of each energy center. One current of energy is for reception and one is for expression. When these are blocked we cannot play the full range of our instrument.
ENERGY AND EXPRESSION FOR THE ACTOR
Expression is a mixture of different energy centers working together in the body. For instance, when we want to express ourselves through the throat center, our ground, breath, and thoughts will help support this. When our expression is blocked we don’t experience the free flow of energy or intention. For what blocks our Chakras see the article on The Four Bodies of the Actor.
ACTOR BLOCKS AND DEFENSES
Basically the blocks are protections and defenses. Our defenses create holding patterns in our musculature that restrict the free flow of energy. We hold tension in our bodies which creates a kind of body armor.
In our Toronto Acting School, two actors in the Actor’s Instrument Class practice dissolving body armour before scene work
Body armor affects our breathing, posture and physical states, our emotional states, and our perceptions. This impacts on our creativity in a profound way. Our freedom is limited. We are out of balance in our work as actors. We are unable to fully receive. We are unable to fully express. To varying degrees, we are either deficient in how much energy our body has, which might look like someone who avoids and withdraws from stimulus. Or we are excessive in how much energy our body has and that might look like someone who talks incessantly and has difficulty listening. We can be deficient in some of our energy centers and excessive in others. We can even have a deficiency and an excess at the same time in one chakra.
The good news is that there are physical exercises an actor can do to unblock the energy centers in the body. I will offer some of these in future parts of this article. Stay tuned!
If you’d like to continue to Part 4 go here:
https://cindytanas.com/the-actors-instrument-part-4/
If my articles are of interest to you, please let me know by emailing me at cindy@cindytanas.com
I would like to hear from you!
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.
www.torontoactingstudios.com
www.actratoronto.com
www.theatreontario.org