Today in Company – after a rigourous warm-up – where we actually got warm, the goal was to feel the difference between a “doing” with a partner and a “being” with a partner. Partners stood opposite each other and synchonirized their breathing. They stood a few feet opposite each other and just slowed down and worked to be present with their partner. This is always uncomfortable at first (wiggles and giggles), but once they acknowledge this discomfort, they can use breath to move this discomfort away. You got to name it to tame it.
Then I began to lead them on some imaginary circumstances – – from imagining their partner as a baby in a crib to a corpse in a coffin. I had them make their partner smile – then laugh. I had them work for a hug from the other. I had them even exam their partner’s right eye brow in as much graphic detail as possible. In short, they DID stuff with their partner, they had a GOAL, they had an OBJECTIVE. They could feel the stress that comes from this effort.
Then I let them release the intentions and just BE with their partner. Now the connection seemed so easy. Now the connection flowed through them and made the synchronization easy. Now they were in communion with each other. NOW they were at a place where honesty could begin a relationship or a scene. They HAD been “doing” and now they were “being”.
To conclude the lesson I encouraged each couple to exchange a hug. But one of the rules of Company is that you cannot even count it a hug if the embrace doesen’t allow for at least three syncholarized breaths. If you can’t share three breaths with your partner, you cannot claim it to be a real hug. Too often we hold our breath while hugging. We are afraid to be present. I encourage you, dear reader, to take the “hug challenge.” Find someone to hug and hold on to them fully until both of you can both FEEL three full breaths. You have no idea what you are missing . . .