Pushpanjali Sharma | Lesley University (original) (raw)

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Papers by Pushpanjali Sharma

This paper is written to reflect on the research undertaken on Somatic Theory and Practice. The r... more This paper is written to reflect on the research undertaken on Somatic Theory and Practice. The research for the same began with looking into the interdisciplinary nature of somatics and dance. In that I came to understand how somatics came to be developed as a field, who the pioneers are and what are its prime characteristics and scope. This study is primarily influenced by the theoretical research of the work of Dr. Martha Eddy, Glenna Batson, Thomas Hanna and Don Hanlon Johnson. All of them are researchers, teachers and practitioners in the field who have developed and lead educational programs in the same.

Through their work I have been able to understand the following- how to define the soma and its process of self-regulation and self-sensing, the function of the sensory-motor system as the heart of the somatic process, the primordial patterns of the soma in relation to the pattern of the cosmos, principle of synergy and efficiency, volitional control over the self versus sensory/motor amnesia and maladaptive conditioning, benefits of somatic practices in increasing human potential and how it can enhance the experience of life, the role of the practitioner, the principle of the self-image v/s the public body and concluding with the transformative potential housed in the body to influence personal and social change.
The research conducted for this paper stands to back the realizations that I made in my reflective paper documenting practical research undertaken at the Movement Research MELT intensive; The intensive was a diverse mix of different characteristics integral to somatic practices such as Alexander Technique, Ideokinesis, Rolfing and Feldenkrais and employed techniques of body work, constructive rest, study of anatomy, visualization and imagery, guided somatic exercises, exploration of space and time, attention to proprioceptive and interoceptive signals.
In this paper I readdress some of the personal realizations of practical research from the movement research paper and contextualize it in the theoretical study of the field. I also draw on my personal experience over the years to further substantiate the same. The scope of the somatic practices is diverse, as the soma is a reflection of the being in its entirety with no separation of body-mind, physical-psychological. I find that somatic practices offer us a chance to relook into our current strategies towards ourselves, and how we choose to relate to life. It helps us make new connections within our bodies, offers us time to observe the effectiveness of new strategies, pathways and possibilities. It creates time and space for the mind-body to make its most productive choice in harmony with the conditions in the given moment and so the work carries the potential to influence a transformation of the self at every level.

This paper is written to reflect on the MELT intensive workshop series organized by Movement Res... more This paper is written to reflect on the MELT intensive workshop series organized by Movement Research, that I attended from Jan 6th- Jan 24th 2014, at Gibney Dance Centre located within one of New York’s busiest and well-known dance and theatrical buildings right next to Union Square, which is also home to the American Ballet Theatre company.
“MELT Intensives are a series of daily workshops in technique, somatics, improvisation, composition and other areas offered each summer (5 weeks) and winter (3 weeks). Taught by Movement Research’s internationally recognized faculty as well as acclaimed guest artists, these workshops provide students with the unique opportunity to engage with some of the most highly regarded and innovative artists in the field of dance today.” (Retrieved from http://www.movementresearch.org/classesworkshops/melt/)
When I signed up for this intensive I instinctually felt that this intensive was going to open the door to possibilities that I had been seeking to explore, both in terms of my artistic as well as my scholarly pursuits. In my opinion this workshop surpassed my expectation by introducing me to a variety of different somatic approaches that can help the artist/student explore and research themselves.
To summarize, these workshops introduced me to various tools and approaches that are characteristic to the field of somatic education. Through this intensive I got to taste and try out for myself little bites from various schools of somatic practices such as Alexander Technique, Ideokinesis, Rolfing, Feldenkrais etc. The facilitation method used by the teachers in their respective classes was informed by one or more of these schools; as well as incorporated various other tools, exercises, philosophies and systems of inquiry that cater to the mind-body practices. The intensive was a diverse mix of different characteristics integral to somatic practices such as body work, constructive rest, body awareness, visualization and imagery, guided somatic exercises, ease of movement, locating support within the body, relationship to gravity, exploration of space and time, attention to pro-prioceptive and interioceptive signals etc.
When I applied for my Masters program at Lesley, I had laid down for myself a goal to be able to research and uncover for myself the scope of spiritual as well as somatic practices, to help the individual increase his creative potential; as well as enhance his experience of life. This intensive has opened up a pathway to make this goal a reality. This paper will reflect on somatic theory and practice in the classes of Gwen Welliver, Chris Aiken and Eva Karczag individually in three different sections, as each of their classes brought out very distinct ideas, thoughts and reflections. Three tables are placed at the end of this paper for further reference, to outline exercises and themes that were a part of their classes.

Drafts by Pushpanjali Sharma

The focus of this integrative thesis project is to diversify the scope of somatic education to se... more The focus of this integrative thesis project is to diversify the scope of somatic education to serve research, performance art and life and to develop a fused epistemology of theory and practice to bridge the gap between experientialtheoretical, subjective-objective and abstract-concrete knowledge. It is significant as it adds to the field of embodied studies and to alternative methods for education, research and practice. The work is grounded in interdisciplinary research (practical and theoretical) in the field of somatics, phenomenology, and dance, and draws support from practices such as embodied-writing, performance-writing, and somaticperformative research. A new method of somatic-performative inquiry was developed within an innovative chapter that exhibits an example of the same. Also a course was developed, entitled "Beyond Frames-Without Masks," as a Transformative Somatic-Performative Intensive experience, and seven individuals participated in the pilot run in Bangalore, India. Implications for future include: a new method of self-education, self-knowing, and self-expression; inclusion of a unified perspective of mind-body; primacy of movement; collaboration between somatics and performance; and, an autotelic process-oriented approach and research.