Tracing - A Mindful Method of Moving

Tracing is about moving, about flowing between layers we trace, about discovery, about a balanced and energized wellness.

As we move through our lives we trace and retrace certain paths. We trace layers of our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual selves. Some patterns change, some remain the same; all evolving into the rich tapestry of experience that comes with Time. Tracing starts with the most basic fact: that we are constantly in motion, as is the world around us. We tap into our Inner Dance of breath, heartbeat and blood flow, colored by emotion. With a blend of clearing, stretching, strengthening and balancing, we integrate imagery for the mind and spirit, thus creating a "whole-being" approach, having a kinship with yoga and other movement forms. Participants may include people from all walks of life, a full range of physicalities and ages. No prior experience in movement technique is necessary.

Tracing is a creative process that engages the complete somatic instrument-body and voice-and may embrace other forms: music, song, writing, poetry, stories, drawing and more. It is not about training and technique, nor does Tracing lead to performance, though performers find Tracing to enhance their skills. It is about expression and practice, and playing with two basic human birthrights: imagination and creativity.

Each Tracing session begins with a concept that directs and shapes the movement. The concept might be Balance, Sense of Place, Support, Family, Grief, or any focus that is appropriate for (and often chosen by) the participant(s). Every session is tailored to suit the particular group or individual involved who may choose to use voice or other forms. Weather, season and moon phases are considered. These concepts are springboards into infinite realms of exploration. The structure is familiar: grounding, warm-up (includes activation of Embodied Energies and attunement with Chakras), creative play, wind-down and closure. Individual sessions include energy and body work, as desired. Verbal processing is kept to a minimum. The process is in the moving, in the expressing, in all levels of the Tracing. Journal keeping is encouraged, and talking is certainly not discouraged. Participants have found Tracing to complement psychotherapy.

People ask whether Tracing is an art form or a therapy. It is creative and healing, expressive and educational. The distinction between art and therapy is often artificial, contrived for the sake of categorization. If everybody had adequate channels for self-expression and creativity, the separate notion of therapy might not exist, just as a word for "art" did not exist in primitive human societies.

Tracy Penfield, founder of the multi-disciplinary company Pendium, has developed Tracing during 25 years of practice, teaching and observation.

To make an appointment for Tracing with Tracy contact her at 802-685-3157