Table of Contents
Foreword Chris Aiken xii
Entryways: An Introduction xiv
Preparations: Using the Text xxi
I Underlying Patterns and Perception
Day 1 Basic Concepts 3
Communication is inherent-every person communicates.
To Do: Basic Standing Posture 4
To Write: The Story of Your Name 4
Day 2 Attitudes 5
Attitudes affect our actions and our interactions.
To Do: Noticing Breath 8
To Write: What Do I Care About and Why? 8
Day 3 Underlying Patterns: Biology 9
Our family of origin extends back in time to the planet itself.
Evolutionary Timeline 12
To Do: Pouring the Fluid Body 12
To Write: Family Pet 13
Day 4 Underlying Patterns: Biography 15
Personal story begins in the womb and continues to this day.
To Do: Inner Observer 18
To Write: Bodystory 19
Day 5 Perception 20
We perceive the world as we are.
To Do: Full Body Scan 25
To Write: Three Things 27
II Foundational Skills
Day 6 Arriving and Orientation 31
Arriving is a process.
To Do: Feeding the Tonic System 34
To Write: I Noticed, I Didn't Notice 35
Day 7 Alignment 36
Alignment is relationship, not position.
To Do: Three Body Weights 42
To Write: My Stance 43
Day 8 Breath and Voice 44
Breath is exchange. We share it with others.
To Do: Audible Sigh 50
To Draw and Write: My Voice 51
Day 9 Balancing the Nervous System 53
The nervous system governs our actions and reactions.
To Do: Practicing Presence 61
To Write: Differentiating the Nervous System 62
Terminology 62
Day 10 Dancing with the Endocrine System Shruthi Mahalingaiah 63
The endocrine system is a continuous communication loop.
To Do: Elevated Pelvis (Yoga) 69
To Write: An Endocrinized Experience 70
III Modes of Communication
Day 11 Movement and Touch 73
Movement is our first language.
To Do: Knocking on the Door of Life (Qigong) 78
To Write: Layers of Touch 79
Day 12 Speaking and Listening 80
The dialogue between speaking and listening is a somatic exchange-we feel what we are saying and hearing.
To Do: Stand and Deliver 84
To Record and Write: Hearing Your Voice 84
Day 13 Writing and Reading Aloud 85
Writing is a process of putting words on a surface.
To Do: Journaling: Writing to Discover 90
To Write: Looking Back 90
Day 14 Embodying Digital Media and Filming Scotty Hardwig 91
Digital media affects how we think as well as how we interact.
To Do: Filming from Center 97
To Write: Unpacking the Mediated Experience 97
Digital Profile: Who Am I Online? 98
Day 15 Art-Making and Imagining 99
Every innovative project is a creative project.
To Do: Inhibiting Your Inhibitions 105
To Write: Inspiration 106
IV Enhancing Authenticity
Day 16 Face and Expression 109
The face is a signature, an indicator, and a communicator.
To Do: Exploring Your Face 114
To Make and Write: Magic Masks 115
Day 17 Energy and Vitality Rich Wolfson 116
Energy is that invisible substance that activates human life from first breath to last.
To Do: Modulating Tone 120
To Write: High-Voltage Writing 121
Day 18 Humor and Laughter April Danyluk 122
Humor saves us.
To Do: Inviting Levity-Flying (Qigong) 127
To Write: Remember the Time… 127
Day 19 Resistance and Relationship 128
With Chris Aiken Resistance to change is part of being human.
To Do: Facing a Wall 133
To Write: Talking Shoes 133
Day 20 Sensations and Emotions Mary Abrams 134
They are real, those moments of activation related to emotion.
To Do: Fierce Tiger (Qigong) 138
To Write: E-Motion 139
V Experiencing Interconnectivity
Day 21 Vision and Insight 143
Vision is how we see.
To Do: Refreshing Seeing 148
To Write: Seeing and Being Seen 149
Day 22 Identity and Fluidity Nükhet Kardam 150
Identity includes how we perceive ourselves and how we are perceived by others.
To Do: Identity Shield 156
To Write: Borders and Boundaries 156
Day 23 Spirituality and Embodiment 157
Spirituality is ever-present
To Do: Bringing Down the Heavens (Qigong) 164
To Write: Ecstatic States 165
Day 24 Rest and Restoration 166
Rest involves yielding.
To Do: Constructive Rest 171
To Write: Restoration (Yield or Collapse) 172
Day 25 Food and Ritual 173
Nourishment and nurturance are interwoven.
To Do: Activating Digestive Fire (Qigong) 181
To Write: Food Stories 181
VI Somatic Practices
Day 26 Mind and Mindfulness 185
Mind is a process, not a thing.
To Do: Seated Meditation 191
To Write: Opposite Voice 192
Performance Text: Awakening Grace-Mind 192
Day 27 Body-Mind Centering® 194
Introduction Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen
Vie Body-Mind Centering approach to embodied movement and consciousness is an ongoing, experiential journey.
To Do: Touching and Being Touched-Locating the Organs 198
To Write: Organ Expressivity 199
Day 28 The Discipline of Authentic Movement 200
Introduction Janet Adler
Authentic Movement is a transformative process grounded in the relationship between a mover and a witness.
To Do: Eyes-Closed Moving 203
To Write: Five Qualities of Your Inner Witness 204
Day 29 An Introduction to Qigong Lee Holden 205
Qigong means skillful energy.
To Do: Bamboo in the Wind (Qigong) 209
To Write: Reflecting on Qigong 209
Day 30 Body and Earth Caryn McHose 211
Body and Earth connects body systems and earth systems.
To Do: Thresholds 215
To Do and Write: Place Scan 215
VII Personal Project
Day 31 Your Chapter 219
Having a vision and moving it through to completion is a process.
To Do: Ten Embodiment Landmarks 221
To Write: Author's Bio 222
Acknowledgments 225
Notes 227
Selected Bibliography and Video Resources 235
Subject Index 237
Art Index 245
