The word 'YOGA' is derived from the term 'Yug' which means to connect/ join. Similarly yoga refers to connecting the body with mind. Maharshi Patanjali enscripted Yoga Sutras, consisting the terms and rules for Yoga. As per the Yoga Sutras, Asana is one of the limbs of Ashtanga Yoga (eight limbs), the rest being Yama, Niyama, Pratyahara, Pranayama, Dhaarana, Dhyaana and Samadhi.
According to legends, Lord Shiva is the greatest Yogi, but he never descended on earth to propogate yoga and the task was taken up by Lord Krishna. Bhagwad Gita is full of Yoga.
In the olden days, Yoga was practiced more for Spiritual purposes. But today the purpose is to maintain good health keeping the body free from diseases and to attain mental peace. Our attempt is to help learn and practice Yoga in a simple way and gain more benefits from it.
Points to know before Starting:
1) Yoga is not for those who sleep less or sleep more or for those who eat less or who eat more. It is for them who maintain a balance.
2) There is no age limit to learn Yoga.
3) The best time to do Yoga is in the morning. One may not be able to concentrate well, at any other time of the day.
4) One hour time gap needs to be given before starting Yoga.
5) Yoga for Actors is different from others.
6) Normally during Asanas they won't speak. But the Actors speak during Asanas.
7) Stretching exercises should be done before starting Yoga. They help in bringing the Body to neutral position after we get up.
8) Actors have special stretching exercises apart from normal stretching exercises.
9) They also have some balancing exercises.
10) One has to first understand the Aasana very well before attempting it.
11) One posture should be done several times to excel it.
12) Gradually keep increasing the stay time on each Asana.
13) Relaxation (Shavasana) is of utmost importance.
14) The Actors have on more relaxing exercise (Shavasana) known as Deep Relaxation. Relaxing bodyly and mentally.
15) Yoga helps in curing many diseases.
16) It is very difficult to control the Mind directly. With the practice of Asanas one can first learn to control the Body and then the Mind.
17) Breathing Exercises and Pranayam also help in controlling the Mind.
18) Breathing exercises and Pranayam the Actors have to do more times.
19) Control of Body and Mind leads to the Meditation stage.
20) The final stage of Meditation is known as Samadhi.
21) It is good for Actors to do Pranayam and Meditation in the morning for five minutes. Beyond that depends on the availability of time.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
STRETCHING EXERCISES
These are normal STRETCHING EXERCISES.
These STRETCHING EXERCISES are very necessary to bring bck the body in to normal positon after night sleep and also a kind warm up exercises.
Photographs courtesy by Reshmi U
STRETCHING EXERCSES FOR ACTORS
Special STRETHCING EXERCISES will help to stretch more.
Normally we have leg movements inly forward and backward movements. The legs are stretched only forward and backward but not in between the legs. The ACTORS needs extra stretch forward and backward and also in between the legs.
These exercises will help to stretch more in between the legs.
They have more balancing exercises. These exercises will help in balncing and control the body.
VOICE
VOICE is the BACK BONE of the ACTORS.
Without VOICE there is no life. VOICE is part of our life.
In the normal life it may not be much difference. But it effects in the ACTORS' life. The ACTORS should get the TENSION FREE NATURAL VOICE.
Evoluation of VOICE is very difficult. One has to go through several exercises to get the TENSION FREE VOICE.
The VOICE depends on GOOD BREATHING. Without BREATHING there is no VOICE.
Wherever the tension,BREATHING hides. As it is linked with the VOICE, VOICE also hides and very artificial VOICE come out.
What ever they speak it not their real VOICE. It is something different.
That VOICE does not have flexibility.
The BREATHING depends on correct POSTURE. If POSTURE is not correct, it effects the BREATHING.
The POSTURE depends on the PELVIC.
In order to get good VOICE one has to with the PELVIC EXERCISES.
One has to know ANATOMY OF THE BODY rto start with PELVIC exercises.
It is very important for the ACTORS to know about PELVIC, SPINAL CORD, THIGH BONE, NECK AND HEAD JOINTS, VOCAL APARTUS, THROAT, TONGUE, STUDYING OF FACE, JAW JOINTS and it's link, VOCAL CORDS and how it changes with different pitches and tones, how the VOICE is produced, BREATHING system and correct BREATHING system.
It is also important to know RIB CAGE i.e., TORSO(the heaviest portion in the body). THIGH BONE (large bone in the body).
Normally we leave TORSO weight on the THIGH BONE and the whole weight falls on the ankles. That causes dragging our gody while walking. In the correct walking the TORSO stands independantly. The correct walking only with knees bend. It is easy.
The ACTORS also should know the correct POSTURE, correct SITTING, STANDING and BENDING POSUTES.
The should do PELVIC EXERCISES, POSTURE EXERCISES, BREATHING EXERCISES to correct their BREATHING system. It is important for the ACTORS to know correct BREATHING system i.e., ABDOMIN BREATHINGSYSTEM OR CENTER BREATHING SYSTEM OR DIAPHRAGM BREATHING SYSTEM.
Most of the ACTORS does not know how to use their hands. Because there is tension in the SHOULDERS.
They have to do SHOULDERS' exercises to relax the shoulders.
Normally we use the legs only forward and backward. The inside stretch between the legs is also important for the ACTORS. This is possible through LEG EXERCISES.
The NECK is very important in producing good VOICE. The NECK stretch is important. Through NECK exercises, it is stretched to all the sides. The VOICE should not change with forward bendings, backward bendings and side bendings.
The ACTORS has to speak when they do ASANAS.
It helps to ajust the BREATHING on its own.
The VOICE should not change in any position of the BODY.
The tongue does not keep silently and it does not relax. Tongue moves continuously. At time the TONGUE creates problems in the SPEECH. It has to relax. It is possible through TONGUE exercises.
Technically, the BREATHING comes from ABDOMIN to the THROAT through VOCAL CORDS. Immaterial with the words whether they are small or long, it should not effect the THROAT. The THROAT should have full opening. The BREATHING required for the words will be controlled through ABDOMIN. THROAT exercises will help to get full opening of the THROAT.
The JAW is also very important in SPEECH. The correct movements of JAW brings out the CLARITY. The tension in the JAW restricts the movements. It is important to relax the LOWER JAW. The JAW EXERCISES WILL HELP to relax the LOWER JAW.
Face is most important for the ACTORS. They should have flexible face to carry on expressions. The FASCIAL exercises are necessary to ralax their face an fascial nerves.
The LIPS takes imprtant place in the ARTICULATION. The tenson in the LIPS restricts their movement and effects the flow of SPEECH.
All the above exercises helps to get TENSION FREE NATURAL VOICE.
Once the VOICE tension free, the SPEECH becomes good.
Without VOICE there is no life. VOICE is part of our life.
In the normal life it may not be much difference. But it effects in the ACTORS' life. The ACTORS should get the TENSION FREE NATURAL VOICE.
Evoluation of VOICE is very difficult. One has to go through several exercises to get the TENSION FREE VOICE.
The VOICE depends on GOOD BREATHING. Without BREATHING there is no VOICE.
Wherever the tension,BREATHING hides. As it is linked with the VOICE, VOICE also hides and very artificial VOICE come out.
What ever they speak it not their real VOICE. It is something different.
That VOICE does not have flexibility.
The BREATHING depends on correct POSTURE. If POSTURE is not correct, it effects the BREATHING.
The POSTURE depends on the PELVIC.
In order to get good VOICE one has to with the PELVIC EXERCISES.
One has to know ANATOMY OF THE BODY rto start with PELVIC exercises.
It is very important for the ACTORS to know about PELVIC, SPINAL CORD, THIGH BONE, NECK AND HEAD JOINTS, VOCAL APARTUS, THROAT, TONGUE, STUDYING OF FACE, JAW JOINTS and it's link, VOCAL CORDS and how it changes with different pitches and tones, how the VOICE is produced, BREATHING system and correct BREATHING system.
It is also important to know RIB CAGE i.e., TORSO(the heaviest portion in the body). THIGH BONE (large bone in the body).
Normally we leave TORSO weight on the THIGH BONE and the whole weight falls on the ankles. That causes dragging our gody while walking. In the correct walking the TORSO stands independantly. The correct walking only with knees bend. It is easy.
The ACTORS also should know the correct POSTURE, correct SITTING, STANDING and BENDING POSUTES.
The should do PELVIC EXERCISES, POSTURE EXERCISES, BREATHING EXERCISES to correct their BREATHING system. It is important for the ACTORS to know correct BREATHING system i.e., ABDOMIN BREATHINGSYSTEM OR CENTER BREATHING SYSTEM OR DIAPHRAGM BREATHING SYSTEM.
Most of the ACTORS does not know how to use their hands. Because there is tension in the SHOULDERS.
They have to do SHOULDERS' exercises to relax the shoulders.
Normally we use the legs only forward and backward. The inside stretch between the legs is also important for the ACTORS. This is possible through LEG EXERCISES.
The NECK is very important in producing good VOICE. The NECK stretch is important. Through NECK exercises, it is stretched to all the sides. The VOICE should not change with forward bendings, backward bendings and side bendings.
The ACTORS has to speak when they do ASANAS.
It helps to ajust the BREATHING on its own.
The VOICE should not change in any position of the BODY.
The tongue does not keep silently and it does not relax. Tongue moves continuously. At time the TONGUE creates problems in the SPEECH. It has to relax. It is possible through TONGUE exercises.
Technically, the BREATHING comes from ABDOMIN to the THROAT through VOCAL CORDS. Immaterial with the words whether they are small or long, it should not effect the THROAT. The THROAT should have full opening. The BREATHING required for the words will be controlled through ABDOMIN. THROAT exercises will help to get full opening of the THROAT.
The JAW is also very important in SPEECH. The correct movements of JAW brings out the CLARITY. The tension in the JAW restricts the movements. It is important to relax the LOWER JAW. The JAW EXERCISES WILL HELP to relax the LOWER JAW.
Face is most important for the ACTORS. They should have flexible face to carry on expressions. The FASCIAL exercises are necessary to ralax their face an fascial nerves.
The LIPS takes imprtant place in the ARTICULATION. The tenson in the LIPS restricts their movement and effects the flow of SPEECH.
All the above exercises helps to get TENSION FREE NATURAL VOICE.
Once the VOICE tension free, the SPEECH becomes good.
ANATOMY and PELVIC EXERCISES
The SKELETON shows the SPINAL CORD, This picture shows the SPINAL CORD
RIB CAGE, PELVIC, THIGH BONE from the back, PELVIC, THIGH BONE
and SHOULDERS
Drawings courtesy by Internet.
PELVIC EXERCISES.
Photographs courtesy by Reshmi U.
BREATHING SYSTEM
Drawings courtesy by Internet.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
SPINAL CORD AND POSTURE EXERCISES
SPINAL CORD
BAD POSTURE
Courtesy by Cicily Berry' book Actor and Voice.
Drasings courtesy by Internet. POSTURE EXERCISES
Photographs courtesy by Hyderabad workshop.
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