Step into Play It Out Improv’s laboratory, a microcosm of life, where we experiment with practices that spark “a-ha”s and insights that we can take into our daily lives. There are many ways to get to know ourselves better. What makes improv unique is that we do it in relationship with each other in unknown situations. Sound familiar? Yep, that’s life. Unless you’re on the top of a mountain meditating in solitude, you’re probably in a relationship most of the time with someone: your partner, kids, roommate, the barista, that person honking behind you in traffic. Improv can be a powerful, friendly way to practice skills in presence, connection, and play… skills that strengthen our relationships and ramp up our daily joy.

Our format is simple, playful and flexible. We propose questions that come up in our lives. Big questions. Ones that we genuinely don't know the answers to... call them wonder questions. Then I/we find or create practices that help us have an experience of that question in the improv lab. I've proposed the questions in the past and I would love to include YOUR questions in future labs.

This ticket is for all four spring Lab dates (all Sundays):

February 9th, March 8th, April 5th, May 3rd

Time: 6:30-8:30 pm

Location: Fauntleroy Schoolhouse in West Seattle

Cost: $80 (discounted from $25/lab)

Here are some example questions:

I wonder how I can have fun with "doing it wrong"? In our culture, the context is often right/wrong, good/bad, smart/dumb... etc. This context is supposed to be disrupted in improv, but that doesn't mean we don't continue to apply it to ourselves regardless. The Lab is a fun, safe place to notice our experience of "doing it wrong" and even have fun with it!

I wonder how I can notice patterns and consciously choose to participate with them or make a new choice? One of the principles of improv is to notice the pattern, continue it for a while and then break it, releasing lots of energy. When we get stuck in a pattern in our lives, especially one we don't actively choose, we can feel drained, lose touch with our creativity and feel frustrated. When we practice noticing patterns, we bring more awareness to our lives and when we make new choices, we can significantly increase our aliveness.

I wonder how my commitment affects what I create? Commitment in improv is about being fully in or fully out, no waffling, no limbo. Scenes inevitably go better when improvisers are committed. Committing is the very first step to being present and creating what we want. Without it, who knows where we will go in improv or life?

I wonder what question you'll want to explore in Lab?

Here are some of the questions we've explored in previous labs:

I wonder how I can stop fighting myself and transform my experience into creative expression? I wonder how I can participate and play with anything tossed my way? I wonder how I can learn how to see different situations and people as my allies? I wonder how I can know what I cannot control and free my energy for what I CAN control?

If these questions spark curiosity in you, then join us in the Lab this spring 2020. Let’s create a space for our genuine discovery while having a really good time! Once a month we’ll explore a wonder question through improv games and mind/body centering activities. Sign up for all four fall labs and get a discount or register for the ones you can attend individually.

About me:

Improv has been my go-to practice on stage and off for the past four years. Through this journey, I discovered how much easier it is to use my whole self to transform my experience through play, rather than struggling to “figure things out” with just my brain. I enjoy applying the fundamental improv principle, Yes, And, to my life. I invite you to say YES to what you are creating in your life and to acknowledge yourself as a powerful creator. Then ask… What’s the AND? How can I use what’s here to inspire and create what I really want? I’m a certified Hendricks’ Big Leap Coach and facilitator (http://www.hendricks.com) and I’ve also been practicing traditional theater improv since 2015, graduating from Seattle’s Unexpected Productions School of Improv (http://www.unexpectedproductions.org). I created Play It Out Improv to inspire and empower people to celebrate and improvise with what is, to instantly create what they really want.

I facilitate experiences that mix improv exercises and Hendricks transformational tools to engage our whole self for maximum fun and full expression.

Playfully,

Dhira

Celebrate what is. Play out what’s possible!