MY BODY CARTOGRAPHY

I can’t strengthen a muscle dynamically if my goal is to limit, reject or make invisible the part I need to move. If I hold tension in the muscle, fascia and skin, I’m going to speak and move with that tension. It’s about learning a new way of movement. It’s about inhibiting the movement that’s already engraved on me to give myself more choices. It’s about a pause; an internal preparation of movement. In this Pilates-based series, we will investigate a specific body part which is involved in personal, social, cultural narratives by using body parts to create a portfolio for exploration and movement. The goal is not to build muscle and tension, but to release it.

MAKE HEADWAY

Descartes wrote, “I think therefore I am” and since then our society has valued the mind above all else. Brain or brawn? One is viewed as less valuable than the other. Head is “up”. Think of these body metaphors and how they come from this assumption: head and shoulders above, make headway, head of state, a head start, got a heads up, head above water.

Our society encourages us to think of our head separately to our body. Business attire, with ties and jackets is a visual cue that no bodies are allowed in business. This disconnect can lead to tightness, blockages and holding in other areas of the body. I encourage you to explore the connection of your head to the rest of you through this short little practice.