Baby Wriggle Exercise
My friend saw this exercise being performed at ALRA when he went round an open day at the school. He was kind enough to pass on the information to me- I’m not sure how true this exercise is to what they do actually do at ALRA however it seems to work for me when I do it either on my own or teaching it to a group of actors.
The point of this warm up is to enable the actor to become in tune with him/ herself before actually leaping in and starting to act. It is also useful to do this maybe in a lunch break or before you go to bed just to allow you to understand how we use our own bodies and how we can sometimes take it for granted.
It is useful to first do some Alexander technique first before doing this exercise as it help you tune in with and become more aware of your body.
Ok lets begin…
With your eyes closed lie back down on the floor
Start to image what I would be like to be a minute old baby out in the big open world for the first time. What does every thing feel like for the first time? What does the floor feel like? Is it too hot / cold around you- what noises can you hear? What does it feel like to Breathe?
Then start to feel your body- what does it feel like to move your finger for the first time? Lift your leg up does it feel heavy?
Start to explore you whole body with movement- still on your back, such as a baby. Start to explore each vertebrate in your spine- start to think, “What does my back actually feel like?” you have no knowledge of any thing how the body works, language, or anything really… the only knowledge you have is ‘what is now’ and ‘what is true to the moment’ Everything is new to you. Try to explore every thing to do with your body- you don’t know what a limb is or how to use it…. work it out. ‘ How does the hand work? What do you have to do to uncurl your arm?
Open your eyes and now take in every thing- do you like it? Or hate it? How do you react to being able to see?
Do this exercise for as long as you feel necessary…. Then rest your eyes and image you are back in the womb and when you feel ready stand up slowly bringing your head up last unlocking each vertebra in your back open your eyes again and your ready to act!
When you feel you have mastered this exercise try then next time growing up- walking for the first time- making noise for the first time and then maybe interacting with another child. Give it ago the beauty of this exercise is, there is no right or wrong way of doing it it’s entirely up to what the individual feel at the time.
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