5 Logical Reasons | Why Every Actor Should Take Yoga

Yoga exercises for actors to improve acting performance

How To resolve Actor's Dilemma of Audition and On Camera Scene Filming Performance Problems

Tension,  Anxiety, Fear, Nervousness, Dryness of mouth, trembling of hands, Forgetting lines, Breathlessness, Bad Dialog Delivery

 

An actor should develop a regular yoga practice.

Fact 1.

Yoga helps the body and its muscles to respond with my emotions to enlighten acting performance

It's like practicing something since childhood, for example, a particular sport, game, hobby or the habit of daily rituals using different parts of our body. As we do these things repeatedly, it becomes our habit and we don't have to think or make a conscious effort to do it. The habit then becomes a natural reactive response to a stimulus
Yoga works the same way. By different yoga exercises, the muscles of different parts of our body starting from forehead to toe becomes free and respond automatically and instantly accompanying  our actions. So, when an actor walks into an audition, his/her performance is a response from his/her entire acting instrument ie body and mind rather than from just a part of the acting instrument

Fact 2. 

Yoga helps my brain care less

As an actor, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be in a character of the story/ script. Our minds get clogged. We try hard to perform well  worrying whether or not we would get the role. This may chain us to our thoughts and anxiety. Specific yoga exercises for actors relaxes calms our minds and  helps them let go of the person they think they're supposed to be. Then they can focus on and love who they are. This lets them work from the beginning up and be creative instead of having their head in the clouds.

Fact 3.

Yoga helps to breathe correctly to relax and create a confidence minutes before audition

Before an audition or while filming a scene, many actors feel forced faster breathing full of anxiety. This results in a poor dialog delivery or breaking of a long emotional dialog with pauses when it should not be.  Yoga gives them tools to work with their breath that acting classes never have. It’s so powerful to realize when you feel a normal relaxed breathing. A normal breathing helps actors to use the full potential of their voice and deliver dialog powerfully without any interruptions.

Fact 4. 

Yoga reminds me acting is a practice

Yoga has played a huge role in a number of cultures for thousands of years. It doesn’t belong to anyone and it deserves our respect. It makes us realize that if you practice anything (of course, “good”) regularly, it becomes our habit. This learned knowledge from Yoga will always remind
us to continue practicing acting craft till we die!
We can do this by regularly taking refresher courses in acting schools, with our acting coach or participating in various acting workshops
If I want to deepen my yoga practice I have to make it a necessity to my daily life. Now reread this little blurb and replace “yoga” with acting/performance.

Fact 5. 

Yoga helps me give thanks for my acting abilities and practice

At the end of each yoga practice, I would suggest a little prayer to yourself thanking the universe for giving me the opportunity to do yoga. Please carry this Thanking Yoga habit after exercise and especially  before every performance or class.  Close your eyes for  a second and give thanks to Yoga for the opportunity to experience my acting art. It feels good to be grateful for things that help you feel good!

8 Simple Yoga Exercises For Actors At Home

(Click to know the steps in each pose)

Wanna A Top Body To Enter Films? 1 Exercise 4 Minutes 1 Month

Bollywood Star Actor Hrithik Roshan In a 'Plank Workout' With His Mother, Pinky

• Do You have A Poor Body  And A Sick Look?
• Poor Confidence?
• Apprehensive Of Audition Rejections?
• Are You Meeting One Of The Prime Success Requirements For An Actor-

"A Good Body"?

• Can't Meet Big Fees Of Top Gyms?
• No?

 I can Understand Your Difficulty

Don't Worry. I Have A Secret Tested Simple Formula-A Solution For Your Plight

No Gym! No Expensive Tools! No Big Space, Indoor or Outdoor! Quick Results 

This Is All It Will Take To Transform You To Be A Hunk Or A Hot Sexy Actor!

4 Minutes A Day For 30 Days! 

Before I reveal the secret and the importance of “Plank Exercises” for an actor, the truth of the matter is that in order to have a perfectly sculpted body, you need to get your food intake under control and exercise.
Spend more calories than you take in every single day. 

But one exercise stands out from the rest

The Humble Plank

What is a Plank Exercise?

Look the position, in the picture,  below

A Plank Exercise Pose

Planking (Keeping your body just like a straight wooden board) is a simple but effective body weight exercise. Holding the body (light as a feather) stiff as a board develops strength primarily in the core—the muscles that connect the upper and lower body—as well as the shoulders, arms, and glutes.

You've probably may or may not have seen people doing this exercise and don't think too much of it. Too simple? Well, don't underestimate the power of the plank.

The plank exercise is one of the most effective out there because it strengthens both the shoulders and the abdominal region, as well as the legs.

Planks are also useful for helping burn off stubborn belly fat. Planking builds your core muscles, and muscles burn even more calories. This extra burn makes it easier to lose weight.

Planking is also wonderful because it is low impact. You're very unlikely to hurt yourself and you won't end up straining any of your muscles, joints, or ligaments.

But four minutes of planking must be pretty hard, right? Well, the fortunate thing is that we build our way up to it. The plank challenge adds just a few seconds most days.

You start at 20 seconds a day, move up to 30, 40, then 45 and so on. This allows your body to get used to the exercise and helps you get better at it. The longer you caPlanking (no, not that bizarre craze) is a simple but effective bodyweight exercise. Holding the body (light as a feather) stiff as a board develops strength primarily in the core—the muscles that connect the upper and lower body—as well as the shoulders, arms, and glutes.

This static exercise—meaning the body stays in one position for the entirety of the move—requires no equipment and can be performed just about anywhere (well, use your judgment). Find out how to perfect your plank and fix some of the most common planking mistakes with this guide.

Standard Plank Exercise

1. Plant the hands directly under the shoulders (slightly wider than shoulder-width apart) like you’re about to do a push-up.
2. Ground the toes into the floor and squeeze the glutes to stabilize the body. Your legs should be working on the move too; careful not to lock or extra-stretch your knees.
3. Neutralize the neck and spine by looking at a spot on the floor about a foot beyond the hands. Your head should be in line with your back.
4. Hold the position for 20 seconds. As you get more comfortable with the move, hold your plank for as long as possible without compromising form or breath.

What's The challenge?

There is no challenge. Planking is very simple.

You can begin with a single position for a month, later exercising with other positions which are mentioned in the links mentioned at the end of this post 

Here is your daily work out Plank Exercise Plan

This static exercise—meaning the body stays in one position for the entirety of the move—requires no equipment and can be performed just about anywhere (well, use your judgment). There are different positions of plank exercises. Find out what is convenient to you how to perfect your plank. But in opinion, you start with the standard one explained above for a month and then decide on practicing other positions.
Based on

More Plank Exercises 1
More Plank Exercises 2

Follow 8 Simple Tips And Practice Them To Be A Great Actor

Transforming beautifully into a character! Daniel Radcliffe as Arthur Kipps, a young lawyer in 'The Woman in Black'

Do You Know The Trick To Master Acting And Be A Great Actor?

Top Secret: Just Kick Yourself Out From 'YOU', Be Blank And Then Transform Into New Life! 

Acting, to be an actor, as I have has been making me free for a while and become somebody else who I will never be. It is like living an alternate life for a brief period of time. It is a terrible struggle and an opportunity to win over ‘ME’ (Whatever I’m), all my inhibitions, imposed by society, religion, customs and release myself from them.

Here are Undisclosed Tips for Beginners

1. Empty your mind

If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything, it is open to everything. In the beginner's mind there are many constraints, wandering mind, possibilities, but in the expert actor’s mind, there are none or few.
As the Zen masters say, if you try to fill a cup, which is already full, it will spill all over. To fill something new in a cup, first, it must be emptied.

Therefore, before a script and your character analysis, remove everything which is in your mind. Remove clutter and move with creating a new life (of your character)
Though may look difficult to throw away yourself from your body and mind and transform into a new ‘character’, not only me but hundreds of other actors have mastered this trick.

2. How to achieve this?

Practice relaxation techniques, including Yoga, self-hypnotism, and auto-suggestion
(If you don’t know how to do it, join our one on one coaching)

3. The fear of the camera, people and forgetting your lines

How to deal?

To deal with it and forget it: Concentrate on your role and think about nothing else. Learn to enjoy the location, crew, co-actors, lights, set, spotlights on the set and just do what you need to do! The fact is with your every performance you will get better at handling it. A little fright will always remain which is good and will keep you alert on a shoot.

4. Beware of Overacting or Faking Acting

Warning! What separates good actors from bad ones is their sincerity of emotion and belief in front of a camera. The audience can spot a phony actor right away! Good acting is not over-acting or mechanically saying lines. Words flow when real emotions bring them out of memory or imagination and it's not the other way round. Feel the emotion by identifying what triggers an emotion; connect with it, embrace it and words will then flow naturally.
An exception: to this rule is a “Star” who can fake it so beautifully that to an audience, it looks real. The other truth, in this case, is that the actor playing a character is audience favorite “Star” and that’s all matters to them

5. Belief and Creative Imagination for Acting

The acting is living a different life, as I said before. It is 'creating truth in an imaginary scene'. The audience is only going to believe that you are the person you are playing to be if you yourself believe that you are that person!
The actor must use his imagination to be able to answer all questions (when, where, why, how)

How to do it?

Learn the art of Observing:  watch carefully people of different attitudes, note the details, let your imagination run wild, and create a small story with dialogs and practice it. This way your imagination will improve considerably to help you to transform into a character you intend playing

"The actor has to develop his body. The actor has to work on his voice. But the most important thing the actor has to work on is his mind." - Stella Adler

6. Why to Repeatedly Read the Script?

To get to the soul of the story!
Read the script thoroughly. Then, read it yet again. Keep reading till you get to the soul of the story. Understand the script first and think about what the story writer has tried to say through the script. This a view from the outside. Then again read the story from the angle of the role you are playing.
Don’t hesitate! Ask the director what exactly you feel about the story and clarify your doubts. This is very important, as you need to understand the people, the surroundings, the time of the story and its message.

The Process

A. The father: The author of the story or screenplay or script
B. The mother: That’s you (actor) who is pregnant with the role inside
C. The child: The role (Character) to be born.
And finally
D. The doctor: The director who helps in role (child) birth

7. Lose Yourself in the Role but Stay Aware

On a character level you must become that “character” and get involved, but your awareness as 'YOU', an actor should also be there, all the time while performing. What I mean here is being aware of the limitations on a set, camera –position, shots, angles, width and length, blocking; lights, props and their uses, where the co-actors are and listening to them and reacting.
You got to have a “switch on-off” mechanism in your acting instrument (mind and body) which puts instantly into a “character” or an “actor” mode

8. Why to Enjoy Acting in Films?

Last but not the least, to do it right, you must enjoy the process! A very important part is bonding with your co-actors and developing good chemistry on a set with everybody. A film is a team job and you need to be a team player. The success of a role or a film is directly proportional to how much the team enjoyed while preparing! Keep learning and always have the passion of a beginner's mind and you will never cease to progress.
Based on

Can You Transform Instantly Into A Character? No? Learn

An actor's transformation into a character instantly

WARNING! This post is only for those who have a passion for being a star actor and just an actor

Are You Ready To Adapt Yourself Instantly Into A Convincing Character? 

No! Your Own "Self" is Your Enemy No 1

In our fast-moving film, television, and theater industry, we actors are continually asked for "quick results." We must be emotionally ready to transform into a new human being, learn our lines rapidly, and create our characters we intend portraying with all objectives and desires of a dynamic creature—all without much preparation time. Now more than ever, the deciding factor in a successful audition or performance is the actor's ability to get inspired at a moment's notice. After all, this inspiration or motivation and consequent instant transformation  lead to real, original, surprising, fresh performances.

How is such instant transformation into a new human being by getting inspired
readily achieved? 

We are born not as an actor but as a normal human being. We inherit genetic characteristics of our parents or ancestors which become a part of our “self'. For example color of the skin, color of eyes, voice, hair, height, walk, intelligence, posture etc. Secondly, as we grow up, we are taught how to live a life as practiced in our culture and family. We learn small things like brushing teeth, toilet habits, bathing, walking, language, social behavior and because we are taught and practice these thinks repeatedly, it becomes our habit and a part of our “Archetype” or “Self”. This gives us a life lesson as well that if we practice any good or a bad thing repeatedly, it becomes our habit.

This created “Self” of ourselves may become the biggest hurdle in creating a character, that too instantly, in spite of our ability to trigger inspiration and imagination.

This brings us to what great international actors use to develop and practice to be in a character for months together. The history of acting and actors has significant names of so-called “Method Actors” like:

• Daniel Day-Lewis. Actor, There Will Be Blood
• Christian Bale. Actor, The Dark Knight. ...
• Robert De Niro. Actor, Goodfellas. ...
• Heath Ledger. Actor, The Dark Knight. ...
• Jim Carrey. Actor, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. ...
• Joaquin Phoenix. Actor, Gladiator. ...
• Marlon Brando. Actor, The Godfather. ...
• Nicolas Cage. Actor, Leaving Las Vegas.

However, in today's scenario, this may be difficult, because of 2 reasons

1. The commercial reasons: You don't get script well in advance to allow you to create a character, shun your “self” and practice it for months.
2. You are not a star yet to get that privilege of “time” which a star may demand and get.

How can you refill a glass when it's already filled? It will get spilled. Or how can you write something new on a paper or a slate already full?  You just can't. The solution is, empty the glass first, or clean the  paper or slate first.

So, what an actor should do? 

Observe yourself keenly , everything you do, your mannerism, how you behave in the different life situation and note down
Learn how to neutralize yourself as what you are making yourself 'A blank' to create a new character
By practicing at least for an hour daily-weird movements, gestures, speech, posture, voice etc which are the part of your “self” create a “blank” a neutral person ready to adapt any new life.
Apart from learning Sanford Meisner's acting technique, I strongly recommend learning Michael Chekhov's acting technique (Join us to learn)

The basic learning step

Is to analyze the character in the script. Physical, mental and cultural profile. How and why he/she behaves, emotions, sensitivity etc. Just go on imaging and dreaming. In other words, create a character's physio-psychological profile.

 Exercises

(Note: Some of these exercises are based on Michael Chekhov Acting Techniques which has helped me as an actor and my students while learning how to free yourself and how be a star actor rather than just ann actor)

 1.Wide Movements

• Make a series of wide broad movements; utilizing whole body and space around you enact the following:
• Open yourself completely, expanded position, return to neutral, imagine yourself becoming larger and larger, repeat “I am going to awaken the sleeping muscles of my body, I am going to revivify and use them”
• Now close yourself, contracted position, kneel, cross arms and head to floor – imagine becoming smaller and smaller, wanting to disappear, space is shrinking around you
• Thrust body forward on one leg, stretch out arms; now make movement sideways and stretch on left and right side (like a blacksmith, beat a hammer upon an anvil)
• Make different well-shaped full movements: throwing stuff in different directions; lifting objects from the ground; holding it high above ground; dragging, pushing, and tossing – use sufficient strength, moderate tempo, avoid dancing, Breath, pause after each moment

Goals: freedom from “self”and versatility

2. Center in Chest

• Imagine there is a center of the chest from where all your emotions, feelings and reactions emerge. Though this may be difficult in the beginning imagining and thinking repeatedly may create this center which will be under your control. Imagine and feel that from this created center, you can sense external stimuli and are responding with natural physical and emotions reactions

Goals: smooth, graceful, artistic movement, creating different body types, overcome “self”-consciousness, experience strong feeling on camera or stage

3.  Molding

• Say to self “I'm a like a wet mold and a  sculptor, I mold myself in the space surrounding me, in the air around me I leave my form by the movements of my body”
• Create strong and definite forms – as if your body is changeable, a movable form
• Mold yourself any form- tree, animal, table, flower, an idiot, mad, man or woman of different emotions and attitudes you see around you using different parts of body
• Avoid unnecessary muscular tension
• Say to yourself “Every movement I make is a little piece of art, my body is a fine instrument for producing molding movements and creating form.  Through my body I convey my inner power and strength”

Goals: create forms in whatever you do.

4. Floating

Imagine and feel floating on water-sea, space, on moon

5. Flying

Against gravity, going up and up, coming down and down, imagine different types of birds and their flying habits and fly

6. Flowing

On river course(rough, still, whirlpool, calm, hitting against a rock and bouncing back), On sea waves

7. Beauty

• Think why a thing looks beautiful?
• How can I be beautiful and artistic in everything I do?
• Be conscious of everything you do and then do the same thing slowly and artistically for example- your walk, smile, movements of your body parts, picking up a glass, pen, paper...everything

8. Transformation

Imagine and Practice:

• A beggar..and now transformed into a prince
• You are an executive turned into a spider
• You are a young girl turned into an old witch
• You are a seed growing into a tree

9. Changing routine and habits

• Pick up any activity like brushing teeth, cleaning table, room, combing hair. Observe how you do it and now, change method or style of doing it, try to do the same thing artistically
• Speak or recite anything you do normally like prayer or speaking style. Now change its rhythm, volume, your gestures etc
• Your walk, sitting on a chair, in toilet etc. Now change it. Do it again and again

Well, the above are some of the exercises which if you practice, I'm sure will free yourself from “Self" and will make you the most dynamic, creative and easily adaptable actor into a convincible new character.

To learn Michael Acting Technique and then how to create a free body and mind by developing your own acting style, join us 

5 Top Easy Solo Home Exercises To Improve Acting Skills

Solo Exercises for actors at home

1. Just Breathe!

It is a common belief that we breathe with our lungs alone, but in point of fact, the work of breathing is done by the whole body. The lungs play a passive role in the respiratory process. Their expansion is produced by an enlargement, mostly downward, of the thoracic cavity and they collapse when that cavity is reduced. Proper breathing involves the muscles of the head, neck, thorax, and abdomen. It can be shown that chronic tension in any part of the body's musculature interferes with the natural respiratory movements.
When the breath wanders the mind also is unsteady. But when the breath is calmed the mind too will be still... Therefore, one should learn to control the breath.

So, let's start

• Sit comfortably on a chair
• Inhale deeply till your chest is full
• Hold breath for as long as you can
• Exhale and release very slowly till your lungs are empty
• Repeat 10 times. 

2. Vocal and voice development

Speak each of the following group of lines 10 times

• Start with slow speed and then increase spoken speed
• Starting with low volume (pitch or note) and then raising it higher to your maximum level (in higher octaves), for example as in "Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Paa, Dha, Nee, Saa" and then in reverse

A.
The sixth sick sheikh's sixth sheep's sick.
She sits and shines shoes,
And when she sits she shines all day
B.
My sister Shreshtha went to sea
To see the sea, you see.
The sea she saw was a saucy sea,
A sort of saucy sea saw she.
C.
A big black bug bit a big black bear
and the big black bear bled blood.
D.
Any noise annoys an owl,
but a noisy noise annoys an owl most.
E.
Red lorry, yellow lorry, yellow lorry red lorry
Red leather, yellow leather, yellow leather red leather
F.
Whether the weather be cold,
Or whether the weather be hot,
Whatever the weather, we'll weather the weather,
Whether we like it or not.

3. Self-conversation on mirror

Have a conversation with yourself in the mirror. It may sound a little crazy, but you'll notice lots of thing about yourself you can work on; Nervous twitches, unattractive expressions. It's a great method for improving your monologues and overall acting.
Vocal Exercises
Vocal exercises would be good. Work on your enunciation and resonance. For voice work, you should purchase "The Actor Speaks" by Rodenburg .
Our recommended voice development exercises are mentioned here
         

4. Rolling your body and its parts

This is an essential exercise for actors to develop a free body to use it the way you want as a required gesture to accompany emotions while portraying a character who may be totally different than you and your own set physical expressions

• Rolling your eyeballs and eyebrow in clock and anti-clockwise direction
• Rolling your mouth )including lips), same as above, producing loud weird sounds
• Rolling your head in clock and anti-clockwise direction
• Stretch your hands in the front and roll your hands and fingers(from wrist) clock and anti-clockwise, keeping your elbow stretched 
• Rolling your shoulders front(clockwise) and backward(anti-clockwise direction)
• Rolling your waist clock and anti-clockwise like a dancer
• Sit on a chair and cycle your kick and do the same with your feet below ankle

Note: Practice each one of the above a for minimum of 10 times. You can go on increasing the number of times

5.  Developing facial and hands gesture to strengthens emotions

Three Phone calls and your response

Create the character

In this exercise, you are in your domain either getting ready to leave or settling back from being out. You will make or receive three phone calls. Each call needs to be very different, with a different point of view and tone, to three different people. You are in these phone calls while in the “doing”, meaning you are doing something during the call. Create and cast the person's role (like brother, mother, policeman, driver, your teacher, lover etc.), and hear their side of the conversation. Immerse yourself in the call, hear them, respond to them, and complete the call. As you complete the call you continue your activity and move on to the second call, either one you make or receive. A second phone call with another person with a different life…. Then a third call. When finished, you leave or go back to your activity.
Notes:
Create and cast people that you can create a genuine emotion with. Listen to them. Take your time. Make them important, and be creative. Find something that you can authentically connect to. Do this while “in the doing.” You are doing something or getting ready to go somewhere. This exercise is about specifics, activity, and living truthfully in the moment. Review the calls – are you being real or “stiff”? Authentic? Phony?
Give the phone calls contrast. These should be people you have a very different emotional point of view about. Show us your range. Don’t make them all the same. Keep each call to no more than 2 minutes. Practice, time yourself and rehearse with yourself.

Example:

I get home and am getting ready for bed, and see that I have a message. I listen to the message; it’s my mother… again. I return the call. She’s complaining about something. I feel guilty and irritated when I speak to her. I talk with her for a bit and hang up….. I continue to get ready and call a woman I’m interested in, I’m quite nervous, I like her and don’t know if she likes me. I chat her up a bit and then ask her out Friday night…..I continue and make a third call. It’s to the vet. My cat is not doing well and they tell me it’s time to decide to put her down or not... I hang up and continue.
You can practice this by yourself (In front of a full-size mirror) or with a friend, even tape yourself and review it. Again, a good “eye” watching you and giving notes and feedback is best. Do this once a week if you are self-studying.

Learn 5 Minutes Art To Fight Tension For A Top Performance

Tension and anxiety before auditions and shoot

Why learn self-hypnosis and auto-suggestion before auditioning and shoot?

1. Makes You Confident

Both actors and models need to be confident in themselves and in their abilities. Unfortunately, many actors work in the

2. You Stay Calm In Your Auditions

Stop seeing your auditions as stressful and vulnerable moments. Feeling nervous and self-conscious leads to performances that come across as stiff and stilted, rather than the natural flow that characterizes an exceptional performance. Hypnosis can help you keep your mind calm and focused during your auditions. This is done by training your mind to re-frame the audition experience, making it into an empowering situation in which you come into your own. This is done through a combination of guided imagery and positive suggestions while in the hypnotic state. With the use of hypnosis, you can train your mind to act, regardless of distractions such as who might be in the room. Train your mind to be in the moment so that you can give a stellar performance.

3. Can Quickly Get In And Out Of “Character”

A good actor becomes the character he or she seeks to portray. Truly memorable performances are partially a result of this ability. When you are your character, every gesture flows with ease, including your vocal inflections and intonations. Your character’s affect and demeanor takes front stage center, because you’ve already left yourself at the door. This requires a level of immersion that is not unlike the hypnotic state. Since the process of role immersion and hypnosis have many common aspects, learning self-hypnosis will improve your ability to get into your characters quickly and thoroughly. By giving yourself the ability to go in and out of character on command, you give yourself the ability to retain a strong sense of who you are. This ensures that you do not inadvertently create any psychological issues resulting from blending the lines between your characters and your own identity. In addition to helping you get into a role, hypnosis can help you retain a clear sense of yourself, apart from the roles you play.

4. Can Overcome Camera/Stage Fright/Performance Anxiety

Stage fright, also known as performance anxiety, can be crippling to actors, whether they perform on stage or in front of the camera. Stage fright is the anxious feeling or downright fear that comes over some people when facing the prospect of having to perform in front of others. For some, it can be paralyzing, while in others, it takes the form of “butterflies in the stomach,” as the colloquialism goes. Just as with helping the actor stay calm for auditions, hypnosis can help with stage fright in the same way — by engendering positive associations tied to performing on stage or before the camera. Through hypnosis, you can train your mind to experience a new reality in which you are calm and in control.

An actor's job is to create compelling characters in interesting relationships. In order to achieve this, you need to understand your character and the "reality" in which your character lives.
But that's only the beginning!
Each character in a script has physical energy that underscores the words; the vocal and physical performance. Actors must also find that energy within themselves and release it through their body  and voice during a performance.
The starting point for all physical performance is a relaxed mind, body and an auto-suggestion technique to motivate self and gain great confidence
Once the body and mind are settled, the appropriate tension and energy for a performance can be brought in to create the reality of the character.

Yoga Relaxation Techniques for actors to Relax Body and Mind 

A SURE WAY TO SUCCESS!


Yoga is the union with the divine. It is a philosophy used to the growth of mind, body, and spirit and also a system of exercises that help to balance your body and mind. It also increases your breathing techniques and focuses the grouping of your body. This way it can help you tremendously as an actor to overcome tension, tiredness, fears of rejections in auditions, on the set in front of a camera.


There are 2 stages:

• A. To practice it at home and be an expert

• B. To be able to practice and do it instantly while waiting for audition or a take  before your scene

Stage A

 

At Home

An actor's job is to create compelling characters in interesting relationships. In order to achieve this, you need to understand your character and the "reality" in which your character lives.

Here is a yoga relaxation technique used to achieve deep relaxation to your body and mind.

Corpse Pose Technique

"The Corpse pose", also known as Shav Asana, is a tremendous yoga posture that can be used among poses, which allows total relaxation. The corpse pose is a standard yoga relaxation pose, which is practiced by all disciples of yoga.
Anyone at any time when one requires a few minutes of total rest and relaxation can also practice this yoga relaxation technique.

Method:

It is most important to select a place for practicing yoga relaxation where you will not be disturbed. You need to wear loose comfortable clothing. First, you lie down on your back with feet about 18 inches spaced out with your hands palm upward about 6 inches from your sides. Let your legs and feet to roll outwards.
See that your body feels balanced. Close your eyes and relax centering your consciousness on the rise and fall of your abdomen. Deeply and slowly take a breath.
Next step:
Now you have to relax to go into a mild self-hypnotic state and then guide and instruct your subconscious mind:
Instruct starting from your mind, then eyes, then face, neck, hands, chest an abdomen, thighs, legs and finally toes

• "Mind, please relax", wait
• "My mind is relaxing, relaxing..."
• "My mind has relaxed" wait and repeat

-Like this, slowly proceed to eyes. Here you must notice heaviness in your eyelids with a feeling of sleepiness
-Then proceed to other parts as stated above.
Once done, the wait, feel a sort of floating feeling, a sense of nothingness.

Next, instruct yourself:

• I'm gonna to be a good actor, repeat
• I'm gonna to remember my lines
• I will do my best in audition
• I will get the role
• I will enjoy filming of scenes, shots
• I'm looking good
• My voice is becoming better

Note

• -Select few objectives
• -Always give "Positive" suggestions to your subconscious mind. NEVER BE NEGATIVE, for example, don't say "I will NOT be afraid" , "Will not be tense" etc. Instead say, "I will be this", "I will do" I'm gonna to be great" and so on..
• -Start and try to do this exercise every day. In the beginning, it may take 20 to 30 minutes. Slowly you will be able to do in 10 minutes and eventually you can do in 2 minutes at any place. Maybe just before an audition, or before your shot.

Stage B

 

To Practice Instantly Before Auditions, Before a Shot or Anywhere

- When you have mastered the above at home, start Practicing Steps in “Stage A” while sitting on a chair, going through steps a bit quickly till you start relaxing your eyes.
-Expand a bit longer your “instructions, feeling and a complete relaxation” sequentially and slowly to eye brows, eye lids, eye-balls.
Then, Say to you:
“I'm going into self-hypnosis” 9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1.......I'm now completely relaxed."
-Now repeat saying to you:
“I'm feeling good, I'm gonna to give a great performance, I'm good, I'm confident”....like this speak to yourself
-You must practice the above to an extent that you achieve your objective of relaxation, a calm mind and feeling confident within 3 to 5 minutes

Congratulations! You are now a super actor ready to face any situation

6 Free Home Exercises For Actors To Look Well Built And Hot

The fitness freaks of Bollywood Tiger Shroff and Nargis Fakhri

• One of the top requirement of being  An Actor Internationally or in Bollywood is to have an excellent physique and a Hot Body

Wanna have a body like Hrithik Roshan, Salman Khan or Hot like Bipasha Basu?

In an audition room, you need the foundation of a steady mind and a strong, flexible body to support
Not everyone can afford to join a gym or afford to purchase multiple machines for a home gym or 100 kg of dumbbells! Many of you can’t invest thousands of Rupees to build their body

So how do you get in a good workout without the fancy equipment?

Here is good news! You can get in a great workout right in the comfort of your own home by using your bodyweight or even few light dumbbells.

Here is my workout plan which is almost FREE and if you follow seriously with a daily schedule of about 1 to 2 hours either in the early morning or in the evening whether you are staying alone or in sharing place with 3 or 4 partners

Six Exercises for a Six Pack Body  At Home to Win Auditions

1. FROG SIT UPS

The classic sit up where the feet are fixed or held down is a great abdominal exercise but this exercise also uses the hip flexors – the muscles right at the top of the thighs – to pull the torso off the floor. The frog sit up, with the thighs out to the side means the hip flexors are less able to help with the movement meaning more work for the abdominal muscle.
TIP: As the abs are working hard and the feet are not pinned it helps to change hand position. Instead of putting the hands behind the head or neck hold them out over the thigh and slide them up the legs with every rep.

2. TWISTER

Twisting is one of the main functions of the core but is often overlooked when people train the abdominal muscles. This movement trains the whole of the core and helps tighten the waistline.
TIP: Resistance can be increased by holding you hand further out in front of you or by holding a weight –  dumbbell, medicine ball or weight plate. At all times keep a strong neutral spine trying not to arch or slump.

3. BICYCLE KICKS

A great exercise that allows you to focus on the 6 pack muscle as well as the obliques all in one go.
TIP: As with all crunch type movement, avoid cranking your head forward by using your arms, and instead gently touch your finger- tips on the side of your head. Your aim is to touch your knee to your elbows on every rep, but this is a challenging exercise so try not to cheat by using momentum. Keep the movement controlled.

4. ABDOMINAL PLANKING

The plank is the ultimate stability exercise, it activates and strengthens the deep abdominal muscles which act like a corset supporting the spine and drawing in all the organs for a strong, tight core.
TIP: Try to keep the lower back neutral, the minute you cannot do this end the set, rest and then start again. Lesser quality work is better than lower quality work.

5. MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS

These are a great conditioning exercise for the core, and ideal for putting into a circuit. The exercise hits the front and side of the core at the same time as training stability.
TIP: Try to think about locking everything in place except for the leg that is moving. In practice, this will not be possible but it helps keep the hips and torso stable which trains both strength and endurance in movement and stabilisation.

6. FLUTTER KICKS

These train the often neglected lower portion of the abdominal muscles.
TIP: try and avoid arching the lower back. For added stability, the hands can be by your side palms down or for more work raise them and your shoulders off the ground

 Based on

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