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Miles Davis, arguably the greatest
Jazz musician to ever live is quoted as saying of the creative
process of performance, "Don't play what's there, play what's not there."
The quip is perfect in its
instructional ambiguity. Jazz is an interesting craft in this
sense since playing it well literally and deliberately asks one
to go off the score, forget the composition and improvise.
Improvisation is an art, because it requires a level of mastery
and skill, which few of us think we possess. Therefore, we shy
away from artistic endeavors, confining our singing to the
shower, our poetry to a private journal, our painting to our own
living rooms. But who hasn't wanted to belt out a tune like a
torch singer, express deep emotion in verse, or pound out a drum
solo instead of "air guitar"? Maybe I just speak for
myself?
It is a shame that we see the
arts as a venue only for those with special talents, when in
fact, we all possess the skills needed to create and
innovate.
We are all jazz musicians at
heart. It is just a matter of learning how to let go of
inhibitions and connect without ego or self-conscious motivation
to our essence. This is a yoga practice. Our creations are
belted out expressions of ourselves. Just imagining it feels
good. This may also be why we associate the arts with "freedom"
(in Yoga we call it Kaivalya---absolute freedom). We see those
that have the moxy to create as truly free and then allow them
greater freedoms than we allow ourselves. How ironic, since it
is that very freedom which we envy.
This year, do yourself a favor
and "let go". Not of everything; but let go of some
inhibition, some reservation, some fear that is keeping you from
enjoying something you think you aren't skilled enough to do.
A mind stretched to a new idea, never goes back to its original
dimensions. Because of their courage, their lack of fear,
creative people are willing to make silly mistakes; so make one.
The truly creative person is one who can think crazy; such a
person knows full well that many of his great ideas will prove
to be worthless; so do something potentially frivolous. The
creative person is flexible -- She is able to change as the
situation changes, to break habits, to face indecision and
changes in conditions without undue stress. He is not threatened
by the unexpected; so expect to be surprised.
You may be wondering what this
has to do with yoga. Well, in short, everything.
Try yoga or bellydance or
meditation at our studio. Get flexible . . . Let go . . . Enjoy.
Or come listen to jazz, poetry, enjoy an art show or make your
own creation as you move with the rhythm of your breath. Our
education and training teaches us skills. Yoga can teach you to
express your fullest self- physically, mentally, emotionally.
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