“If your energy body is in full vibrancy, the physical body will naturally fix itself.”
– Jaggi Vasudev
THE ACTORS ENERGY BODY
Like a Matryoshka doll or a Russian nested doll, The Actor’s Instrument is made up of four bodies, each body existing within the other. The four bodies are the mind body, the physical body, the emotional body and the energetic body. Accessing the energetic body is the key to unleashing presence, which is what makes the actor compelling. Yet it is the most difficult body to access because it lies at the core. Penetrating the core requires dealing with the blocks and resistances that lie in the more superficial layers of the other three bodies.
Two acting students in our Toronto Acting School explore working with the “Energy Body” in the Actor’s Instrument Class
THE ACTOR’S MIND BODY
The mind body, aka mind or ego, creates interference which the actor must learn to deal with through grounding and centering and awareness. The Ego contains defenses like denial, distrust, blame, projection, rationalization and intellectualization, making it difficult to access the deeper layers of the actor’s instrument. The physical body can be tense and rigid so the actor has difficulty relaxing and “being” with a sense of ease. Chronic muscular tensions keep the ego defenses in place and protect the person against the underlying layer of suppressed feelings that he dare not express, such as rage, panic, terror, despair, sadness and pain. The emotions can be overwhelming or inaccessible due to unexplored or unresolved issues from the past.
THE ACTOR’S EMOTIONAL & PHYSICAL BODY
The physical body contracts around the emotional body cutting the actor off from his talent. The mind protects and defends against acting on impulses keeping the physical body in check so that it loses its freedom.
Full authentic expression can occur only when the mind, the physical body, the voice, the emotions, the breath, and the energetic forces are all connected.
Creativity requires space. For the actor that means an open instrument. Breathing is the key to creating space in the mind and body. Be sure to breathe consciously each and every day. Breathe into the places in your body where you feel physical tension. Try counting as you breathe. Begin with a count of three on the in breath and then a count of five on the out breath. Honour the pause at the end of the out breath before you take your next breath in. By honouring the pause your breath will naturally begin to elongate. Always be sure to make the out breath two counts longer than the in breath.
Work on your creative blocks with a creative healer. Healing the wounds from your past can help tremendously with creating a free and open instrument. Learn to work with the internal judge and critic. They are the source of most of the actor’s mind interference. Meditate. Imagine your instrument to be like a Stradivarius and treat it with respect. Learn to love and value yourself so that you can know in a deep place inside of you that you are enough.
Many of my ideas in this article are based on seven years of training in bioenergetics through the Southern Ontario Society of Bioenergetics as well as the Integral Healing Centre.
Keep the dream alive.
Cindy Tanas Actors Studio teaches acting classes for Theatre and Film in Toronto and the GTA, Collingwood and Southern Georgian Bay.
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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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