The Joy of Improv

Have you ever been scared to death (figuratively speaking) to do something fun that might embarrass you but did it anyway? Did you find that it brought you joy?

If so, you were probably in the moment, once you began your scary adventure. Because when you are able to be in the moment - the present moment, with present moment awareness - there is no anxiety about the past or worry about the future. You are focused on what you are experiencing. And it can be scary and fun at the same time. You can just BE.

So, why is it so frightening to just be? Who. We. Are.

We were able to play as kids and not worry about what the adults were thinking of us. They weren’t thinking anything about us anyway. They were worried about what others might be thinking of their parenting skills.

We all feel like we need to be perfect. Not embarrass ourselves. Not let on that we are human. As an adult, play becomes foreign to us. Play is imperfect and there is no right or wrong. If you need certainty in your life, play is not something you allow yourself.

But we need to get out of our comfort zone if we want to learn to really be in the moment and experience joy. If you want to reduce your stress, worry, and anxiety about everyday stressors, play is important, even crucial, to our mental health.

Brene Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston, recently quoted play theorist Brian Sutton-Smith, “The opposite of play isn’t work. It’s depression.” According to Brown and Sutton-Smith, “Play is not a frivolous distraction from the seriousness of work, but it is rather a necessary activity to keep us mentally and socially fit. The act of engaging in imaginative play increases empathy, improves creativity, and gives us a mental break from stressful thoughts.”

What does it mean to play as adults? Make mud pies? Cut out paper dolls? Jump rope? Swing on swings in the park? How do we play and what do we do to have fun?

We participate in an Improv class! Yes, and we encourage others to take the class with us so we can play together.

Let’s look at some main tenets of Improv.

1. Say Yes-and!
   The main rule of improv is to agree with your partner. You want to make your partner look good by setting them up to succeed. You accept what another participant has stated (the “yes”) and then expand on that line of thinking (the “and”). The yes and makes a scene collaborative instead of a monologue.
   
   Saying no or but, closes down the action and stops the flow and the spontaneity.
   
   For a story to be built, whether it is short-form or long-form, the players have to agree to the basic situation and setup. After the `and` add new information.
   
   An improvised scene can't move forward or advance unless we add new information. That is why new information is added after the Yes of Yes-and!
   
   

2. Make a statement instead of asking questions.
   When you make a statement after you agree with your partner and say Yes, and, I think…instead of asking a question, you are making it easier on your partner to then continue with the scene or exercise. Asking a question can throw off the flow and put your partner in an awkward position.
   
   A form of blocking (in its more subtle form) is asking questions. Questions force our partners to fill in the information or do the work. It is a way of avoiding committing to a choice or a detail. It is playing it safe.
   
   

3. Focus on the Here and Now.
   Focus on what is going on right in the moment: your partner’s expressions, movement, body language, etc. This allows for spontaneity and where to go next – what’s right there in front of you so you don’t have to think about what to do next – you can be attentive to the situation and go.
   
   What are the benefits of doing Improv?
   
   

4. Supporting another’s ideas can improve your relationships.
   As you’re developing the skills of improv, you’ll find yourself being more supportive of other’s ideas in real-world situations. It can build teamwork as you collaborate on a project. You’ll see that the people around you feel more at ease and contribute more freely because it’s a safe space to communicate. You’ll see people opening up to you in new ways because you accept their ideas and encourage them. They’ll feel more fully listened to and that you’re really paying attention to them. Instead of saying no to someone else, try to understand where they’re coming from. Try to build on their ideas and offer suggestions.
   
   

5. You’ll start to see yourself as more creative.
   Many people think they aren’t creative. Writers can have writer's block and can go years without writing.  You discover that playing it safe is really just playing it boring and that you can let your guard down and show your own natural creativity. You can squelch that writers block, or even start to write if you never have.
   
   

6. You learn to use and develop the creative “right side of the brain” vs. the linear “left side of the brain.” You can experience a sense of freedom when you recognize that you can unleash your endless creativity at will.
   
   

7. Improve your quality of life. Seniors may benefit from improv. Initial research shows it may improve quality of life and ward off memory loss. Improv gives seniors an excellent way to enjoy positive social relationships on a regular basis, while laughing and having fun. 
   
   Yes, and... lastly but never lastly because there is always more.
   
   

8. Improv is FUN. It’s play! And being in the moment can be fun, and playful! You can be a kid again, be spontaneous, and be doubled over in fits of laughter.

Yes, and... Improv is joyful! And joyful is where it’s at! So, find an improv class near you and start learning to play again!