1. GENERAL HEADING: Voice and Body Exercises
2. TITLE OF EXERCISE: "The Prayer Stretch"
3 GOALS: To place the breath and allow it to find its natural position;
to open the entire ribcage around the center of the body; to allow the diaphragm
to freely move in and out; to activate all muscles that support the outward
breath; to build breath capacity.
4. NUMBER OF STUDENTS: Any.
5. EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES: None.
6. CLASS TIME NEEDED: 5 - 10 Minutes
7. STEP-BY-STEP-DESCRIPTION:
- Start in the prayer position. That is, get down on your hands and
knees, then allow your bottom to collapse onto your feet with your arms
relaxed along the sides of your body.
- Let your forehead or a side of your face lean all the way forwards,
resting on the floor in front of you. Feel comfortable without any strain,
breathing in and out. You should feel the intake of breath reaching and
stimulating the muscles in your back, sides, diaphragm and abdomen.
- Next roll onto one side and curl into a fetal position and breathe.
Straighten up to kneeling and roll onto the other side. Breathe again.
- Now lie on your back and hug your knees to your chest and breathe.
Release your legs and return them to the floor and rest. When ready and
rested return to your feet and back to center.8. POINTS FOR OBSERVATION,
DISCUSSION: N.A.
9. SOURCE/REFERENCE: Patsy Rodenburg's The Right to Speak, NYC:
Routledge, 1992.
10. ADDITIONAL READING: N.A.
11. VARIATIONS: N.A.