Showing up and Carnegie Hall?
Perhaps you've heard this old campy joke, "What's the fastest way to Carnegie Hall?" Answer, "Practice!! "
How does this tie into Yoga and Performance? Well, this topic came up twice this week, both in a yoga class and in a music lesson. Which made me realize how both activities use the same word, in different contexts and that they actually mean a similar thing. Many artists / musicians / writers struggle to structure that valuable rehearsal time, and I think the yogic approach is a powerful tool for us to shift our perspective and to make it happen!
In yoga we use the word Sadhana which essentially means daily practice. It is a Sanskrit word that literally translates as "the means of accomplishing something, a goal, " or "the means to completion or perfection. " This specifically refers to a spiritual practice (like yoga or meditation) that enables one to manifest their personal communion with the Infinite through direct experience. We call Kundalini Yoga, the Yoga of Experience - we learn, assimilate, and expand by experiencing. Daily practice is Experiencing.
As artists, musicians, writers we all want to complete our goals, perfect our craft and connect with our audience or song publishers / other artists through our music. When on stage, if we're fumbling for chords or our voice is not warmed up it hinders us from reaching our audience. As writers, working on our craft enables us to be able to express that perfect metaphor, to offer credible ideas during that co-write or to create a song that another artist will want to sing. If we envision the opportunity to work with our favorite hit-writer, we want to be prepared to carry our weight and bring amazing suggestions to the table during the session! If we dream of a big artist singing our song we must be able to craft a song that clearly expresses a universal emotion so that someone will want to sing it! We reach these goals by expanding and experiencing our craft through Practice.
In Kundalini Yoga we practice different Kriyas for a set amount of time like 40 days. When we miss one day, then we go back to one, why? That lost day disrupts the energy & flow because it breaks the connection. We say it takes 1,000 consecutive days to master something. Perhaps it's different with the creative arts because we are always expanding. If you don't already play/write everyday- imagine the rewards if you practiced your instrument, did a writing exercise or vocalized every day for 3 years?
I have practiced meditations daily for a year and currently I am around day 300 of a Kriya called Bound Lotus. One of the most important things this has taught me is the importance of simply SHOWING UP. Each day no matter what the weather, my physical / emotional state I climb onto my yoga mat and commit. It's unbelievable to me even as I write this because I am Not always the most disciplined disciple – ha! At this point? I could not bear going back to day 1. Ideally I strive for 31 minutes, but even if it's 8 minutes? I just do it! Imagine the progress if we approached our art that way?
Also, an important thing to mention (I will go into this with more details down the road) is that the condition of our practice sessions is not the point. Some days we are all busy, so forget the time factor - The goal is to show up. If your fingers are sore and you play slowly – still you showed up! If your voice is tired and you feel a little flat? Focus on breathing and forgo the more intense exercises. Be proud because you showed up! If your brain is mush and there's not melody around for miles? You might be surprised what emerges…. And the important thing is that you showed up!! Suspend judgment and just be where you are in that moment. No commentary, Just do it!
I remember hearing Beth Nielson-Chapman speak last fall. One of the many amazing things that she said is that in a personal writing session, sometimes we stare at our instruments, fumble with the rhyming dictionary and nothing tangible actually gets written. Well, this is still a valuable work session!! Because you still showed up and you still committed to you craft. I wouldn't hesitate to trust Her advice! And I will also add, record the mess and write it all down anyway, who knows where it might fit in down the road... [see the article Co-Writing with yourself]
What do Yoga Practice and Creative Practice have in common?
It's the art of showing up, taking the steps to achieve your goals, expanding your abilities and the commitment to both your Self and your Work.
The root of it is simply taking the small steps everyday to connect with our Self which enables us to expand toward the infinite. It's the little victories in each day that forge the solid path towards reaching our goals. The scales enable us to play a complex solo, the breath work enables our voice to flow, the bad songs build the technique for the brilliant ones. And in yoga, the days where I can't touch my touch toes lead me to the days that I sit in full lotus, and the days in meditation where my mind swirls to nowhere lead me to the days where I am completely focused.
The path towards achieving our goals begins with honing our skills & connecting us to ourselves so that we can reach the infinite possibilities of our goals. And we achieve that through practice. (even if it's 10 minutes!)
"Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired." (Martha Graham) I believe Martha Graham too…. I'll see YOU at Carnegie Hall
How does this tie into Yoga and Performance? Well, this topic came up twice this week, both in a yoga class and in a music lesson. Which made me realize how both activities use the same word, in different contexts and that they actually mean a similar thing. Many artists / musicians / writers struggle to structure that valuable rehearsal time, and I think the yogic approach is a powerful tool for us to shift our perspective and to make it happen!
In yoga we use the word Sadhana which essentially means daily practice. It is a Sanskrit word that literally translates as "the means of accomplishing something, a goal, " or "the means to completion or perfection. " This specifically refers to a spiritual practice (like yoga or meditation) that enables one to manifest their personal communion with the Infinite through direct experience. We call Kundalini Yoga, the Yoga of Experience - we learn, assimilate, and expand by experiencing. Daily practice is Experiencing.
As artists, musicians, writers we all want to complete our goals, perfect our craft and connect with our audience or song publishers / other artists through our music. When on stage, if we're fumbling for chords or our voice is not warmed up it hinders us from reaching our audience. As writers, working on our craft enables us to be able to express that perfect metaphor, to offer credible ideas during that co-write or to create a song that another artist will want to sing. If we envision the opportunity to work with our favorite hit-writer, we want to be prepared to carry our weight and bring amazing suggestions to the table during the session! If we dream of a big artist singing our song we must be able to craft a song that clearly expresses a universal emotion so that someone will want to sing it! We reach these goals by expanding and experiencing our craft through Practice.
In Kundalini Yoga we practice different Kriyas for a set amount of time like 40 days. When we miss one day, then we go back to one, why? That lost day disrupts the energy & flow because it breaks the connection. We say it takes 1,000 consecutive days to master something. Perhaps it's different with the creative arts because we are always expanding. If you don't already play/write everyday- imagine the rewards if you practiced your instrument, did a writing exercise or vocalized every day for 3 years?
I have practiced meditations daily for a year and currently I am around day 300 of a Kriya called Bound Lotus. One of the most important things this has taught me is the importance of simply SHOWING UP. Each day no matter what the weather, my physical / emotional state I climb onto my yoga mat and commit. It's unbelievable to me even as I write this because I am Not always the most disciplined disciple – ha! At this point? I could not bear going back to day 1. Ideally I strive for 31 minutes, but even if it's 8 minutes? I just do it! Imagine the progress if we approached our art that way?
Also, an important thing to mention (I will go into this with more details down the road) is that the condition of our practice sessions is not the point. Some days we are all busy, so forget the time factor - The goal is to show up. If your fingers are sore and you play slowly – still you showed up! If your voice is tired and you feel a little flat? Focus on breathing and forgo the more intense exercises. Be proud because you showed up! If your brain is mush and there's not melody around for miles? You might be surprised what emerges…. And the important thing is that you showed up!! Suspend judgment and just be where you are in that moment. No commentary, Just do it!
I remember hearing Beth Nielson-Chapman speak last fall. One of the many amazing things that she said is that in a personal writing session, sometimes we stare at our instruments, fumble with the rhyming dictionary and nothing tangible actually gets written. Well, this is still a valuable work session!! Because you still showed up and you still committed to you craft. I wouldn't hesitate to trust Her advice! And I will also add, record the mess and write it all down anyway, who knows where it might fit in down the road... [see the article Co-Writing with yourself]
What do Yoga Practice and Creative Practice have in common?
It's the art of showing up, taking the steps to achieve your goals, expanding your abilities and the commitment to both your Self and your Work.
The root of it is simply taking the small steps everyday to connect with our Self which enables us to expand toward the infinite. It's the little victories in each day that forge the solid path towards reaching our goals. The scales enable us to play a complex solo, the breath work enables our voice to flow, the bad songs build the technique for the brilliant ones. And in yoga, the days where I can't touch my touch toes lead me to the days that I sit in full lotus, and the days in meditation where my mind swirls to nowhere lead me to the days where I am completely focused.
The path towards achieving our goals begins with honing our skills & connecting us to ourselves so that we can reach the infinite possibilities of our goals. And we achieve that through practice. (even if it's 10 minutes!)
"Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired." (Martha Graham) I believe Martha Graham too…. I'll see YOU at Carnegie Hall
Comments
Post a Comment