Playing in the park while frequently changing pants. Griffith Park, LA.
Music by Nina Simone, "Sinnerman" (Felix Da Housecat's Heavenly House Mix)
Filmed by Kenneth Kao.
Costa Rica (February 2015)
Mexico (January/Febraury 2015) - Part II
Photos by Kenneth Kao.
Snow Movement
Warning: The following video is a simulation. Do not go outside in your knickers and attempt floor work in snow piles. Happy Valentine's Day. With love, Marlo
Special Thanks to Casey Reuter for volunteering the time to shoot and edit the video, and to Jessica Wilson-Silas for her camera work.
Mexico (January/February 2015)
During my annual journey to Mexico i had more adventures than usual. In Cabo I chased whale sharks and dolphins and floated near sea lions on their craggly rock beds. In Mexico City I tried (and failed) to steer our stick propelled boat through the waters of Xochimilco. There were more species of water foul in that small area than anywhere I've ever seen. The Island of the Dolls was...special. Many feel uneasy about seeing hundreds of ill-paired doll heads and bodies covered in cocoons and mud pinned to trees and wires. I also traveled to oil-rich Ciudad del Carmen, and the majestic colonial cities of Puebla, Queretaro and San Luis Potosi.
Lastly, I visited two of the most amazing places on earth, The dream-fueled Sir Edward James Castle in Xilitla and the Cave of the Swallows. Hiking through the jungle to reach a massive hole on the earth where birds dive fast as race cars into a hole way bigger than any skyscraper is pretty epic. And visiting a 20 acre complex of surrealist concrete architecture and sculpture that waterfalls drift through is... mind-bending; it is an opportunity to step into the mind of an artist. If you have the chance...GO.
Thanking My Movement Teachers
Over the next few weeks I want to thank some of my early movement teachers and share the big lessons I learned with each of them that I still refer to today.
First in line is my first real dance teacher, Lisa Wallace. She trained me from age 10-18 at Jean Wallace studios in Virginia Beach, Va. Under Lisa's wing I learned ballet, jazz, tap, Broadway, and rhythmic-inspired acro dance. I learned to to perform under all types of circumstances during our countless parades, recitals, competitions and community shows. I learned how to fill an amphitheater with my presence and how to ration my energy under the blistering hot summer sun and winter nights. I learned to appreciate a multitude of dance forms-- even if we didn't practice them, I learned that they were important.
Most significantly, I learned that if you can't have fun while creating movement- you probably won't have joy when sharing it. Rather than stymieing my growth as an independent mover, she recognized that I was a creator and encouraged me to explore and share my ideas with the group. Even when it was challenging, making dances with her felt like play. I wouldn't have it any other way. Thank you forever and ever Miss. Lisa!
COMMENT BELOW to thank movement teachers who have positively shaped your perspective on movement!:
Bodily Awareness is Possibly the Most Undervalued Element of Fitness
Photo by Christian Buitron Photography
By Marlo Fisken, Creator of Flow Movement
For as many magazines, blogs, and memes on fitness as there are, there is a general lack of understanding on what fitness actually is. I am not at all surprised; people value different things when it comes to aesthetics and lifestyle. But fitness is more than most of us realize. Let's have a look at the definition of fitness before I share some of my recent thoughts with you.
Fitness is a measure of how you adapt to stressors. It is often defined as the combination of your strength, mobility, endurance, body composition, power, speed, balance, and agility. Fitness, however, is also a measure of how efficiently and effectively you work and play, your emotional well-being and how well you avoid the diseases of inactivity. It is your reaction time and how you adapt to diverse environments and challenges. Fitness is important to each and every one of us (whether you choose to care now or not).
Your fitness level is evidenced in all aspects of your life.
Yet few broad-reaching fitness outlets (outside of the mind/body sphere) talk about the importance of awareness. I believe that bodily awareness is the most overlooked aspect of fitness.
Bodily awareness is key to improving alignment, and healthy alignment is key to growing our skill set, meeting many physique goals, and avoiding pain.
Science has shown that poor postural habits negatively impact mood and stress. Beyond that, postural issues can cause pain, leaving us wondering why we cannot meet our fitness goals. In my experience, there is a strong correlation between your ability to move without pain and making progress. I have usually had to learn something about my patterns and make a priority of staying aware of them (both during training and daily activities) in order to remedy pain and injuries (and even a poochy belly situation).
Body awareness helps you to fully engage in your training and find joy in the process. Not only can you can train more if you feel good, you can do it for much more of your life!
In case this body awareness talk doesn't sound flashy enough and doesn't seem to have anything to do with your goals of "being hot," consider this:
Even across many non-human species, strong posture, (which is the same as good alignment), gets noticed. The strong and robust are in demand because they appear to have the best health and genetics. Confidence is ultimately a way of moving, and often is a projection of awareness.
I feel the most confident after physical training that requires absolute focus and immersion. When I practice movements that require me to tap into detailed self-awareness, I move better, I breathe better, I stand tall and sit better throughout the day.
So, What do you do to develop your body awareness?
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JAM at JAM in Los Angeles, CA
Today I played with floaty, planky things at JAM (Joining All Movement) in Los Angeles.
Music by Flechette, "Alsarah"