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

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 

Wrong Advice Till Now | How Can I Start My Acting Career?

Ignorant of acting techniques and rejections

I HAD BEEN GIVEN WRONG ADVICE TILL NOW

How truly can I start my career as an actor?

Getting started as an actor isn't that hard. It is one of the few jobs where you can actually just declare yourself an actor, even before you get your first audition or job. People do it all the time.

But, becoming successful as an actor is one of the hardest things you can attempt, with absolutely no guarantee of any kind. This business is the most unstable and volatile in the world - the best actor doesn't always get the part, and it's so much is beyond your control that you have to be willing to be rejected on a daily basis.

I tell actors about my own journey when I coach them on how to be successful in this business, and it has happened specifically because I approach this as a business, and I've become really good at three things: the art, the marketing / promotion and the technical aspects of acting. If you don't develop expertise in skills in all three areas, your chances for success rapidly disappear.

Part 1.

The first part of  my answer is to become an expert at the art of acting: get the best training. As a beginner or if a working actor and want to improve the above 3 areas do it if you love being in school, but if you want to get moving, don't waste four years at any college or university. Initially, better join a good acting coach who is an actor him/herself

Live life. Get your heart broken. Enjoy successes and failures. Learn to Suffer with the rejections. Be elated when you win.

Live...life. You'll need it as an actor.

Once you complete private one on one training, and then if required, join a school for learning how to work with a group, or for developing networking, you go for projects that will give you experience: student films, teasers (trailers), short films, art films, theater, web series, small commercials ads and more. Each of these will give you experience in the art of acting.

But that's just the first part.

There are two more parts you need to get started.

Part 2. 

The second part of my answer is that you must become an expert at the marketing and promotion of acting: as an actor, you are a product among thousands and therefore and if you want film industry should know and use you, you have to market and promote yourself.  And if you don't have business training, find the right acting coach who can help you create the business structure you need.

Any actor you admire, that is well known and successful, is not only a good actor, but also a good businessperson, without exception. They treat their careers the way a lawyer or doctor nurtures their practice. They have a brand, a product (their ability to tell stories), customers (casting directors, directors, producers etc) and they know how to get their customers' orders. They know how to market themselves (get auditions), they know how to sell themselves (audition techniques), and they know how to collect their money and hire salespeople (artist coordinators and agents) to bring them more business.

The above planning will start initially with:

A. Goal setting
B. Marketing plan
C. Plan of action

All of this will give you experience in the marketing and promotion of acting.

But that's still not all you need.

There's one more area to explore to get started.

Part 3. 

The part of my answer is that you must master the science and technical part of acting: become expert in the technology you need to understand and use in the pursuit of your acting career.

This mastery of the science and technology includes creating the perfect profile for audition and websites and grooming those profiles as you gain more work and experience. It includes mastering communications using the Internet, email, social media and more. The technical part means understanding how cameras, lights, microphones, makeup, costumes, your voice, your face, your actions, and all other components combine to tell a story on film or video. It means, to help you to  deliver the best performance you can by knowing your lines and being completely convincing.

This acting business in Bollywood, International Cinema, and TV world has changed drastically toward a less conservative to an almost completely digital world, and you need to be not only aware of those changes, but know how and when to take advantage of new technology and processes.

All of this will give you experience in the science and technicalities  of acting.

The Final Thing

As an actor, you have to love it. You have to want it. You have to be willing to put a lot of work into it, and to remember will be rejected because you're too old, or too young, or too tall, or too short, or too plain, or too hot, or too creepy or...the list never ends. To hell with it! Move on. If you can't do that, you're in trouble before you begin. If you love being a storyteller, and can handle it when you find out you didn't get the part because of XYZ,  you're in much better shape.

I do hope this helps. And I hope you do get started. And I hope that you love your life as an actor as much as I love mine as an acting coach and as a character actor. If you need help, get in touch. I love helping fellow actors maximize their chances of being a successful actor with a name and fame.

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