Finding and Grasping Your Center - a Professional Acting Exercise

There is a lot of talk among acting classes with regards to the actors' "center." Finding your center is vital to help perform a visually stunning performance as it ensures your entire body is aligned with that of the character. However, reaching your center can sometimes be a difficult process; especially for tense actors.

Because of this, I have compiled an exercise to help actors find and keep their center while simultaneously relaxing their body. If you are an acting teacher, this is a great exercise to perform before engaging the students in scene study/rehearsal, and if you're an actor, perform this exercise before an audition or performance.

Step 1:

While lying on your back, close your eyes and focus on making your body as long as possible. Imagine two sources of gravity (one above your head, and one below your feet) pulling your body in opposite directions. Compress your vertebrae as much as possible. Hold this position for one minute before releasing and returning your normal "relaxed" state.

Step 2:

Keeping your eyes closed, try to make your body as wide as humanly possible. Flatten your body against the floor and imagine your body widening and become flattened as if a roller was stretching you out like a piece of pizza dough. After holding this for several seconds, release and return back to your normal resting position.

Step 3:

Roll to your left side, and curl up in a fetal position. Stay in this position for 30 seconds before rolling onto your stomach. Bring your legs up so the bottoms of your feet are on the ground, which will require some repositioning of your body. Slowly uncoil your body and carefully rise to a standing position by uncurling one vertebrae at a time. Your head will be the last to be straight.

Step 4:

Close your eyes and focus on making your body as tall as possible. Gently stretch your spine upwards, while keeping your arms down by your side. Hold for 30 seconds, then return to your normal standing stance.

Step 5:

Bend over by your hips so your upper body makes a 90-degree angle with your lower body. Allow your arms to freely dangle to the ground. Focus on releasing any and all tension within your body. Relax your facial muscles by making a "motor boat" sound through your lips. Return to the standing position after 30 seconds, and repeat two more times.