Walking on two legs is what distinguishes us from our primate cousins and this physical skill led to our two species taking different paths - literally. Though it has been a stress and strain on our bodies, walking is largely responsible for our unique success as a species.
People walk in many different ways and how we walk can tell others a lot about who we are. Our confidence, our mood, our status, our attitude and our energy levels. When under threat from attack males will try to make them selves look taller, bigger and wider. When trying not to draw attention to themselves a person can make them selves appear smaller and insignificant.
If you've never thought about the way you move before you can begin to explore the physical dimension of bodily movement by trying the following exercises inspired by the great movement artist and analyst Rudolph Von Laban.
While moving around, going about your daily routines try:
Shape –Opening and Closing
Make your walk wider or narrower by widening or narrowing the gait of your walk and swing your arms further away and closer to your body. Then make your walk higher or lower by walking on tiptoe or slouching. Make the walk deeper by taking larger steps and exaggeratedly swinging your arms forward and back. How does this affect your mood?
Time –Quick and Sustained
Simply move faster and slower using different rhythms and energy levels.
Weight - Strong and Light
Explore how much energy it takes to create light or heavy movement by stomping and gliding around. If you dare, try a subtle version in public and notice how your movement affects you and others around you.
Space – Direct and Indirect
Feel how much energy and effort is required to quickly move in a straight direction and then suddenly change your trajectory. Then slowly amble around in an erratic way and feel how your energy and emotions are affected.
Flow – Bound and Free
Explore the energy required to tense and relax different parts of your body as you move around. For example- clench your fists, hunch your shoulders, clench your jaw, hold your limbs together, dip your head and hold it down. Then release your muscles and try and let your limbs hang loosely.
Again, notice how it makes you feel.
Does it change the way you think?
Use the categories above to help you identify how other people move and what messages they communicate simply by 'walking' into a room.
Notice movement that appeals to you. What is it about the style of certain people's movement that makes you feel a certain way - positive and negative- and think about how you might model their positive movements to achieve a similar impact?
Good luck and have fun playing in the physical dimension.
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