Body Wisdom is the national non-profit responsible for managing and promoting InterPlay, an active creative way to unlock the wisdom of the body. I've been involved with them for 15 years and what I love the most is the staff and volunteers use the creative tools of InterPlay to be a body-wise non-profit. This means we realize that people are not machines, expected to keep running without rest or reward. We treasure our volunteers and staff and support one another to weather the storms of the economy realizing that people need to play more in tough times, not less. We've been supporting one another recently to use technology tools to hold on line meetings where we can see one another which makes board meetings lots of fun.
My workaholic career, though tremendously satisfying, prevented me from developing an extended band of deeply supportive, creative friends. I was an expert at research, program development/management, finances, and professional speaking, but I didn’t think I was very creative. I just knew how to work hard. THEN I found InterPlay Pittsburgh (affiliate of Body Wisdom, Inc.) and WOW! I’ve discovered the power of playfulness, that I can tell great stories and even move gracefully! I’ve rediscovered my love of singing. I’ve formed deep bonds with people I would never have met in my former, more narrowly defined world. I am a much better public speaker (more at ease and engaging of any size audience from Judges to children); I’m generally more at ease in all that I do. I’ve been awestruck by the creativity of others of all ages and walks of life. I feel greater freedom to be me. InterPlay has unlocked a lot of what I didn’t know I even had. Therapeutic? Life-learning? Community-building? You bet. And it’s all done within an affirming, well- tested, effective curriculum of improv “forms” so anyone, even a geeky person like me, can experience more ease in life, quickly! This is a truly giving nonprofit with experienced and wise leadership. InterPlay Pittsburgh, where I volunteer, funds scholarships for those interested in using InterPlay for improving their lives and the communities around them.
I was coming out of a very dark time after my second divorce. It was time to go out and find my tribe. I received an email about an InterPlay Untensive Retreat that would explore creativity through InterPlay. My curiosity was peaked. I still to this day have no idea from whom this email came....but it has lead me on a remarkable journey of transformation, empowerment and leadership. This organization supports a non-heirachical leadership structure and is relentless in addrerssing ways that anyone who wants InterPlay in their lives can have it. This has afforded me the ability to fully participate in a way that other 'pay in advance' programs wouldn't allow. The people who are 'playing' within this organization are some of the most caring, concerned and fun people that walk the planet. They are deeply rooted in social justice issues and want the best for the world. I would rate Body Wisdom as a Top 10 non-profit organization!