In the past year, I’ve discovered something in my life I never realized I was passionate about. Motion when applied to music / sound…even motion in general. It may sound weird when I describe it that way. Music has always been huge in my life (I have a degree in it after all)…but not until recently did I take up dance. Exploring dance has led me to realize that it’s not only movement to music that I enjoy, but specific motion in and learning how the body works. I took a Yoga class this morning and really enjoyed it. I wish I had found this outlet years ago…but regardless I want to keep exploring. So I ask. What activities meet the the following criteria.
Physical self-expression with or without music / sound
Mental body awareness
Moving with intention
And on another note, I’ve thought about exploring music therapy before as further education…and now I’m more intrigued. Are there educational paths that incorporate the above? Thanks for your thoughts.
Lol…acting is out. That’s something that goes too far to the expressive side I think.
I was thinking things more like Yoga, Tai Chi?
Become a rock ‘n’ roller. Plenty of opportunities for combining music and physical expression of what the music does for you there.
Of course, sometimes it can become too formula and be kinda ridiculous, but I’ve always found that playing certain kinds of music induces natural body movement. And more generally, there is just something very physical about slamming out a power chord and having a very loud noise result. I don’t know that I can describe it, but it’s done an awful lot for me over the years.
As for music therapy, my daughter majored in it for a time at university, but ultimately changed to a performance major. The track itself is definitely available…the trick is finding employment with that degree.
This might be crazy, but have you thought about martial arts? It doesn’t really relate to music, but it definitely involves moving with purpose and being self aware - it can be very relaxing. Plus, it has the bonus of providing exercise and self defense.
I go to a thing called “Ecstatic Dance” at local dance/yoga/other things like that studio. One weekday evening and one weekend morning there’s a 90 minute set of music with rotating DJs. The music really varies but a sort of general idea is yoga class/world music.
You can dance however you want, you can dance with other people (if they’re up for dancing with you), you can sit, you can lie on the floor, you can do yoga, you can weep, you can yawp with joy. It’s a very non-judgmental space. Oh I love it!
to find something like that in your area google “ecstatic dance” “5 Rhythms Dance” “dance wave” or just check out yoga and dance studios’ websites and see if they host anything like that.
Pilates (more on the movement side)
Taiko. I’ve taken a couple of beginner-level classes and it was a combination of music and movement and dancing that was incredibly fun.
You might try the Feldenkrais Method.
I’ve enjoyed yoga for many years, and I encountered a book called Awareness Through Movement by Moshe Feldenkrais. It’s a method designed to cultivate your general sense of bodily awareness through specific physical movement. They’re not quite physical exercises in the usual sense.
One example is an exercise where you sit down with your feet on a bathroom scale. Then you try to stand up while varying the readout on the scale as little as possible.
It really interested me at the time and I’ve considered giving it another go.
The main web site is here