BodyProject Summer Newsletter

Dear Friends,

I’d love to see you at my next Alexander Technique workshop at Berkeley Rep on Saturday July 13, 1-4 pm $65. Get ready to feel light and free. Learn skills to release tension to improve movement and mood! Content is appropriate for actors and non-actors alike. Info here

Other news:

I’m giving a public workshop at the Annual meeting of the American Society for Alexander Technique at Columbia University on Thursday June 27,  2 – 3:30 pm $60. We’ll explore side dominance in movement, and play with spiraling directions, falling and freedom. I’d love to see some familiar friendly faces. Info here.

Additionally, there will be a variety of workshops that are both open to the public and free. Here’s the schedule:
In June, I partnered with my colleague, flautists and Body Map expert Amy Likar, to produce a workshop supporting Musician’s health at Musicians Union in San Francisco.

Also in June, I had the opportunity to study Breath Embodiment, with my colleague Jeffery Crockett. It was an amazing weekend learning about autonomy, spontaneity and intimacy. Much of the work was inspired by Polyvagal theory I will be sure to spread the word the next time Jeff is in town.

If you are attending plays this summer, look out for my brilliant A.C.T. MFA students performing at the Geary Theater, SF Playhouse, Cal Shakes, Livermore Shakespeare Festival, and many other local venues.

On a personal note, I’ve been experimenting with using Alexander Technique and Reembody Method to enhance flute playing, weight training and swimming.

Happy summer! Stay in touch. I’d love to hear your news.

Warmly,

Elyse

Summer Private Practice hours:

  • San Francisco, Mondays 3 – 6 pm, Tuesdays 8:30 am – 6:30pm, and Thursdays 9 – 5 pm
  • Berkeley, Fridays 9 – 3pm, Sundays 1 – 6.

 

 

Free to act, Free to Be, Free to take the ‘road not taken’ – Workshop 5/14 ~ Berkeley

Body Project Blog ~ Where thought is the active ingredient, by Elyse Shafarman

Notice the moment before you engage in action (or speech). See if you can sense how your body prepares. What are the habitual gripping spots?

Then pause. In the pause, tell yourself that you are:

  1. Free to act,
  2. Free to just be,
  3. Or free to do something different.

 

Observe how you (whole self, body and mind unified), reorganize when there is no pressure.

Then make a fresh decision.

The pause is enhanced when you expand awareness to include both self and environment together.

There’s more specific body cuing in the Alexander Technique, but the mindfulness piece, the pause to stop habitual reaction, is what distinguishes the technique.

To learn more about this process, join me for an introduction to the Alexander Technique at Berkeley Rep this Sunday 5/14, 10 – 1pm $35. Bring your mom for Mother’s day!

Want to sing with more freedom? Move with less effort?


Sounding the Depths of the Organs

Sunday, December 4, 10am-1pm
The second workshop in this series

Explore the qualities of your organs and how they support the authentic expression of your voice!

The Singing Body
Embodied Voice & the Alexander Technique
with Francesca Genco & Elyse Shafarman

Sundays, 10am-1pm
November 6, December 4 & January 15
Jeffery Bihr Studio in Rockridge (a few minutes’ walk from BART)
  • Learn to support your voice from a place of ease, power & relaxation.
  • Enjoy skilled hands-on guidance.
  • Learn songs & how to sing them from an embodied state.
  • Discover how the Alexander Technique engages choice over habit.
Topics include:
November 6 ~ Respiratory diaphragm & breathing
December 4 ~ Organs as resonators & supporters
January 15 ~ Muscles of the pelvis, abdomen & vocal folds

Cost is $75 for single workshop, $200 for the series (save $25).
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Contact elyse@bodyproject.us to register.
Feel free to share this invite with a friend!

Francesca Genco, MA is a singer and sound healer, yoga instructor, bodyworker and interdisciplinary arts teacher. Her singing was featured in Ryan Amon’s score for Elysium, Neill Blomkamp’s science fiction film starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster released in August 2013. She is the founder of Song of the Body, which offers classes, workshops and retreats in embodied voice, sound healing, yoga and creative expression. Her classes and private sessions are based in creating an intimate relationship with the body as we learn to listen and respond to its natural intelligence and resonance.

Elyse Shafarman holds a Master’s Degree in Physiological Psychology and Alexander Technique Teacher Certification from Frank Ottiwell (2003). Elyse is on the faculty of American Conservatory Theater’s MFA program and Berkeley Rep School of Theatre. She maintains a private practice in San Francisco and Berkeley. Her background as a modern dancer and professional training in psychology, yoga, and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction influence her work.
 

The Singing Body

Want to sing with more freedom?
Move with less effort?
Join us for

The Singing Body
a workshop series in
Embodied Voice & the Alexander Technique
with Francesca Genco & Elyse Shafarman
Sundays, 10am-1pm
November 6, December 4 & January 15
Jeffery Bihr Studio in Rockridge (a few minutes’ walk from BART)

 
  • Learn to support your voice from a place of ease, power & relaxation.
  • Enjoy skilled hands-on guidance.
  • Learn songs & how to sing them from an embodied state.
  • Discover how the Alexander Technique engages choice over habit.
Topics will include:
November 6 ~ Respiratory diaphragm & breathing
December 4 ~ Organs as resonators & supporters
January 15 ~ Muscles of the pelvis, abdomen & vocal folds
Click on the image to hear Francesca practicing the principles in recording her latest voice library, Autumn Lullaby.
Cost is $75 for single workshop, $200 for the series (save $25).
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Respond to this email to register.
Feel free to share this invite with a friend!
Francesca Genco, MA is a singer and sound healer, yoga instructor, bodyworker and interdisciplinary arts teacher. Her singing was featured in Ryan Amon’s score for Elysium, Neill Blomkamp’s science fiction film starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster released in August 2013. She is the founder of Song of the Body, which offers classes, workshops and retreats in embodied voice, sound healing, yoga and creative expression. Her classes and private sessions are based in creating an intimate relationship with the body as we learn to listen and respond to its natural intelligence and resonance.
Elyse Shafarman holds a Master’s Degree in Physiological Psychology and Alexander Technique Teacher Certification from Frank Ottiwell (2003). Elyse is on the faculty of American Conservatory Theater’s MFA program and Berkeley Rep School of Theatre. She maintains a private practice in San Francisco and Berkeley. Her background as a modern dancer and professional training in psychology, yoga, and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction influence her work.

New Alexander Technique Class Starting Feb 2015

Alexander Technique for Mind/Body Balance
Tues 7–9pm · 2/2 – 3/8 · $175
Berkeley Rep School of Theatre
2025 Addison St, Berkeley CA 94704
Register Online, or email the registrar: school@berkeleyrep.org

Alexander Technique is a time-honored method used by actors to improve posture, breath, and movement. Effective movement liberates your acting skills and enriches your life. As you stop responding to the world in a habitual manner, new avenues of physical ease and creativity open up. Discover the Alexander Technique for body-mind balance. Let your body’s physical genius emerge


Do I need to be an actor to take workshops at Berkeley Rep?

These classes will benefit all who wishes to discover alert, relaxed alignment and refined body awareness and control.

Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions: elyse@bodyproject.us

Eyes up!

 

Eyes up!

photo on the right by Lindsay Newitter

Dear Friends,

Happy Autumn! Having just returned from the International Congress of Alexander Technique in Ireland, I am newly inspired. In light of this, you are invited to two Fall Workshops. Each can be taken on its own, or paired together.

Stand Tall & Speak with Presence
Saturday, October 3, 1–4pm · 10/3 · $45
Berkeley Rep School of Theatre

Eyes Up! Prevent “Text Neck” & Restore Spinal Length
Saturday, October 10,  1–4pm · 10/10 · $45
Berkeley Rep School of Theatre

Visit Berkeley Rep School of Theatre website to register. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions. Please share with anyone you think will benefit!

Let your neck be free and lift your eyes to see the world!