Interplay — Letting the body do the talking

This is an attempt to document my experience finding different tools to help navigate and lead life with integrity.

Since last year, I’ve been feeling lost and confused. Despite being at the peak of my career and doing my best work, I didn’t feel the satisfaction I expected. Instead, I felt completely disconnected from my inner self, making it incredibly difficult to make a decision. Meditation helped, but I couldn’t tap into intuition or wisdom. Then someone suggested I check out InterPlay.

I contacted the InterPlay leader in my city, and Pam emailed me back, defining InterPlay as follows:

“InterPlay enables people to connect with themselves and others through moving, dancing, slice-of-life storytelling, and using our voices in a playful, creative, spontaneous, authentic, and oh-so-satisfying way. Be warned: Sometimes InterPlay can be ‘sneaky deep’.”

I wasn’t sure what it would mean for me, but I really wanted to get out of my own head. I made my way to the venue — a spacious hall bathed in light and roominess. There, about eight of us gathered.

The Welcome Circle

(note: these are all made up names for activities :p)

Gathered in a circle, we warmly welcomed one another. Each person chose a movement that resonated with them in that moment, accompanied by their name. Then, as a collective, we mirrored each individual’s motion and echoed their name. Strangely, this simple act fostered a deep sense of connection.

Every time things felt a little tensed in the body, we let out an ‘Ah’ sound and let our body’s drop a little

Body Awareness Activation

We activated our bodies by shaking them vigorously from head to toe, rotating our necks, stretching our limbs, and allowing them to hang loose. Next, we gently tapped our bodies from head to toe, ensuring no spot was missed, before swaying from side to side. Then, we released pent-up energy by vigorously punching the air and kicking, encouraging a hint of agitation and anger, before finally resting.

We were ready!

Walking for Beginners

We began with walking, and each time the hostess prompted a change in direction, we allowed our bodies to instinctively lead the way. If we happened to bump into someone, a simple “thank you” sufficed. Then, she challenged us to move in unconventional ways, not our typical walking style. Surprisingly, we discovered several methods of walking that felt unnatural yet oddly natural.

Walk-Stop-Run

In the “Walk-Stop-Run” activity, with music playing softly in the background, we simply walked, stopped, or ran as we felt inclined. I found myself unexpectedly dancing in the midst of it all, realizing how my body was reacting before my mind fully comprehended the movements.

Later, we were given the freedom to let our bodies move as they desired. I observed how I moved freely, stretching my muscles and body parts, and even expanding to occupy more space. This was a revelation for me, as I’ve been struggling with asserting myself and taking up space. In that moment, my body instinctively knew how to do just that, and it felt surreal.

Three’s Company: A Rotating Dance Experience

Here, three people would begin dancing to a song. Whenever anyone felt tired or wanted to stop, they could step out, and someone else would join the group. Participants could enter and start moving either with others or by themselves. This created a fun way to meet people, share a moment, and then move on.

Building Character — One Feature at a Time

Afterwards, we played a game where we sat in a circle and collaboratively built a character. Each person could add one definition, and the only rule was NO CONTRADICTION. No one could contradict what a previous person said about the character. For example, if someone said it was red, you couldn’t say it was yellow, but you could add something to it like sparkle or lights.

At the beginning of the exercise, I had an image in my head that I wanted to construct, but as we started, I had to let go of the image and pay attention to what each one was saying and only add to it when it was my turn. It helped me let go of my ideas and create on top of others.

This is just my account of the first day of InterPlay. I learned a lot from it and allowed myself to be. The space was non-judgmental and creative, and I learned to hear my body. I felt super energized by the end of the day. It felt like I touched upon something authentic within me. I am documenting my visits and learnings as I go on.