ENG Archives - Pagina 2 van 2

4 november 201410 november 2014

(2) A hero’s journey

Once upon a time… Oh no, not another fairy tale! But actually it is. It’s a mythical fairy tale about a hero. About challenges, changes, wise words and thrilling (story)turns. About your life! Or at least if you want to grow and enrich your life.

I love safety and clarity. For years I thought that this security and safety originated from leaving everything the way it is. To make sure everything is predictable. In the end that backfired on me, my surroundings changed: another job, growing older, wondering if this is it. No, this isn’t just it, there is more. Thank god.

But what about the fairy tale and being a hero? I came across the monomyth of Joseph Campbell. Campbell researched the structure of mythical stories. Fairy tales, legends, saga, etc. He also called it ‘a hero’s journey’, the journey of a hero. The hero is being challenged to change his world. This coinciding with many challenges.

There are highlights, depths and of course wise words. In the end the hero returns stronger from his adventurous journey. This also happened during my changing life (style). Highs, lows and wise words. I learned to see it as a journey. To enjoy the journey, even if not everything goes the way it’s supposed to the first time.

Do you also want an adventurous journey? Make a bucket list.

2 november 201410 november 2014

(1) Yoga, Theatre, Life

My yogateachers, Kenny Graham and Tony Giuliano, shared lots about the philosophy of yoga. To me it’s similar to the things I learned in theatre. I wanted to find out what yoga and theatre have in common. But most of all: how can elements of acting (theatre) help in a yoga practise?

Yoga

Maybe if you never went to see a play, or never acted yourself, you don’t see the connection. Lets start looking at one of the many definitions of yoga.

The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, which means “to join” or “to yoke”.
{patanjali’s yoga sutra’s}

Yoga is a practical aid, not a religion. Yoga is an ancient art based on a harmonizing system of development for the body, mind, and spirit. The continued practice of yoga will lead you to a sense of peace and well-being, and also a feeling of being at one with their environment.

Theatre

Definition of acting: [noun] The art, profession, or activity of those who perform in stage plays, motion pictures, etc.

Like a violist uses the violin as instrument to tell a story, an actor uses his physique, emotions and imagination to tell a story. An actor plays a role. The word ‘role’ literally comes from the parchment roles used in the first ancient Greek plays.

Connection

In the definitions of yoga and theatre you’ll find similar keywords: Yoga is practical. It’s a form of art, uses body, mind and spirit. It leads to feeling one with your environment. Acting (theatre) is also a form of art. It’s active and practical. An actor uses his physique, emotions and imagination.

Exercise: What’s your favourite asana? Try adding an emotion to the poses. Use your imagination to illustrate the emotion. My suggestions: grounded & strong / fierce & passionate / fluid like a river / light as a feather.

I want to invite you to travel along with me.

20 oktober 201410 november 2014

(6) Challenges

How do you cope with challenges? Do you fight, freeze or flight? If you look at any myth you’ll find the hero facing some challenges. To learn and to become stronger. So take a look at your own life: what is your challenge? Here are some tips from actors to help you being a brave warrior and defeat your ‘dragon’.

Overcome

In a play a character has to overcome something. Overcome a fear of forfill a longing. To accomplish this, there’re some challenges. Most likely the character finds a helper, a mentor, but there will be temptations too. An actor has to know how he fits into the bigger picture of a play. Maybe his role is to help the main character, to mentor him, to tempt, etc.

There are different ways of acting. I’ll shortly point out Grotowski, Johnstone, Stanislavski and Brook.

Grotowski: focuses on the physical part of acting. By exhaustion the actor doesn’t have time to think and will follow his instinct. He’s acting is pure, raw, unpolished.

Johnstone: focus is on improvisation. Forces you into situation where you don’t have the time to think. So you have to learn to follow impulses. If you follow these first impulses, you play in a authentic way.

Stanislavski: An actor has to know everything about his character. The way he thinks, feels, lives, moves, etc. The actor slowly transforms into it’s character. Linked to method acting.

Brook: Theatre has to be holy, magical. An actor has to play a role over and over again. But Brook says the director and actor always have to make sure it’s been played as if its the first time. It has to be real and to have an urge.

For me Peter Brook has been a great inspiration. Just like in yoga Brook wants the actor (and you) to be in the present. Underneath you’ll find three exercises you can try. It can be challenging. See it as a game, research. Just try, try, fail, try…

Exercise

Asana: When you practise your poses, stay in a pose and name what thoughts help you to become stronger, brave, secure? Is there something that motivates you? relaxes you doing the poses? What parts of your ego tempt you to get you off your focus?

Pranayama: Think of your biggest fear. What happens to your breathing? Imagine you achieved your goals, reached your goal. What happens to your breathing?

Dhyana: In your live you must have met a few inspiring people. Name the best advice someone ever gave you. Is there a (famous) quote you relate too? Use it as a mantra during meditation.

30 september 201416 augustus 2016

Bio ENG

Liever in het Nederlands lezen?

Coming Home

Late at night I drive back home after a busy trip. To Groningen (The Netherlands). I was born and raised there. Every time I see the city from a distance, I feel that I am ‘coming home’. The silhouettes of the Martini Tower, the Gasunie building and the striking city gates at the entrance of the city. When I insert the key in the door a little later, I know: I’m home.

Three

That same feeling I get from yoga. From childhood on I moved a lot and loved playing. I went to drama school where the physical side of acting fascinated me. I felt at home. Around my 21st I started teaching at a gym. Gym? Yes, after graduation I missed being physically busy. Then the hype around Power Yoga started and my boss said: ‘That is something for you too‘. The playful character, the challenge and the rest, made me feel once again: ‘at home’. Of the twenty trained colleagues, only three remained. One of them was me.

Stamp

There was no turning back. Besides the Power Yoga training, soon Pilates was added. In the years following I did many workshops with Andreas Trussat and Debbie Jenner. More and more I became interested in the mental and spiritual side. I read one book after another. Ruby Wax (‘Sane your brain’) inspired me and when I read ‘Het inzicht’ by Johan Noorloos I was sure.

I wanted my knowledge being rewarded with a certificate. I wanted a kind of stamp of approval. So I decided to follow the RYT 200 HR Teacher Training. Tony Guiliano and Kenny Graham gave me the confidence that I can share that knowledge.

Backpack

In addition to the training I continue to fill my backpack. Johan Noorloos, Marcel van de Vis Heil and Ross Rayburn inspire me. But also my godchildren Jip and Saar. Their open-mindedness and unconditionality are a valuable gift.

Travel

The Yoga mat is a safe play area. In my lessons I try to make connections with daily life in a playful way. My classes are playful, energetic, creative and with humor. I hope the lesson has created a physical, mental or spirtuele journey. And that you come home every time…

Namaste

Jeffrey

#lifeisyoga

18 augustus 201410 november 2014

(4) Call to action

Samadhi is one of the eight limbs of yoga. It’s the state when everything falls into place. All is brought together. But how can you achieve this? And how can the experience and training of an actor help you to master the art of ‘bringing it all together’?

Concentration

The root of the word ‘samadhi’ comes from sam-a-dha. It means ‘to bring together’. Maybe it is better defined as ‘to concentrate’. So it involves concentration. Actors have to be fully concentrated when they act.

Acting

Sure, but why do you keep mentioning the word ‘actors’? For me, as a dramateacher, its simple. An actor uses it’s body, voice and emotions to tell a story. He has to be fully focussed. The role an actor plays, has to be ‘concentrated’. He has to show the character in the essence. It has to be pure and as real as possible.

Fake

But acting is fake right? Of course, but an actor wants to trigger you imagination. An actor wants to place you in the middle of the illusion, using the power of your imagination. It’s almost like magic.

Behind the magic

Now you know acting is creating an illusion with voice, body, emotion. So next time you experience a magical moment; a moment when everything falls into place, focus on voice, body and emotion.

Exercise

Write down a song that means a great deal to you. Can you write down what elements trigger you? Is it the music, the lyrics, the voice, etc. Imagine you wrote this song. What was the urge, the reason you had to write this song?

Try a pose

Want to experience what it’s like to be in the moment?

Try Natarajasana (Dancer’s pose)