The acting teacher that really changed my art and life was a lanky man from Texas named Clyde Vinson. If he were still around I’d send you all to his door. Alas, life is not always as long as we wish. I’m back. Clyde often repeated the mantra “The way you do things is the way you do things.” Obvious, brilliant, simple. You’ve probably heard it before.
I found myself saying those words in Committed Impulse class last night right before beginning The Series.
The Series, for those who haven’t been in Committed Impulse class yet, is a warm up practice that takes about 20 minutes. The Series accomplishes many things: It shifts your attention out of the running (often abusive) commentary in your head, it profoundly increases the awareness of your body and heightens your connection to your immediate environment ( what’s actually around you right now).
I get emails all the time from people who report doing The Series before an audition only to sail in and book the job. The same holds true for entrepreneurs who have done the series on the morning of an important meeting or before shooting a webinar. They too, had great ease, tremendous presence, as well as being on point during their presentation.
I created The Series 15 years ago. It’s an integration of different forms of yoga ( FYI, I started doing yoga when I was 6 years old and am a certified yoga instructor.). I’m back. The series also includes exercises from the actor training created by the polish director Jerzy Grotowski, as well as exercises I learned from training with Tadashi Suzuki and his amazing company of actors, and a mix of other physically based international actor training disciplines I’ve explored.
So last night I put the emphasis of The Series on presence and commitment.
Since, the way we do things is in fact the way we do things, the way you do The Series will impact the way you do everything else.
It is essential when you’re doing any physical training that you remain present and committed.
Why?
Heating up the body while you’re lost in thought disciplines your body, and your whole being, to carry out actions while you’re thinking about something else. Not what you want. Repeat: Not what you want.
Have you ever done an activity only to realize after it’s over that you weren’t even there while it was happening? You were lost in thought.
However, if you physically train while engaging with your body truth, and remain aware of what is actually around you, then you are reprogramming your self to be present.
The first part of The Series primes the body to engage with the intensity ahead. Next, there are sections that are quite challenging for everyone. However, any person can do The Series from exactly where they are, at any age, and at any level of conditioning. But in those moments where it gets challenging is where the mind wants to kick in and pull focus. Often the mind will go to something like…
- I’m no good at this.
- I am so much better than everyone at this.
- I am weak.
- I am strong
- I’ll never get it.
- Poo poo ba ba bee bee.
Here’s the exciting part.
If you can catch your mind amidst the intensity of the moment and return to the present, well my friend, you have reprogrammed yourself to remain present in challenging situations.
The next time you walk into an audition and your heart starts racing…
The next time you turn on your video camera to make a video for your clients…
The next time you walk into a meeting that could bump up your career…
Yes, you may feel intensity in your body. Expect it. And, so what – you’re alive , you’re going to feel stuff. However, If you have trained yourself to be committed and present – you can handle that physical intensity without turning into a bobbling rain man.
As Clyde Vinson said, the way you do things is the way you do things.
I’ll add to that…
Breaking patterns while doing anything physical resets how you do the things you do.
So, even if you don’t know The Series yet – you can start incorporating commitment and presence in the simplest of actions: while you are walking, taking a shower, even eating. Taste that food, see what’s around you.
Have you ever done an activity where you were fully engaged in it?
Have you ever done an activity and after it was over realized that you weren’t there for it at all?
The latter is about to change.
Send a little shout out to your Committed Impulse tribe, and give a brief example of when you were fully engaged in an activity and when you did something and were not there at all.
It’s important for all of us to see the difference. With awareness we have choice.
But wait, also write what you’re going to do this week to explore your own commitment and presence.
Have an awesome week.
Love
Josh Pais
I want to thank you yet again for your incredible class, Josh. You asked last night what we got out of this session, and something that really struck me last night in doing the series is that its helping me create a sense of discipline and awareness.
I’m going to be totally honest here and say I’ve felt very resistant to the series lately. My mind has been rebelling each time before we’d do it and I could hear an inner whine of “Why are we doing this?”
That should have been a clue, right?
You’ve said before that the Mind is like a helmet of chatter that keeps us from being in the present moment, and all we have to do is take it off.
And I’ve noticed that every time I do the series, despite my mind’s objections, I feel much better and truly connected to my body and the moment and to the sensation of it all, and its ELECTRIC.
And it’s so true: “Breaking patterns while doing anything physical resets how you do the things you do.”
I’ve noticed in auditions that when I’m present and in my body and seeing the room and just going with the flow, everything seems to work. When I try to force myself into a state of being or force something to happen, it doesn’t work, and then the “You Suck” brigade shows up in full force.
You said to us last night as we did the series, “Don’t take it seriously,” and that was so great. I realize the more I practice this, the more I play, the better I feel, and I really love just BEING in the midst of all of it.
Thank you. Thank you for your classes, which have helped me to see and feel in high def and to accept what’s going on inside me without judgement, and to create from there.
Really enjoying the ride. Thanks, Josh!
Laura
Thanks for that Laura.
Yea – I feel that same resistance to doing the series.
But, so what.
Resistance is just in the air sometimes – but it doesn’t mean very much.
Thanks for committing to The Series so fully – even when you felt resistant to it.
Have funn
Josh
i live in LA now and often catch myself lost in thought…the scary part is, it usually happens while driving. eek! ill go blocks and think “wow, i dont remember stopping at lights or using my signal”. not cool. but the good news is, i do catch myself and say “im back” YAY!
i have a callback for a target commercial today and i plan, i mean i WILL, do the series before it, to stay connected with my body and in the room! im at a very exciting time in my life and career right now…things finally feel like they are bubbling…its very cool. with it all, im striving to stay present and enjoy every second rather than hurry it all along. thanks for the great post joshy!
ps – please record yourself doing the series 🙂
Yea – the driving thing.
I’M BACK.
LET’S ALL BE BACK.
I’m back 🙂
I was eating my Cheerios while reading your blog and realized I wasn’t fully engaged in eating my Cheerios! So I stopped reading and focused on my bowl and enjoyed the milk and the crunch and the tart sweetness of the blueberries. Much better. Off to yoga now… and thanks to your blog, I will be THERE rather than plan the rest of my day in my head while I do vinyasas. Thank you for the words of wisdom. I needed them.
Great blog! And timely. I headed out to my Alexander class this AM with my computer glasses on. Not the ones I use for everyday. I could not focus ahead, and I was getting a head ache, I took them off even though I still could not see properly and things were a blur. I had no choice not to go on automatic. I just worked on being in my body. My Alexander teacher, Gwen, was struck at the changes she saw when I first lay on the table. And after the class I left looking 5 lbs lighter and with my voice lower and more connected. Now I need to work on breaking more patterns with out being forced to!
P.S. Clyde was my first teacher when I came to NYC, not for acting but for voice, the Linklater technique. Amazing guy!
.-= Joan´s last blog ..My Acting Teacher’s Mantra Revealed… =-.
I remember the “I’m back” stuff from CI many years ago and thinking, “I don’t get what’s so important about this. I guess I’ll do it, though.” In the 12 years since I took that class, I’ve developed a somewhat consistent meditation practice. A very basic instruction is to follow the breath and when the mind begins to wander, the next instruction is to simply notice the thought (or stream of thoughts) you’ve been lost in and return to the breath. Simple. In doing this practice over and over again, though, I’ve come to realize how, unless I’m mindful throughout my day, my thinking RUNS me! When I’m able to “return to the present moment” (as my meditation teachers would say) I see it as the equivalent of “I’m back!”
It’s funny how powerful our thoughts can be. How debilitating. And really, upon closer inspection, they’re ephemeral. Where are they, ultimately? I think for me, most importantly, becoming familiar with my thoughts is the beginning of having a different relationship with them; seeing them for what they are – their ephemeral nature, where they stem from, etc. And maybe even befriending the ones that stir up anxiety and other debilitating feelings. Susan Piver teaches an exercise where you invite your demons to dinner. You talk to them. You ask them what their jobs are. (I’ll use one of mine.)
Me: “Welcome. What’s your name?”
Demon: “Who, me? I’m Fame demon. I’m basically in the back of Nick’s mind telling him that unless he’s somewhat recognizable to many people, he’s still a loser. I materialize in thoughts like ‘Nick having a regular job because he hasn’t ‘Made It’ yet,’ or ‘Nick comparing himself to other actors and or artists or whatever people he’s into or intimidated by and giving him the feeling that he doesn’t have what they have, talent-wise.’ Etc. Etc.
I have moments when I’m present. Moments, mind you. I start over and over and over all day long. It feels great, actually.
And when I’m not present? Most of the time. Most of the time I’m living a life that exists only in my head. Shit, I’ve had entire romantic relationships where I haven’t been present. Where, because I’m not present, because I’m seeing the world through my own concepts and ideas, I’ve basically been dating myself!
Anyway, thanks for the blog post, Josh. Love ’em.
Thanks Josh. Love that. Just what I need this morning.
Hi, Josh
Thank you so, so much for this post!!!
I so forgot the series… I might just look it up in my notes from the first Ci workshop I attended…
So, I remember when I discovered that being in the moment is sexy. I was in high school, and I noticed how boys were looking at me when I was drawn in what I was doing, not understanding what it is that they see so interesting in what I was doing. Of course, what happened then, was to do ‘being’, in order to attract beaus 🙂 After my ‘being here’ adventure, I understand now that it was my excellence in the moment that was so attractive and cannot be manipulated or faked.
Just reading Laura’s comment about eating Cheerios, while I was eating Honey Bunches of Oats, I too gave up on reading and concentrated on eating the crunchy delight 🙂
What a wonderful post! What touched me was: “Breaking patterns while doing anything physical resets how you do the things you do”. A little hope for us 🙂
It is funny, because, every time there is something I need to ‘ponder’ on to ‘understand better’, I go for the cereal munches and my mind tells me that I’m thinking better that way. Hm… it really dissipates the energy, no?
I also read that multitasking is an addiction to the adrenaline created by the body when we switch activities. Well, baby (that’s me talking to Brenda, my brain), if I got out of my cigarette and sugar addictions, I can deal with this one just the same, right?
I’m back!
Llyane
Yea…while driving. No good.
I usually hate getting group e-mails but I LOVE these! I read every single one.
Thanks Josh
Such great reminders Josh. I find myself wondering why I can’t just learn something and hold onto it forever gosh.damn.it. I’m back!
Many times this Fall I have felt overwhelmed and my mind has tried to tell me to quit things.
For example, I write a fashion blog and a very well knows fashion designer came across it and asked me to collaborate with her brand. Boy did my mind want to f*(& that up!
I went through with it and realized that most of the reasons I don’t want to do things in fear. In light of this I have adopted the mantra “Fail again, fail better.” Oddly, if I get comfortable with failure being an option I end up failing way LESS and doing WAY more.
Thanks Josh for being a player in my creative life.
Happy Holidays!
-Amelia
Love that Amelia.
Rock on!
Wow! That’s awesome! Thanks for this, Amelia! I’ve been dealing with fear stuff too lately, and I know it’s my mind doing backflips to get my attention. I’m back! 🙂
Vinson’s teaching must have really left an impression on you. You make an excellent point about remaining present and committed during physical training, including acting.
Being lost in thought or the moment is definitely a well understood experience. Actors in your place will know the feeling.