Conditioning for Performing Artists™

Injury Prevention and Stress Release in the Performing Arts

Performing artists face a range of challenges in their creative journeys, from performance anxiety to injury. Maintaining top physical and mental condition is essential for success, yet many performers struggle with burnout, stress, and unprocessed trauma.

The Conditioning for Performing Artists™ model that I have developed is the result of over twenty years of training in various modalities, from Performing Arts Medicine, Somatic Experiencing™, Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapies and Body Mapping to Body-Mind Centering, Applied Polyvagal Theory, Yoga, Reiki, Tai Chi, and Meditation. It is also the fruit of over thirty years of experience as a professional pianist, pedagogue and recreational dancer. This comprehensive approach offers targeted practices and training techniques to help performers prevent and recover from trauma, chronic stress and injuries, consciously manage nervous system responses, and enhance resilience, strength and mobility.

As you journey through this program, you will delve deeply into its pillars:

• Body Mapping - teaches intentional and efficient movement to prevent and eliminate performance-related injuries

• Somatic Experiencing® - aims to resolve symptoms of stress, shock and trauma accumulated in the body

• Transforming the Experience-Based Brain® - provides regulation-focused scientific protocols delivered through Transforming Touch®

• Polyvagal Theory - explains what happens in the body and nervous system, and how our sense of safety or danger impacts our behaviour; it supports healing through the Safe and Sound Protocol

• Body-Mind Centering® - explores how the mind can be expressed through the body in movement through applications of anatomical, physiological, psychophysical and developmental principles

Safe Experiencing, a ten-session program combining Somatic Experiencing®, the Safe and Sound Protocol and Transforming Touch® is a highlight of our conditioning program, providing a highly targeted approach to chronic stress resolution and integrated performance preparation. Performers explore elements of SIBAM (Sensation-Image-Behaviour-Affect-Meaning) and somatic tools for nervous system regulation, and discover effective ways to address various situations that can negatively affect their performances. They also learn how to specifically deal with performance-impacting factors like pre- and peri-natal trauma, childhood trauma, sexual abuse, falls, medical procedures, motor vehicle accidents, Long Covid, and other challenging circumstances. The program provides unique insights and practical strategies to renegotiate these experiences and enhance overall performance.

COUPLING DYNAMICS IN PERFORMANCE

Inspired by Kathy Kain’s model of trauma coupling dynamics, this work brings conscious attention to ways in which challenging somatic, emotional, environmental, social and cognitive aspects of one’s single or multiple past performances can become over- or undercoupled within the performance experience and its aftermath. Explore packaging strategies and habitual responses created by coupling dynamics that often lie outside of conscious awareness, and significantly impact nervous system function.

By recognizing the complexity and vulnerability of the creative act, performers can build the skills and resources they need to create healing experiences for others while caring for themselves.

Sessions are offered in person and/or remotely to accommodate all needs and circumstances.