Exercise - Head Shoulders Knees and Toes

Head, shoulders, knees and toes..

You know that kids game, kids rhyme we should all be familiar with…

If you start with the head…think of your breath…in through the nose, out through the mouth

Shoulders in place, not rising

knees…soft, bouncing out over your feet

Toes…clench, unclench, clench unclench

I’ll share with you now one of the key techniques on dynamics that i learned at The Guildhall and when preparing for for the many rehearsals, performances and solo film shoots ever since.

It’s based upon using opposites in order to find a natural place of rest.

We’re going to use the phrase from earlier in the course

Welcome Everybody…Believe Me…I’ve got to share this now…because this one’s for you mate

Start by breathing as quickly as you can (without fainting) and then try saying the line.

Now slowly in through the nose and out through the mouth.

Now take a big deep breath and raise the shoulders as high as you can….and say the line. You should notice the discomfort this brings

Tighten your knees - keep them as stiff as possible. In fact, go into the power stance

I think they got the idea from Blackadder

Before we go on, I want to say that I like a lot of what’s going on with the hands here….connected, live, asynchronous…lots to be said for it…but the stance…

“Aha…”

Terrible…mainly because you could be knocked over.

Our fight teacher taught us that…you want balance. You want to be ready.

Try all four things….

• Terribly quick breathing through the mouth
• Shoulders rising up and down
• Knees clenched so tight you could be a power stancing politician
• Toes clenched to the point of cramp

Feels awful doesn’t it?

So notice that we’ve not simply said

Relax, you can do it…just relax Put your shoulders back Try to sound less monotone

We’ve deliberately gone to a point of discomfort.

There’s nothing wrong with discomfort…because you can deal with it.

• Head free and breathing centred
• Shoulders free and not rising up with the breathing…if you want, put a hand on your tummy so you can feel that pushing in and out, rather than your shoulders rising up
• Knees soft, not clenched, bounce them over your feet a few times and then rest
• Feet and toes relaxed not clenched

A natural point of rest

If you want, check out Alexander Technique…that whole mantra was taught to me as…

Neck Free

Head Up and Out

Spine to Lengthen

Back to Widen

Knees lightly forward

I’ll finish on this…in 25 years of sales training, i have only twice tried to do a group session teaching these techniques.

Both times ended in a lot of sniggering and failed completely.

And yet, with the very same people, I have done one-to-ones…and of course run the Acting Skills for Business People Courses and helped business people prepare for big speeches at conference…and it goes across a little better.

If you can help develop your performance technique with skills like Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, you will stand out from the crowd.

You will feel the power of your natural charisma start to come through…in your communication all round.

Trust me. It works.

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