Yoga For Actors
Being an actor, or performer of any kind, is hard. Drama School, if you are lucky enough to go, is rigorous and challenging, and then you graduate into an industry infamously competitive. You face what feels like constant rejection after putting your heart and soul into audition after audition, whilst often maintaining your income with casual work in hospitality, ushering or temping whilst hustling in what should be your time off. It often feels like you’ll never great a break, and the vast majority of the time, ‘being an actor’ doesn’t feel very creatively fulfilling. I know this, because this was me!
So how do you maintain your emotional and physical wellbeing as a performer?
For me? Yoga. I began my practice during Drama School and it very quickly became an essential element of my self-care.
Yoga is an ancient practice that is so much more than a physical exercise. It is a philosophy; a way of life that encourages a connection between the mind, body and spirit.
Some people encounter Yoga during their actor training, but if you’ve never done it before, here’s how it can help you:
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Increased physical fitness, strength and flexibility. This is essential in being ‘performance ready’ and fit enough to do 8 shows a week, but also just important for your health and wellbeing.
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Mind- body connection. This is essential for movement, but also for emotionally embodying characters (and being able to ‘let them go’ at the end of a show!)
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Breath. You know the breath is important for voice work, but it is also integral to a yoga practice and can therefore improve your vocal ability. The breathing exercises in yoga can also help to calm you; great for pre-audition nerves!
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Mindfulness. Yoga can give you tools to manage and process emotions in a healthier way, through meditation, breathing, journalling... there are many techniques! These can help you to manage the ‘ups and downs’ of life in the arts.
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A yoga class is a non-competitive, non performative environment. Yoga is about you, where you’re at, and not about comparing or competing with anyone else! It really doesn’t matter if you can’t do a headstand! Yoga provides a space for you to take care of yourself as a person, not just an actor.
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I believe that there are A LOT of performers out there who need this practice, but I know that as a freelancer in the arts, money is sometimes a barrier (again, been there!). Therefore I offer a 15% Discount on 1:1 Yoga classes for Drama School students and Equity members. If you would like more information please see here or drop me an email!
If you are an theatre company or training institution interested in bringing in yoga for your actors/ performers, please get in touch. I am Midlands based but am able to travel.