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sensing the connection
I sense that you sense that I sense…
Freeforming is a relational, co-creative, meditative, movement and voice art. Its focus is the connection between people. Staying with this connection allows fresh ways of perceiving and expressing oneself to emerge.
Freeforming can be used as a personal, dynamic meditation practice, an intervention and as a training for relational engagement in the non-verbal. Freeforming offers a way of engaging dialogically without words, through presence, inclusion and open communication. It explores the intersubjective moment of meeting and kimusubi, the “tying together of energy”.
The practice integrates elements of Gestalt Therapy, Aikido, Zen and the improvisatory arts.
Freeforming practice is an opportunity to explore, experiment and discover more about :-
- Sensitisation and “deep listening”.
- Here-and-now presence
- The use of peripheral attention, situational awareness and leaning into the space
- Aligning sensation, breath/voice and movement.
- Connective awareness
- Working across sensory modes
- Working in pairs and “linking”as a group
- Responsivity, co-creation and improvisation
origins
Freeforming was developed by Peri Mackintosh with the members of Konjiki Dojo, Ambient Jam and the clients of Bethlem Royal Hospital. He is a psychotherapist, movement artist and musician. He began studying vipassana meditation and Zen in 1973 and has trained and taught aikido for over 25 years.what people say about freeforming
Completely suprising… fun and liberating! E.D.
Exhilarating and addictive. P.L
A ‘heart & mind opener’, E. E-J
Practice today was wonderful. Yes, exactly, “wonder” “full”… it is magic, it is peaceful to be so open. K.M.
Playful freedom; a renewed confidence in my body and being; a desire for more… a highly enjoyable holistic meeting with individuals, the group and the universe. P.B.
It enables me to play with awareness, and sensing. It is creative. It supports me to improvise and trust the process. I just felt very good, very satisfied, nourished and alive from contact. I have a global sense of enjoying the process so very much! It is great fun. It is serious play. I go away feeling really good, having met some lovely people in a very direct way. I know this is what I need because I enjoy it so much. M.T.
The workshop was a place i could be me, spontaneous, Gestalt here-and-now, meeting the moment, riding the wave – thank you. S.M.
I laughed more freely than at any time other than when drunk, got a similar buzz to dancing, felt moments of intimacy and moments when I forgot myself. I liked the fact that I could let go and that I didn’t feel awkward even though I took some risks with my inhibitions. R.
I really enjoyed it …the emphasis on expression, intuition, sensitivity and presence was refreshing. Paradoxically, this dance-like way of training is also of great benefit from martial perspective as it teaches aiki in its purest form, and is a great workout to boot. M.W.
where can I practise?
Practice times are Tuesdays 7pm, Saturdays 10.30am
Fees are £44 per calender month payable by standing order or £54 per month cash or cheque which includes insurance with AMA.
Clothing is a loose long trousers and long sleeved tops and bare feet.
Beginners are always welcome.
For further information please call Peri on 07947 369990
June 18, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Beautiful flow, bodies hypnotised a strange posession, giving into gravity tangling and untangling. Lovely to watch, Thank you!
June 19, 2007 at 11:40 pm
Its very flowing and everything seems to just link into one another, I really love the shapes that are formed through the connection of two people.
August 4, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Practice today was wonderful. Yes, exactly, ”wonder” ”full”.
With a focus on listening. Being active in hearing ”feelingly”, we were able to absorb eachother, and tune in. And for me, a whole world would open in each new moment. Finding form and space TOGETHER is so interesting for me. I like the letting go, the surrender to what’s happening ”now” rather than me trying to make something up or rush on to a new moment before the one we’re in has reached it’s full bloom. It can be frightening to be still, to slow down, breath and be honestly present. But when we do, it is magic, it is peaceful to be so open. Ah yes – as you said Peri – ”It is grace”
July 11, 2008 at 11:38 pm
I love what I have seen here! Beautiful, beautiful, and so much of what I love about aikido. Budo is love! We work the same way but sometimes with hard static grabs, for instance…: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey9x-mh8-jg&feature=related
Thanks for publishing your exciting evolution!
November 3, 2008 at 4:34 pm
So often our human poetics are overlooked. And , even sometimes, they are criticized or ridiculed as ineffective. But it takes an amazing sense of structure to compose the most fluid of poems. Poetics are what connects our spirits and reminds us of our true nature; living vessels of god’s grace.
Freeform aikido looks to be an amazing amalgam of structure and fluidity. And if the 100th monkey theory has any weight, Kimusubi is the direction my dojo’s have been moving in too!
Someday we’ll dance together in the same room. For now, let’s dance together in spirit.
March 16, 2010 at 10:43 am
I would like to know if I could enrol for tyhe weekend organised by peri Mackintosh 20-21st March. I am MSc Y2 student in Gestalt and would like to attend the course and would require a CPD certificate.
Would you rather receive the payment by post or could I bring a cheque on the day (Saturday)?
I am looking forward to hear from you.
Best Regards,
Marie-Paule Ahanda
July 9, 2010 at 8:47 pm
I will like some information on how to take a beginner class course in aikido, Locations, fees and time. I live in the SW2 area of London. Thank you