The Cat

While studying Acting at NYU, I trained for a year in the Experimental Theatre Wing, which derives its teaching methods from Jerzy Grotowski. Grotowski was a Polish theatre director and a leading figure of theatrical avant garde of the 20th century. He devised a series of physical exercises to bring the actor into a state of psychological and emotional presence and open pathways to the actor’s inner creativity. These exercises elicit a union of mind, body and spirit so the actor can have truthful and transcendent experiences on stage. Personal experiences are brought to life in the public sphere, invoking catharsis for both performer and spectator. One physical exercise I undertook in class was tiger leaping and somersaulting over my teacher. Another involved moving body parts in isolation to create a "psychophysical" harmony resulting in an emotional, expressive release. Learning the yoga-inspired Cat warm up felt like a revelation. I love it and continue to practice it to this day:

Lie on stomach. Head to the side. Arms to the side. Breathe deeply in out. Turn head to opposite side. Just waking up. Move hands up, palms on the ground next to chest. Lift torso. Sway torso. Open mouth. Release sound. Extend hips to the ceiling. Bend one leg, then the other. Rise up to toes. Lift left leg, open hip. Kick. Feel muscles lengthen off the bone. Full body yawn. Arms strong. Lower leg. Repeat with right. Circle body: hips down, sideways and back up. Undulate. Hiss. Roar. Yelp. Breathe. Kick. Circle. Turn head. Deeper. Fuller. Pull. Stretch. Burn. Animal. Roar. Beast. Allow. Expand. Transform.