I regularly train individuals for aerial arts and wish to help them become more comfortable with floor based movement before they connect to their apparatus. This connection offers a greater range of mobility whether there is also a goal of performance, or if the training is for pleasure and exploration with no intent to present or perform. I offered a segment of movement to three individuals or pairs before deciding to present this session, as it provided with it many of the real time considerations that I have encountered. Oftentimes, people will come to the studio having had to adjust their plan. They may be running a bit late, or have to face adverse weather and traffic, and arrive slightly anxious. Crystal is a mama that had scheduled a trapeze session for herself, and then found that the only way that she could attend was with her three small children. Understanding the importance of her being able to take time for herself, I offered her a mini flow session in which we would warm up, speak to mobility, and allow her space to be near her kids, but be able to focus on herself. It did help that I have met all of them before, and they are not only comfortable with me, but that she is familiar with our interaction, and so could let me share some of the overwatch responsibility with her, freeing up her attention. I would love to hold sessions that last for an hour or so, because I think that the mini session feels short, but beyond the time frame given for the final project, this is also the format that I am most typically working in. I would rather offer this method of delivery while warming up for aerial training for the benefit of my students, than wait until all feels ideal, and have a non-aerial floor based session booked with them. A full Floor Flow session is my goal, and as I have offered portions of flow movement and discussed the modality with clients, as well as my business partner, I have found that there are many interested parties waiting to sign up!
I was pleased that I was able to set the intention with my mover for the pathway that we would be taking, while giving her the freedom to experience her own moments. I was able to help her maintain her focus on herself throughout the session. This was something that I watched for especially as the children got a bit louder from time to time. I used my vocal tone and inflection to redirect her to her own movement, as well as specific directional movement cues. We had spent a few moments talking about the pathway that we would be exploring as we moved fingers, hands, arms. We had acknowledged that I was placing her with her back to the children, so that I could keep them in sight, and would let her know if she was truly needed. We both laughed because behind me is a set of mirrors, so she could always take a peek, but it was the feeling of safety and reassurance that really helped set the space.
We didn't have to start standing, but it was a useful tactic to be able to move from the hurried energy that Crystal came in with, and lend to each moment after as it presented itself while the external energy dissipated. One of the aspects of these types of sessions that I find to be poignant and unique to the Floor Flow style of movement, is the body's ability to sink into the floor, to press, to lean, and give weight as part of engaging the surface they are on, without actually feeling 'heavier' during or at the completion of the session.
I have been observing to see if there develops a sluggishness or a weighted feeling, and have been excited to see that even while I am striving to enhance my approach in my learning process, the whole experience feels very light and airy, roomy. Crystal says that her 'back feels open' at the end of the floor portion. That feedback validated the path that we are on Floor Flow practice, and I was glad to hear that from her. As a segue from the floor to the air, I suggested that she connect to her trapeze while staying in touch with the ground. This allowed her to continue to build on what we had established in the first 15 minutes or so, encouraging weight sharing between her contact points both grounded and aerial. I did walk away to help a kiddo, but also to give her time to play with the moment. In watching the video, I see her finding the ooey gooey as I call it, and maybe some of you do as well, and exploring that. I am really happy for her moments and this experience.
Our space shares a wall with a pet groomer business, and while we usually have adult learners in our studio, and infrequently small children, the puppies waiting to be picked up, and the occasional kitty being bathed is a song of its own. I would really love to be able to set the mood with soft lighting, very little ambient noise, and a playlist that builds from soothing to fun vibes. I have not been able to create the ambience that I envision, and will continue to work with what I have on any given day, staying on the lookout for opportunities for my ideal session. I do ask for and receive feedback from participants, and they usually tell me that they don't even notice anything other than their own bodies and movement. I’ll take that as a win.
There are a few aspects of my teaching style that I pay attention to in particular because of FFTT. I am becoming more direct and concise about delivering the verbal guidance from the beginning of the session, and maintaining that throughout, while not getting too wordy. I do find that some people need more call and response vocalization, and they wait for it before moving, while others do well with longer pauses in between verbal cues. I look to these situations, to see how well I can guide people with respect to what resonates with them, while finding more precision in my delivery. I am able to dial in to individuals and cater to their styles of receiving information because I am primarily offering lessons only. I would like to keep refining my delivery, getting people into the flow so that they can hit the Flow quickly. I am interested in hosting groups of movers and comparing the experiences. I think that it can be 'work' but that it doesn't have to be. It certainly doesn't have to be lengthy, which is what operating within the 22 minute parameter helped illustrate for me.