Yoga for performers

Yoga for performers 

Yoga is a useful coping stratgey, I have never done Yoga myself and this is something I would consider trying as I do pilates. ‘Dr. Gibbs suggests low-impact aerobic activity like riding a stationary bike, walking, or going for an easy jog one to three times a week. "If I have a stressed-out dancer, I recommend exercise," he says. "It releases endorphins, and reduces injury and cholesterol. It's the number one treatment for depression and anxiety.’ (Raminsky p26 2009) 

Benefits of Yoga for Dancers 'YogaWiz' (Online)  

• Balance
• Clarity of the Mind
• Confidence
• Flexibility
• Improved Circulation
• Improved Hip Mobility/Flexibility
• Improved Lung Capacity
• Posture Improvement
• Purification of the Body
• Stamina
• Strength/Muscle Toning
• Stress Relief

Marc Woodford believes that, 'ALL types of yoga practice are meant to bring integration, simplicity, liberated strength and supported freedom to both body, mind and soul' (online) He offers Yoga for dancers and athletes and believes Yoga can help to relax the mind. 

'Between classes, rehearsals, and performances, it’s all too easy to become overworked and overwhelmed. Yoga is beneficial in its promotion not of building perfect technique, as is standard in the dance world, but on creating peace of mind and a stress free environment for the student. Working through the poses at your own pace gives you the time you need to unwind from the stress of the stage, while still providing immense physical benefits.' Yoga for dancers (Online) 

This quote goes to show that Yoga is not only a good coping strategy to help relax the mind and to de-stress from the pressures of the performing arts industry but it also has physical benefits. 

Do you do Yoga? Does it help you relax and destress? Do you find it a good coping strategy? Feel free to comment! 

Bibliography 

Benefits of Yoga poses for dancers. YogaWiz. Online. Available at: http://www.yogawiz.com/health-issues-and-yoga/benefits-of-yoga-for-dancers.html#continued ( accessed 4th January 2015)

isport. Yoga for Dancers. Online. Available at: http://ballet.isport.com/ballet-guides/yoga-for-dancers (accessed 4th January 2015) 

Raminsky (p26  June 2009) Your Body 

Woolford Marc. Yoga with Marc. Online. Available at: http://www.yogawithmarc.com/yogafordancers.html (accessed 4th January 2015) 

Hypnotherapy for performers.

Hypnotherapy 

During my Inquiry process on coping strategies for performers struggling with the pressures of the industry, i have found a coping strategy for performers that i was previously unaware of this is Hypnotherapy.  

'Hypnotherapy is a type of complementary therapy that uses hypnosis, an altered state of consciousness.' NHS (Online) 

One of my interview participants informed me of how this really helped with their anxiety caused from the pressures of the performing arts industry. This encouraged me to research in more depth how hypnotherapy could be a useful coping strategy. 

The main way i feel that hypnotherapy could be useful for performers is the fact that it can reduce stress:

'Hypnosis can help reduce stress –  Stress can cause serious illness in people like heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and sleep disorders.  If you have a lot of stress in your life and your body is constantly in a high alert state then one of the benefits of hypnotherapy would be learning some simple relaxation, hypnosis and meditation techniques that can change your life. If you feel like you can’t get your stress levels under control by using diet, exercise and  medicine then it’s time to think about what hypnotherapy and hypnosis can do for you.  Because Hypnosis involves putting you in a deep state of relaxation it gives your mind and body a chance to recuperate, repair and heal itself by experiencing the relaxation that it desperately needs. Again the Hypno Relax download will give you an excellent introduction into learning the basics of relaxation and de-stressing techniques.'  Connect Hypnotherapy (Online) 

I came across a useful webpage which offers Hypnosis for Creatives, Actors, Singers, Dancers, Directors and Artists. 'Howes, Graham' (Online) Howes recognises that performers do struggle from stresses and strains and that hypnotherapy can be a beneficial coping strategy. 

Howes has experienced 38 years as an Actor, Theatre Director, Writer and Singer so he is an Expert in the performing arts world as well as having experience working in Harley Street as a Hypnotheapist specialising in Perfomer's Problems, he mentions, 'Stress and Depression, Suicidal Thoughts, Anger Management, Panic Attacks Worry and Anxiety are very real problems for Performers' 

In his sessions he teaches a number of tried a tested strategies. I was interested to read that there are specialists hypnotheapists for performers and i feel performers may feel they can relate to Howes as he has experience of being a performer himself.  

The National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) Offers information on local hypnotherapists in your area, you can enter your location and it will show up specialists in your area. It holds one of the largest registers of independent Hypnotherapists in the UK. This is not performer specific but some performers may feel more relaxed if they have an outside view away from the performing arts 'bubble'. 

Bibliography

Connect Hypnotherapy: Online. Available at: http://connecthypnotherapy.com/10-benefits-of-hypnotherapy (Accessed 4th January 2015) 

Howes, Graham. Online. Available at: http://www.hypnotherapy-colchester-ipswich.com/wp/171-2/ (Accessed 4th January 2015)

National Council for Hypnotherapy: Online. Available at: http://www.hypnotherapists.org.uk (Accessed 4th January 2015) 

NHS. Online. Available at:http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/hypnotherapy/Pages/Introduction.aspx (Accessed 4th January 2015)

Artefact!

Hey Everyone!

So i haven't blogged in too long, but i have been so so busy!

Now its time for the Artefact, i'm planning on doing a Webpage to share the advice and help i have found for performers struggling with Psychological problems that they may face.

Would love any advice or ideas on what you feel and effective webpage would look like for you?

I am planning on doing an introduction about myself and then sharing the webpages i have found as well as other coping strategies.

What is everyone else doing for their artefact?

Heather x

Update with Paula

I have just had a phone call with Paula to update about how i am getting on with the inquiry process.

I found this very interesting and helpful, talking about the literature review i realised that i am being to generalised in my review of the articles rather than relating it to my inquiry. I need to make sure that all the literature is relevant and that i can compare it to my findings.

Paula opened my eyes to the different types of sources we may come across, especially expert and practitioners and how i need to make sure i  explain where each source has come from andy how it is helpful. 'Why did i choose it?' 'where did it come from?'

We talked about Harvard Referencing and although i have done it for the previous two modules i now feel a lot happier about how it works.

I am lucky enough to be meeting with dance psychologist Peter Lovett next monday so we discussed how i really need to be prepared in order to get the most out of my experience as he is an expert in his field and will be great for my inquiry.

Peter Lovett is working with Dance UK and Trinity Laban on a new project similar to my Inquiry so it is perfect timing, Peter Lovett has knowledge from his expertise but is also researching so i should come away with a huge amount of new ideas and knowledge.

I will do a blog about how the meeting goes!

Heather X

Research Continued

Today i have emailed dance psychologist Peter Lovett to see if he can help me further with me inquiry. I am keeping my fingers crossed that he replies!

I have been busy finding lots of different pieces of literature, the only problem i am having at the moment is my interview participated are being very slow at getting back to me, i am getting worried as their answers are a key part to my inquiry. Is anyone else having this problem?

I am trying to be one step ahead because it feels like we have very little time in this Module.

Does anybody know of any good sights to create a webpage for free? This will be very useful if anybody does!

Hope you are all getting on well

Heather x

Artefact brainstorming!

I have been Brainstorming and constantly thinking of ideas for my Artefact, i feel like its back to the beginning in some respect, like when i was brainstorming for ideas for my Inquiry! Does anybody else feel like this?

One major improvement in my thinking has been maybe i will do a Website. I did think of a Facebook page at first but i feel that isn't as discreet as it is quite a personal subject, dealing with pressures of the industry.

People may want to search for help about personal issues and going onto a website that shows places to go for help and shares coping strategies may be more useful.

Below are some of my brainstorming sessions i did over the summer:

Any help or ideas that we could discuss would be great, just leave a comment! 

Heather X 

Ethics and Consent Forms

One of the tasks i set out for myself in My Inquiry plan was to read through the Code of Human Research Ethics on 'The British Psychological Society' website. Doing this has really helped me to get all the permission i need and to get underway with my interviews and questionnaires whilst ensuring the safety of everyone involved.

Reading through the Code of Human Research Ethics on  ‘The British Psychological Society’ website has really opened by eyes in how I should approach ethics during my inquiry. I had thought about this in my plan and laid out how I would include ethics, however now I am about to begin my Inquiry I have delved deeper into this subject.

I am about to begin commencing my interviews with my participates and I realized that, ‘Good psychological research is only possible if there is mutual respect and trust between investigator and participants’ (P.4 The British psychological society, 2010)

I knew that I would have to create a consent form for my participates to sign however reading though the guidelines on The BPS website it made me realize that I need to be very clear that the safety of my participates is my main concern.

‘In accordance with the Code of Ethics and conduct, researches should ensure that every person whom data are gathered for the purpose of research consents freely to the process on the basis of adequate information’ (p15 The British psychological society, 2010)

This made me realize that I will have to make it clear to the participate and the article gave me guidelines to do this via my consent forms. I made sure I included these following points:

·      2 copies of the consent form should be signed by researcher and the consenting participant.

·      Contact details left if they have any queries

·      They are aware they can pull out of the inquiry at any time

·      They are aware of the time scale of the project

·      They understand what the inquiry aims to do and how they will be participating

·      Make them feel safe and comfortable and aware that their safety is my main concern.

·      Method of collecting data

·      Confidentially and anoylamity conditions

‘This is because subject to requirements and legislation, including the data protection act, information obtained from and about a particpatant during an investigation s confidential unless otherwise agreed in advance’ (p 22 The British psychological society, 2010)

This also made me realize I will have to assess all possible risks, ‘ Risk can be defined as the potential physical or psychological harm, discomfort or stress to human participates that a research project may generate’ (p 13 The British psychological society, 2010)

As my inquiry is a sensitive topic I will have to use my instinct and be in tune with how my participates are feeling as I do not want to cause anxiety, psychological stress or humiliation. ‘Sensitivity is therefore essential and caution is usually necessary’ (page 12 The British psychological society, 2010) this is because it may cause them to remember and discuss painful memories or moments, which are fragile, to them as well as happy memories.

The BPS article outlined 4 main principles, which have been really helpful when considering Ethics for my Inquiry. I have displayed some quotes that stood out to me:

1.     Respect for the Autonomy and dignity of persons

‘…Rights to privacy, self-determination, personal liberty and natural justice are of particular importance to psychologists’ (P 8 The British psychological society, 2010)

‘Valid consent, confidentially, anonymity, fair treatment’ (P 8 The British psychological society, 2010)

2.     Scientific Value

‘Psychologists are committed to ensuring that the scientific and scholarly standards of their research are accountable and of sufficiently high quality and robustness’ (p 9 The British psychological society, 2010)

3. Social responsibility

‘Psychological knowledge must be generated and used for beneficial purposes’ (page10 The British psychological society, 2010)

‘In whatever social context they work, psychologists should acknowledge the evolution of social structures in relation to societal need and be respectful of such structures. (Page10 The British psychological society, 2010)

This point made me realize that during my Inquiry I need to be ‘Self-reflective and be open to challenges that question the contributions of psychological knowledge to society’ (page 10 The British psychological society, 2010)

4.     Maximizing Benefit and minimizing Harm.

‘Harm to research participates must be avoided’ (page 11 The British psychological society, 2010)

The last principle stood out to me as this is mainly what I wish to achieve with my Inquiry and with it being a sensitive subject I will have to be considerate of the feelings and wellbeing of my participates.

‘Psychologists need to be sensitivities to the potential impact of their interventions for example to the possibility of individual distress that may be caused unwittingly’

I will debrief my participates afterwards. Making sure I don’t tell them what to do, sharing my findings and results and discussing them with my participates.

I have produced a questionnaire that I have produced and published on survey monkey. I made sure I explained why I was carrying out the survey and again that all the answers will remain confidential and participates who complete the questionnaire will remain anoylamous. Without making people feel at ease people will be less likely to want to take part.

Bibliography

http://www.bps.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/code_of_human_research_ethics.pdf  (accessed 20/8/2014)