Month: June 2008

Just finished a wonderful weekend with some great musicians in Thessaloniki The theme of my workshop was ‘coming back to the centre’, or ‘playing from the directed self’. One of our methods was to stand for 5 minutes and not do anything. I recommend this as a practice in inhibition and direction and non-doing. And we played the game of choosing whether to play or not, and to notice if the playing brought us out of the centre,  and if so to stop immediately and wait for the centre to return, and then play again….
Followed by an exciting trip to the sea side and nearby taverna with a table full of delicious food to stop and choose from …kalamari or octoupus? Sardines or gavros? Beetroot or tzazkiki? Mussels or chilli pepper?
Thank you Despoina, Costas, Alexis, Sapfo, and Maria for your habitual hospitality (one habit I hope you don’t change!) and see you all again in September for more exciting experiments with your music and movement.

I have been having a wonderful week swapping work with Pippa Bondy, a teaching colleague from my days when we trained in the Alexander Technique in North London. We walk down to a special bay nearby every morning for some swimming and Chi Kung and then walk back up the steep path. I find again that place of non-doing, where letting the legs go as I clamber up the hill moves me gently easily lightly…..in the water I let the arms go and as they automatically sink into the water beneath me, I find myself propelled forward effortlessly, no pushing, connected, conscious…..
Pippa has develpoed a shamanic healing practice and I recommend you visit her site www.ancienthealingways.co.uk – a very practised and sensitive guide.