Lessac Training, June-July 2007

My recent training in the Lessac Kinesensic voice and body work has been life changing. I have never before come into contact with a method that is so unique and so at one with explorations and discoveries I myself have been making in recent years. The Lessac training is a life skill - it is not reserved exclusively for actors but can be utilised by anyone in any profession, at any age, as a tool for personal development and vocal and physical strength and ease.

Whilst at the intensive, I was taught by Master Teachers Nancy Krebs and Deb Kinghorn, and also by the creator of the method, Arthur Lessac. Barry Kur, Certified Trainer, conducted a seminar on accent and dialect work as well, another area of great interest for me (see photo above left, L-R Nancy, Deb, Arthur, Barry). This experience was incredible. Having the most qualified trainers of Kinesensic Training teaching and extending us was truly a gift, and is something I will never forget. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to have worked with Arthur himself, who at the age of 97 is a true testament to his work. He taught and demonstrated both the voice work and the body work with amazing skill and detail, and is without a doubt one of the kindest, most humble and giving people I have ever met. His sense of adventure and play, a critical element of the work, is admirable, and helped to ensure that all participants were, at all times, seeking new and exciting discoveries within themselves with a sense of play and carefreeness.
(photo right, myself and Arthur Lessac)



As an example of the amazing functionality of this work, I was astounded at how much tension was released in my body after the 4 weeks of training. Measurements were taken of all participants on the first and last days of the course. On the first day my shoulder to shoulder (across back) measurement was 15 inches. I had a lot of tension when I arrived at the training, and was having difficulty with neck and shoulder tension. On the last day my measurement was 18 inches across the same part of my back - a 3 inch change. My shoulder tension is almost completely gone and I feel more capable of physical activity than I have ever felt. All my other measurements had increased by at 1-2 inches also, an indication of the efficiency of this training for the release of tension and the increase of mobility and strength. Vocally, my voice dropped into my body like I have never felt before. I could feel the transition in the first and second weeks as my voice re-navigated its way through the resonating areas of my body. It was truly an incredible sensation to find a new musicality and ease in my voice, especially after having had such a lot of vocal training previously. It goes to show how intrinsically connected I feel to the Kinesensic Training.

I plan to return to study at the intensive in 2008, with a view to becoming a certified practitioner of Lessac Kinesensic Training. I plan to incorporate into my teaching elements of the training that I have a clear understanding of and that I feel I can utilise to great effect in my own students.

This work is incredible, and should be available to all people searching for ease, comfort, vocal and physical strength, and an improved lifestyle, and I intend to be able to offer those things to my students now and into the future.