In the modern era, many things distance us from a simple presence in the body and from simply being: the fast pace, the stress, the endless doing, the long hours in front of the screen. Conscious movement helps to balance and return us to a full and powerful presence. Even people who train in dance or sports may give priority to the goal, to how it looks or to the final result, and thus neglect the experience of presence and listening to themselves and their bodies.
Wilhelm Reich coined the concept of muscular armor that some people may “wear” to mask difficult moments from their past. Many times we continue to wear the armor even when we no longer need it. My intention in this course is to shed that which no longer serves us. To start the day from a present, calm and whole place. I will address a few main topics: Deepening the breath. The ability to observe and to be (versus to do). Identifying the sensations and movement we create to feel good versus to look good. Reconnecting the thought, the sensation, the emotion and the movement. The awareness to physical alignment that increases the possibilities for choice of movement.
Michal Arazi is a teacher of yoga, dance and aerial acrobatics. She danced for about ten years in the dance company of Liat Dror and Nir Ben Gal. She also performed for about five years with Roni Calev in aerial circus duos that won awards for original production and performance. She studied architecture at the Technion, movement therapy in Rotterdam, expression in art at the Expression College, dance with Frey Faust, and yoga at Wingate with Orit San Gupta.
Michal teaches dance, yoga and Healing Through Movement at Adama Sderot, where we have created collaborations with the Hosan Center. She also teaches aerial acrobatics at Backyard Circus, at the Playfit Studio in Jaffa, at Matnas Merhavim, and at the Orly Tessa Dance Studio.