mindfulness

Exciting news! Yesterday, an article of mine on meditation and performing was featured on Elephant Journal. Yay! This piece was a bit of a personal one, exploring one of the main reasons I've struggled so much as a performer for most of my adult life. But beyond the struggle, it also talks about one of the biggest game-changers in my life over the past few years: meditation. If you've been reading my blog or following my work, it's probably no surprise to you that I love meditation and that I see it as an important (if not fundamental) tool for performers. But I didn't always feel that way. In fact, for a large part of my life, I didn't think that I would ever be able to meditate. In order to be a meditator, I thought you had to be a certain "type" of person: an already zen, quiet and undramatic person (in my mind, not a performer). But all this changed for...

Hello! Welcome to Act(ing) Mindfully. I’m so glad you’re here and that you’re interested in exploring along with me. So what’s this blog all about? Being a performer is a rewarding, ever-changing and often challenging life choice. Beyond the everyday mental and physical rigor it requires of us to keep our skills in shape, it also demands a lot from us emotionally and energetically. Unlike many other careers, performing requires us to fully commit our whole selves to it: body, mind, emotions and spirit. It can be incredibly invigorating, but at the same time it can be incredibly draining. Many of us find ourselves caught in this constant flux of energy, unable to keep ourselves grounded both on and off stage (or camera). But is it possible to be a great performer and live a balanced life? Yes! That’s what we’ll explore here. Who am I? My name is Mairin Smit and I’m a theatre and movement artist, teacher and artist wellness coach. Artist wellness coach? Yes,...

Tag: mindfulness

Onstage Zen: My Recent Feature in Elephant Journal!

What’s this all about? – The Who’s and What’s of Act(ing) Mindfully