Theater helps me focus on specific roles. I have many roles and I have to learn to play each of these roles well. In this post, I will identify my roles and explain how healthy daily rhythms help me play these roles.
Analyzing Roles
Some of the roles shown in the picture are listed below:
- Storytelling
- Cooking
- Learning dance
- Attending performances
- Playing with cats
- Playing with my nephews
- Drawing
- Traveling
- Performing
- Creating content
Some roles are relaxing whereas others make me tired. For example, I love watching performances in London but going by public transport and then attending the show can be overwhelming.
Daily Rhythms and Six Ss
Over the last two years, I have discovered the six Ss that help me play all my roles effectively.
1) Smile Brightly and Dance
2) Soothing chants
3) Storytelling
4) Silence
5) Self-inquiry
6) Surrender
These six Ss help me feel calm, thus, I can concentrate on my roles and perform them well. These six Ss are now a part of my daily rhythm. When I am tired, I use one or more of these Six Ss and relax. As an example, I have described my daily rhythm for one month.
My Daily Rhythms: July 2024
1) Smile Brightly and Dance
Before Breakfast: My mother and I practice some stretching exercises and simple movement activities together.
Some of these activities are based on the building blocks of Bharatanatyam. Adavus are foundational movement patterns done to rhythm. Our playlist is shown below:
Then, I continue with my practice for my diploma in Bharatanatyam exam.
Before Lunch: I practice hastas (hand gestures) and hand gestures/facial expressions for some dance that he is learning. On some days, I go to dance class.
Evening: My mother and I again practice simple movement activities before I practice dance.
2) Soothing chants
My grandmother is staying with us this month. My mother and I listen to chants with my grandmother in the evening. I also listen to chants for a few minutes in the morning.
3) Storytelling
Storytelling is integrated throughout dance lessons and practice.
4) Silence
While silence refers to inner silence or eliminating thoughts, external and internal silence work together. I experiment with talking softly or not talking much. These explorations help with inner silence too.
5) Self-inquiry
I join the Ramana Maharshi Center for Learning (RMCL) 9 pm satsang daily as I like doing meditation with the group.
6) Surrender
We are beginning to explore this daily in small ways. We are exploring ways to focus on what is happening in the moment and limiting talk about past experiences or future plans to specific times of the day.
Together, the Six Ss are the key building blocks of my daily rhythm. I adjust my routine based on what is happening. For example, if I attend a show in London, I spend more time listening to chants that day. I am preparing for my travel by practicing the Six Ss and focusing on my roles.
Parent Note
Ananth’s involvement with RASA (Ramana Sunritya Aalaya) and RMCL (Ramana Maharshi Center for Learning) have had a transformative effect on his life. He has been exploring how Life is Theater and Theater is Life with RASA. He has had numerous theatre experiences with RASA. The Six Ss emerged from Ananth’s explorations with RMCL. We are grateful to Dr. Ambika Kameshwar, Dr. Sarada Natarajan, Ms. Usha Sankaran, Dr. Vaishnavi Poorna, and Sri Ujwal Jagadeesh for their encouragement, guidance, and support. We look forward to continuing our explorations with RASA and RMCL in the future.