Lavinia Plonka
Lavinia Plonka Quick Facts
With more than 30 years of experience in the field of movement studies, Lavinia Plonka puts a new spin on studying body language. Instead of teaching people how to just "read" others, Lavinia teaches people awareness of their own "invisible" postures, gestures and expressions that interfere with attaining their desired goals.
Lavinia has written two books: What Are You Afraid Of? A Body/Mind Guide to Courageous Living and Walking Your Talk: Changing Your Life Through the Magic of Body Language, both published by Tarcher/Penguin and available in several languages. She has also recorded several CDs, available from her website.
Lavinia's award winning career in movement spans the globe, theater and television, including a Clio Award, Emmy nomination and several grants including the National Endowment for the arts. She is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais® Teacher (For more information about the Feldenkrais Method® visit her website).
Lavinia combines all of these disciplines into synergistic workshops that she teaches internationally. The subjects range from body language to creativity to communication skills. A dynamic speaker, she loves to inspire others to discover the power in their body language. She coaches professionals around the world and maintains a busy private practice as director of Asheville Movement Center in NC.
Articles by this expert
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Article
Freedom to Move, Freedom to Be
I was in my late 30’s, at the height of my performing career, but my body felt like I was ready for the junk heap. My back hurt almost all the time. I was going to the chiropractor, massage therapist and acupuncturist just to be able to keep getting on the stage. I was convinced that I had something terribly wrong with me. One time, I peeked at the chiropractor’s chart to see my diagnosis. It said “Lumbago.” Wow. I was impressed. Then I looked it up. Lumbago means lower back
June 7, 2012
Article
Listen To the Hand
Listen To the Hand Whether you were taught to fold your hands on your lap, hold your hands behind your back, or shove them in your pockets, you won’t be able to avoid the fact that your hands are communicating all the time. After many years of debate, researchers have finally agreed with ancient wisdom: gestures precede words. Although we can’t travel back to early humans and how they communicated, we can surmise from this that gesture has been a key ingredient in conversati
April 1, 2011
Article
Where's Your Head?
Where's Your Head? The class members all lowered their heads and began to walk around the room. "Depressed," stated one. "Near-sighted," announced another. "Not very healthy," averred a third. "Reminds me of my childhood," said Al. When we were seated, he continued, "When I was young, I always looked down at the floor. My father was always yelling, 'Straighten up! Pick up your head!' but I couldn't." Al now walks with his head jutting forward, his chest sunk deeply down, with
September 1, 2009
Article
Effortless Effort
Josie is poised, unmoving, as she focuses her gaze. Her intention is clear. She moves through the grass like a slow motion film, periodically freezing, one paw in the air. Then in a blur of fur, she runs, leaps and the unfortunate vole that I couldn’t even see is history. Cats don’t struggle with self- esteem issues, they don’t get stressed about their childhoods as they pursue their dreams. Every move is economical, efficient and precise. If they fail, they walk away, lick t
September 1, 2009
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Favorite Quotes & Thoughts from Lavinia Plonka
"If you know what you're doing, you can do what you want." Moshe Feldenkrais