Essential relaxation techniques that help method actors to perform their best

Essential relaxation techniques that help method actors to perform
their best
Creating great films takes more than just talent and determination – you also
need to acquire the right skills necessary to not only develop yourself as an actor
but to effectively engage your audience with your character.
While there are several well-known acting techniques that have been popularized
over the years, one stood out and helped give birth to a whole new breed of artists
- actors who know their characters well and who can deliver their material as if
it's an extension of their identity.
When Lee Strasberg developed Method Acting, he transformed the stage into a
life-like experience, training actors through different approaches to replicate not
only the emotional experience of their given role but also internalize the thought
processes that go inside the character.
In method acting, what the performer becomes is achieved through training and
exercises that are beyond the rules of typical acting methods. In other words,
aside from skills and learned techniques, actors need to achieve a certain level of
emotional and mental state to effectively portray a role – and such techniques
have been recognized by leading acting schools in Europe, especially renowned
institutions offering acting classes in London.
One of the essential practices of a successful method acting training is mastering
several essential relaxation techniques that can help actors achieve an open and
neutral state of mind. This important step is necessary for performers to fully
embrace their character.
Different actors follow unique relaxation techniques to help them get into
character but all of them revolve around these common methods.
Strasberg's Classic Technique
The "father of method acting" has developed this relaxation technique with the
primary goal of helping actors loosen up as well as identify the parts of their
muscles that they never knew existed. In fact, this is the most common and
perhaps the most popular relaxation technique in method acting.
It involves sitting on a comfortable chair with your arms and legs in a relaxed
position, hanging freely down the sides of your body. Make a circular movement
with your foot and shake it off until it feels that there is no more tension left in
your muscles. Try it again, now using your opposite leg, followed by each of your
arms.

As soon as you feel that your limbs are starting to feel as limp as they can be,
slowly release your facial and neck muscles until your jaw relaxes. The last step is,
coming deep from your throat, let out a grunting (or humming) sound.
This technique should be done for around 20-25 minutes in order to reach a level
of absolute mental and physical relaxation.
Other relaxation techniques
There are other emerging relaxation methods depending on the actor and their
preferred preparation practices. Diaphragmatic breathing, for instance, has been
an effective way to help young and beginner performers overcome anxiety.
The method involves deep breathing exercises by following a steady rhythm and
many experienced actors have made this method a habit and practice them
several times a week.
Other relaxation techniques include more focused movements like Yoga and
some rely on the power of silence like meditation.
While these exercises follow different and varied steps, they all gravitate to one
single purpose: to peacefully open your mind and freely let the life of your
character in.