Breathing & Stretching for Improv

Video Transcript

"JAYNE ENTWISTLE: So, we're going to start doing some warm ups and getting ready to do improv. And what I'd like everybody to do, Andrew... ANDREW STUBBLEFIELD: Sure. JAYNE ENTWISTLE: ...and those of you watching, is to spread your legs apart just a little bit. Bend your knees ever so slightly as if you're getting ready to play tennis. You don't want to lock your legs really tight. You get a nice little soft pose in your legs. I want you to close your eyes and take a deep breath. ANDREW STUBBLEFIELD: You want to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. JAYNE ENTWISTLE: This is starting to relax us. We're not at work anymore. We're not driving in LA traffic. We're getting ready to do improv, another big, deep breath in to your nose, out through your mouth. Okay, now we need to get our bodies ready so I'd like you to stretch your arms up to the sky. Okay. Make sure you get a nice stretch in your hands, fingers wide apart, reach, reach, reach. Okay, you're reaching? ANDREW STUBBLEFIELD: I am reaching. JAYNE ENTWISTLE: Okay. Now, you're going to drop arms to your wrists like this. And drop your wrists to your elbows like this. And drop your arms like this. Arms drop, and drop your head. And now, you're very slowly going to roll down and let your arms hang. Now, it's very important to not strain yourself. If things don't feel good, don't do it. Okay, we're just going to get a nice stretch in our spine. Reach all the way down. If you can touch your toes, more power to you. Okay, let your arm swing. We call 'em monkey arms. Arms are swinging like monkeys. Your head's relaxed. Now, when you're down there, you're going to pick up your imaginary hula hoop. Yes. We have hula hoops, folks. Pick that up, bring it up with you. Remember hula hooping when you were a kid? We're going to give it a nice spin. Okay, this is getting our hips all nice and works. What color is your hula hoop? Mine's pink. ANDREW STUBBLEFIELD: Mine's blue... JAYNE ENTWISTLE: All right. ANDREW STUBBLEFIELD: ...'cause I'm a guy. JAYNE ENTWISTLE: Okay, hula hoop's down. Let it drop. Kick it to the side. We're getting warmed up, ready to move to our next exercise."