Rhythm

Rhythm is in us, and all around us. The planets, sun, moon and earth, and the tides, have their rhythm. Night and day, the seasons and our breath and heartbeats have rhythm. From a drumming point of view, it seems as if there is an infinite complexity of rhythms in the universe, just waiting for us to access them. When we are out of step with the rhythm of nature and our own personal rhythm, our health can suffer (for example when we are perpetually in a state of “fight or flight”, or using stimulants to combat tiredness).

Tuning into our own rhythms and those of nature is perhaps especially difficult in the city, although even cities have their own rhythm. Day-to-day demands for our time and attention can either be too many, or, indeed, too few. But if we can re-discover our own personal rhythm and align ourselves with it, then our sense of harmony with the world can be restored.

The Pavanis approach to rhythm involves some gentle warm-up exercises and moving to music, and some experimentation with percussive sounds and rhythms. However, if your energy levels are very low, then this may mean that you need first to absorb energy, rather than express it.

Exploring the interplay between different rhythmic sounds can be most fun in a group, but one-to-one sessions are probably best for finding and expressing your personal rhythm at a given point in time. This can be done by using percussion or dancing, and learning (or remembering!) how to move spontaneously. Moving without music, but in line with our own inner rhythm and energy levels, is also a liberating process.