Hello Everyone,

“A primary goal in working with someone therapeutically, artistically, or educationally is to bring them into contact with their energy, that is, into the experience of their lived body.” – Richard Heckler

To sustain my career in the healing arts has required me to juggle the intensity of running a business (currently ‘Art Cures’ and The Creative High documentary film, which is a part-time job), supporting people in a therapy and coaching context, and my teaching work. On the outside it can look like a lot – but I have found that with proper self-care I have avoided burn-out and for the most part (never perfect) kept a solid work-life balance. 

I have a team of people who I lean in to through bodywork, receiving therapy and supervision, and Pilates classes. I walk, I garden, and spend time with my partner and friends. I also continue to attend recovery meetings which is a part of my spiritual practice. And, whenever I can I write, dance, and pick up the tools of expressive arts. 

Over the past few years, I’ve been dealing with back issues off and on, specifically sciatica which can be very uncomfortable and requires attention. When hitting a wall with the pain a few weeks ago, I decided to listen to my body through movement in the same vein that I guide others. After some mindful movement I created a drawing, and then wrote in response to my image.

One of the outcomes of this time with my body was a clear need for more interventions so I booked a session with a Feldenkrais practitioner which is a field of study that is very useful with injury. I always find wisdom when I slow down and pay attention to my felt sense in combination with the creative process. The expressive arts offers abundant resources. That is why I love the work that I do.

This expressive arts practice that I did derives from the Life/Art Process that I studied as a student (and later taught as faculty) at Tamalpa Institute, the internationally renowned movement based expressive arts therapy center. 

Here is a Life/Art exercise for you to engage with an injury, a body pain, or discomfort:

AN EXPRESSIVE ARTS EXERCISE:

If your body could speak, what would it say?

Movement Meditation:
– Carve out some quiet time without distraction. If you want music to accompany your movement, find something neutral that will allow you to be present with your inner experience. 

– Find a posture that feels best to you – laying down, sitting or standing. Then meditate on, i.e. listen to the part of you that is giving you pain or discomfort (a body part or specific sensation).

– As you pay attention, use your breath to help you focus on the physical discomfort and find a simple movement response. Allow the movement to be very subtle especially if there is injury. Follow your movement as long as it feels useful and you can keep focused (5 – 30 minutes).

– Are there any colors, shapes, images, words, emotions or memories that arise in the movement meditation? Use these impressions to inform your drawing. 

Drawing:
– When the movement is complete, gather drawing materials. If possible use color materials such as crayons, markers or oil pastels on newsprint or a sketch pad. Any size will do.

– Draw from the voice of the body part or sensation – using the impressions that surfaced during movement. Keep drawing with as little thought as possible, being inspired by the colors and energy of your hands and body as you create (anywhere from 10-30 minutes)

Writing:

When you are complete with your drawing, take out a journal and dialogue with the ‘keys’ of the image. The keys are the colors, shapes, images and textures in a drawing. You can work with one key or several keys:

From the voice of a key:
I am…
I want…
I need…
Pay close attention to the ‘I need’ statement as this will give you information on how to support and/or heal your body.

If you do the exercise and want to share your drawing and/or impressions with me, feel free to message me at adriana@art-cures.com.