THE ART OF WALKING
“You tell your body to do something, and then you listen” - Anna Halprin
Creativity is born in a dialogue. A combination of speaking and listening. Walking can become an art form when you engage in a dialogue with your body.
When we walk we usually don’t think much about it, how we are doing it or how it could be different. As you are walking along, in this relatively unaware state, perhaps thinking of many different things inside or looking around the outside world at shop windows or trees or what is up ahead, you could tell your body to do something, or maybe ask it a question.
“What would it be like if I came down on my heel in a more pronounced way and sort of rolled through the step?” “Now I’m going to raise my knee a little (or a lot) and come down on the toe and see how that feels.”
Then, as you “listen” to your response to that change of pace you have joined your body and mind. You may find that you like the step pattern just as it is or maybe you feel that you want to adjust it by amplifying or diminishing a certain aspect.
When you reach a level of satisfaction with the footwork, you may ask yourself what your arms want to do. You may want to emphasize an aspect of their natural automatic motion or you may want to add in motions that come from other sources, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Feldenkreis, dance forms, etc. Again, a further period of adjustments could occur. Then enjoy your Art of Walking creation. After a while you may want to morph your walk into something else, perhaps taking it to wild aerobic levels or maybe by making the moves so subtle that no one will notice you are practicing an art form or making weird moves in public.
Enjoy this mind-body connection frequently. Make up a new Art/Walk/Dance each day. Share your favorite creations with others.
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