'Moving Naturally' has been evolving since 1997 in Michelle Wilkinson's professional movement community practice. It is a journey to access a natural ease of movement innate in babies, children and people. It is present in the evolution of human movement from life in water to life on land. Time spent in land and seascapes with its diverse wildlife provides an opportunity to access a more natural way of being and moving. It raises the question 'How do I want to move?'.
Inspiration, scores and understanding arise from a combination of regular studio and on site explorations. The sites explored are to be found along the Jurassic Coast, mainly Exmouth area, East Devon heathland of Woodbury Common and Bystock and Wistman's Wood, Dartmoor. Movement Practitioner Michelle Wilkinson is currently on the Walk of Life ContinuationTraining Programme in non-stylised and environmental movement with Helen Poynor. www.walkoflife.co.uk
Moving Naturally offers movement explorations both in a studio setting and outdoors in the Budleigh Salterton and Exmouth area. The participants are a diverse group of people.
STUDIO SESSIONS AND WORKSHOPS
Moving on mats has been the seed of 'Moving Naturally'. The mats provide a strong external support for the participants' movements. These mat movement springboards are a combination of simple daily and spontaneous ways of moving. They include yoga asanas, some of which can be naturally found in the foundations of human movement development and others which can echo elements of the outdoors such as the 'tree position'. Emphasis is given to moving in an easy and effortless way and is well-suited to particpants who may have restricted movement or injuries. The Feldenkrais Method of Awareness through Movement has influenced this movement expression.
With a grounding in mat supported movement participants can go on to explore moving at floor level, at animal height and upright in ways which travel them through the studio space. By putting the body in motion, people are offered the opportunity to learn about themselves, becoming aware of familiar habits and discovering new modes of movement expression. Moving Naturally participants are encouraged to feel comfortable in their own skins and delight in their possible varied self-expression. By moving in ways which feel right for them, they have the opportunity to be open to the vitality, creativity and joy for life that is a natural condition.
During 'Moving Naturally' sessions and workshops particpants are made aware of the body's structures and systems. For instance, focus may be given to the joints, the organs and breathing. The important connection between physical bodily sensations, emotional feelings and mental thought (images and word) are made. This three-way integration moves participants towards a fully-embodied experience of themselves. At times pairwork with simple Shiatsu may be part of the sessions and workshops. Drawing and written responses may be included to support the free movement expression. Go to the Studio Page of this website for dates, times and prices.
Participants' Comments:
The sessions are alternative, affirming, creative, nuturing, healing and interesting. (Jenny Gray)
My relationship with the garden, and the way I move whilst tending it, is shifting and deepening. I'm realising the possibility of learning to dance with it, to be more open to the earth's support as I work and to focus less on results. Thank you for creating the space for these realisations to germinate. (Lesley-Steel-Cox)
The variety...each session is different. Appreciate your personal consideration of us all. (Valerie Hillebrandt)
The simple movements make me feel so calm and relaxed. It is amazing how I can do things, that before I started I couldn't do at all. (Mary Chaplin)
'Does a wolf know how beautiful she is when she leaps? Does a feline know what beautiful shapes she makes when she sits? Is a bird awed by the sound it hears when it snaps open its wings? Learning from them, we just act in our own true way and do not draw back from or hide our natural beauty. Like creatures, we just are, and it is right.' Clarissa Pinkola Estes from her book Women Who Run with the Wolves
'Moving Naturally' studio sessions and workshops support the outdoor workshops in which the participants are given time to experience the wisdom of the land, trees, sea and sky. Relationship with the land and seascapes are encouraged through simple movement scores. Each person can find their own personal response to varied terrains and weather conditions. This embodied experience can evolve into artwork or writtten reflections. 'Winter Haven' '' and 'Red Cliffs Green Pools' are examples of some of the workshops on offer for 2012. Go to the Outdoor Page of this website for dates, times and prices. For anyone living outside this area, Exmouth offers a wide range of accommodation and 1 or 2 day programmes can be created to suit individual or group needs. Please phone for more information: 01395 271037
For World Dance Day on April 29th, Moving Naturally participants have the opportunity to create a site specific dance. To find out about what is happening for 2011 go to the Dance Page of this website. For information regarding other opportunities in Devon visit the following : www.danceindevon.org.uk
Paricipants' Comments:
I observed a session one day and was greatly moved by the quality and commitment and concentration in his practice and by the way in which Michelle supported and empowered my friend to move and express himself freely in a safely held space. He clearly enjoyed and looked forward to the sessions and would talk about them with enthusiasm, when I visited him each week. (Sarah Scoble President, European Consortium for Arts Therapies Education 2009 witnessing an Individual Sessions)
Our bodies began to move, slowly and meditatively, in acknowledgement and celebration of our presence and connection. An unforgetable and deeply valued experience. (John Fullwood moving in World Dance Day 2010)
Thank you for such a beautiful experience...the chance to dance somewhere so lovely with such a theme... the breathtaking expanse of the view out to sea...the structure of the rocks and the colour of the earth..one could not help but dance. I can't wait for next time. (Pat Barker moving in World Dance Day 2011)
One of the best days in a long time...fruitful, peaceful, relaxing and inspiring. It brought to the fore creativity and capabilities I did not think I had. (Lizzie Goulding moving in an Outdoor Workshop)
It filled me with a sense of awe and wonder that we should be blessed with such nature around us...it is all there for us to appreciate and take in. The magic stayed with me through my donkey that wanted to play. I found support and security in the trees after a somewhat challenging descent...saw what my imagination described as a temple in the horizon..a sanctuary of rest. (Helen Goodman-Payne moving in an Outdoor Workshop)
To find out more about 'Moving Naturally' sessions and workshops, please browse this website or contact Michelle today.