"'Tis The Season"'?

There's a kind of holiday season we all should aspire to, right?! 

If we are guided by history, society, mainstream and social media we are expected to have something close to a Hallmark special. Lots of red and green. Lots of laughter and joy. Lots of gift giving and smiles. Lots of eating and drinking. Lots of love and togetherness.

I truly hope you experience all of the above because it sounds glorious, doesn’t it?


However, even the romanticized version of the holidays above can make one feel all sorts of conflicting feelings, so I encourage you to not just get wrapped up in the ‘social media’ presentational version of the holidays but to actually experience ALL of it.


As you head into the holidays, I want to remind you of the power of your breath.

 

If you experience tremendous joy -Allow a breath 

If you feel overwhelmed - Allow a breath

If you feel anxious - Allow a breath

If you feel content - Allow a breath

 

Notice how I write ‘Allow’ and not ‘Take’. 

To “take a breath” means that you're  DOING breathing which is effortful. By “allowing” a breath, you're giving yourself over to your body. Relax and allow your body to silently take in whatever air it wants. It should be silent if there is truly no effort behind it. 


Even as I type this, my mouth is relaxed and I’m allowing air in and out and it’s helping me to be fully PRESENT and focussed on the task at hand. 

That is what is required of us when in a scene or song too. We are required to be physically, mentally and emotionally available and present in every single moment. The holidays are a really good time to secretly practice that. 


If your Granny is telling a joke around the dinner table, relax your jaw and allow a breath in and out so that you are fully present to that moment. 


Please don’t think of this as something that I’m telling you to succeed at or to accomplish. It’s the easiest thing ever and there’s no getting it wrong. Consider this a gift from me to you as opposed to a chore. 


Now. Allow a breath. 


Do that a few times a day and be proud that you're still working on your skills as an actor even when not in class or coaching. 


I hope this holiday season is filled with love and joy and good times for you. If the holidays are, or become challenging for you for whatever reason, just know that you are valued, respected and admired within Mark Evans Studio and much like a breath, all moments come and go. 


Look after yourselves and as always,


Keep up the great work


Mark 

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