INTENSIVE PSYCHOPHYSICAL WORKSHOPS

Introduction: Making the Body All Eyes

These intensive workshops teach focus, concentration, discovery and use of energy, and bodymind integration through Asian martial/meditation arts including Chinese t'ai chi ch'uan (Wu style), and traditional South Indian hatha yoga and the closely related South Indian martial art, kalarippayattu. The workshop explores bodymind connections in movement work and through focus on the breath. Emphasis is on repetition of basic psychophysiological forms including

• beginning tai chi ch'uan exercises (short-form Wu style)
• basic hatha yoga
• and kalarippayattu:
  • animal poses (vadivu)
  • leg kicks (kal etupp)
  • combined floor exercises (meippayattu)
  • the kalari vanakkam
  • weapons forms (for intermediate/advanced students only)

Through these beautiful, fluid movement forms, the work is of equal use to those involved in dance, theatre, martial/meditation arts, or anyone interested in unlocking the body's natural flow and internal energy. Through a series of structured improvisations, practical bridges are created between work on forms and healing/integrated movement.

Intensive training is offered in residential workshops regularly scheduled at the permanent Tyn-y-parc C.V.N. Kalari/Studio in Llanarth, West Wales [Click on West Wales Kalari/Studio for specific information], at workshops or classes in London, and at other regional centres being developed throughout the U.K., Europe (Graz, Austria), and the U.S. (Madison, Wisconsin).

Phillip Zarrilli often teaches intensive workshops on invitation throughout the world including recent workshops at the London International Workshop Festival, the Centre for Performance Research (Wales), Passe Partout (Netherlands), Gardzienice Theatre (Poland), Theatre Asou (Austria), Trinity College (Ireland), National School of Drama (India), National School for the Performing Arts (Korea), Seoul International Theatre Festival (Korea), National Theatre of Greece Summer Academy and Esalen Institute (USA) among many others. [For information on how to organize an intensive workshop, contact Phillip Zarrilli directly: P.Zarrilli@exeter.ac.uk].

THE WORKSHOPS/TRAINING:
‘making the body all eyes’

Intensive training and workshops teach focus, concentration, discovery and use of inner energy (prana or prana-vayu, and sakti), and bodymind integration through Asian martial/meditation arts including Chinese t’ai chi ch’uan (Wu style), and traditional South Indian hatha yoga and the closely related South Indian martial art, kalarippayattu. Training as well as intensive workshops focus on the breath, and movement integrated with and through breath. Emphasis is on repetition of basic psychyophysiological forms at beginning, intermediate, as well as advanced levels in order to access "stillness at the centre" and eventually allow the body to "become all eyes"--an optimal level of intuitive awareness/consciousness. Through these beautiful, fluid movement forms, the work is of equal use to those involved in dance, theatre, martial/meditation arts, or anyone interested in unlocking the body’s natural flow and internal energy.

Zarrilli’s training and workshops usually empahsize and provide opportunities to apply the principles and training to performance. Application to performance circumstances takes places through a series of structured improvisations. The work is then further applied to work on texts such as plays by Samuel Beckett, Ota Shogo’s Station trilogy, etc., or in individual coaching sessions.

Intermediate and advanced training/workshops teach advanced sequences, and weapons work, beginning with staff, then progressing through short-stick (ceruvadi), otta, dagger, sword and shield, mace, etc.

WHAT IS KALARIPPAYATTU?

Kalarippayattu is rooted in the ancient Indian "sciences" of war (Dhanur Veda), "life" (Ayurveda), and yoga. By the 12th century A.D. kalarippayattu emerged as the distinctive traditional martial/healing art of Kerala, South India. Kalarippayattu combines beautiful, yet dynamic and powerful forms of yoga-based bodymind training and solo-forms with intermediate and advanced weapons and empty-hand combat techniques, and a complete massage and healing system to make it a "complete" martial/healing/meditation system. In its own unique way, kalarippayattu joined elements of the most ancient martial systems of North and South India, as well as the spiritual traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islamic Sufism. The training begins and ends with the breath, and then moves through a variety of exercises in order to access "stillness at one’s centre," and eventually allows the body to "become all eyes." Long-term training promotes excellent fitness and health, awareness, concentration, and a "fighting spirit"--a unification of body, mind, and ‘heart’. Practice has the potential to activate the yogic subtle body, contributes to circulation of the internal energy, and can lead to healthful congruence of Ayurveda’s "body of humors and saps".

This beautiful, fluid form of bodymind training should be of equal interest to those involved in dance, theatre, martial/meditation arts, or anyone interested in unlocking the body’s natural flow and internal energy. Some courses emphasize application of psychophysical training to acting, dance, and performance work through structured improvisations and/or application to dramatic texts/action.

Northern Style emphasizes repetition of basic psychophysiological forms closely related to yoga, and including: animal poses (vadivu); leg kicks (kal etupp); combined bodymind exercises (meippayattu); the kalari vanakkam (salutation to the deities with the body); and (in intermediate/advanced courses) weapons practice (long-staff, short stick, otta, dagger, sword and shield, spear, mace).

Southern Style emphasizes empty hand forms and techniques for basic self defence training and bodymind coordination. It includes more upright stances, and students learning this style are immediately involved in attacking and/or defending in four basic directions. [For those interested in studying this style, they should contact John Cassie (see below) who teaches in the London area.]

Massage and Treatments

Kalarippayattu’s special full-body massage is also regularly offered, especially during residential courses in West Wales. Given with the feet while holding onto ropes suspended from the ceiling, this is a very intensive and deep form of massage which stimulates the interior subtle body (as defined by yoga), clears the interior "channels" (nadi), and helps unlock the "serpent energy" (kundalini sakti) within. The massage is given for at least three days, but more typically and beneficially for periods of five, seven, or fourteen days. Those who undergo the massage must be continuing students dedicated to ongoing study of the art, and be in excellent physical condition. A less strenuous ‘general health’ form of massage, or a hand-massage is also available.

HATHA YOGA

Emphasizing work with the breath and focus, basic yoga asanas and yoga stretching provide a consistent and excellent warm-up prior to practicing kalarippayattu in cold climates.

TAI CHI CH’UAN

Short form of the Chinese martial art, Wu style t’ai chi ch’uan, emphasizes coordination of breath with movement, centering, balance, and subtle use of energy. The full form is only taught during extended training in a long-term course of study. Workshops often make use of the beginning form as a part of preliminary training for awareness and use of breath. In longer-term training the full form can be taught. The total short-form lasts approximately 15-20 minutes.

Recent FEEDBACK FROM PARTICIPANTS

"a wonderful opportunity to be taught by an individual whose knowledge and enthusiasm is an inspiration"
London, IWF 2000

"the emphasis on psychophysical training linked to the breath has given me a key to understanding my own process as a performer that will inform and enrich my further work"
London, IWF 2000

"fantastic, inspiring, and encouraging"
London, IWF 2000