How Aligning Body, Words, and Intention Can Transform the Way We Speak and Connect — Participants Share Their Discoveries
“Today, I’m going to turn all of you into actresses!” (Laughs)
That was how I opened a special online workshop on October 7, hosted by the Japan Chictivity Association.
The workshop, titled Speak with the Charm and Presence of an Actress, explored the theme “How to Create an Aura of Presence in an Instant.”
Designed for women balancing work, family, and everyday responsibilities, this 45-minute interactive experience invited participants to discover their natural charm and presence through acting-inspired exercises.
I first stepped onto the stage at the age of three and have spent many years exploring physical expression and performance. Today, I draw on that experience and professional acting techniques through my original methodology, Body Speech, to coach business executives, organizational leaders, TEDx speakers, and students in public speaking and presentation skills.
For this workshop, I took a more playful approach, inviting participants to step into the world of acting and discover how much we can communicate beyond words.
Presence Begins Before We Speak
Have you ever watched an actor enter a scene and immediately capture your attention?
They haven’t spoken a single word, yet something about them draws you in. They appear confident without being intimidating, and their presence naturally commands attention.
Through my years on stage, I’ve come to believe that this kind of presence is deeply connected to how we use our bodies and direct our attention.
At the heart of Body Speech is the alignment of body, words, and intention.
It’s not simply about what we say. It’s about how we prepare ourselves before speaking, how we stand in front of others, and what we genuinely want to communicate.
When we change the state we bring into a conversation, we can begin to change how our message is received.
In this workshop, I adapted acting techniques into accessible exercises using mirrors, lipstick, movement, voice, and different ways of delivering the same words.
Starting with a High Five in the Mirror
We began with an exercise inspired by Mel Robbins’ High Five Habit.
First, everyone exchanged virtual high fives through their screens.
Then, using small mirrors they had prepared, participants gave themselves a high five.
When we look in the mirror, many of us instinctively focus on what we don’t like about ourselves.
But this time, the invitation was different: to acknowledge and encourage ourselves for everything we’d done that day.
Smiles quickly spread across the screens, creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere from the very beginning.
Becoming an Actress with Just One Lipstick
Next came an exercise inspired by the expressive movements of actresses.
Using a commercial from an international cosmetics brand as inspiration, participants explored how to lift a lipstick, look into a mirror, adjust their posture, control the pace of their movements, and use facial expressions with intention.
And of course, I joined in.
Here’s the video we used.
“I’m feeling incredibly embarrassed too!” I laughed.
Together, we enjoyed the freedom of experimenting with different ways of expressing ourselves.
Actors often use costumes, makeup, and physical movement to step into a character.
This exercise wasn’t simply about looking beautiful.
It was about discovering new possibilities within ourselves by trying expressions that might feel unfamiliar in everyday life.
After the workshop, one participant shared:
“By becoming conscious of these small changes, I could immediately notice a difference. Most of all, I could truly step into the role of an actress and discover a different side of myself.”
Another participant wrote:
“I realized that I could practice expressing my femininity in front of the mirror, even when I’m alone, and that I could give myself permission to do so. Seeing myself that way made me feel a little more beautiful and a little more confident.”
These reflections reminded me that experimenting with how we express ourselves can also change how we see ourselves.
The Same Words, Four Different Impressions
In the second half of the workshop, we explored an exercise that can also be applied directly to public speaking and presentations.
The phrase was simple:
“Thank you for today.”
Participants delivered it in four different ways:
- Naturally
- Confidently
- Sweetly and playfully
- With elegance and grace
The words stayed exactly the same.
Yet changes in vocal tone, eye contact, facial expression, posture, gestures, and pauses created noticeably different impressions.
Participants shared their discoveries:
“I realized that communication isn’t just about what we say. Our posture, movements, and even the pauses between words have the power to communicate.”
“Listening to everyone say ‘Thank you for today’ in four different ways reminded me how much the impact of a message can change simply through awareness.”
We then moved into small breakout groups for an exercise called Discovering Your Unique Charm.
Each person spoke while the others shared the positive qualities they noticed.
There was just one rule:
When someone gives you a compliment, simply say, “Thank you,” and receive it.
Sometimes, other people recognize qualities in us that we haven’t yet noticed ourselves.
Speaking is not only about expressing who we are. It is also about building relationships with others.
“I’m Going to Try This at Work Tomorrow!”
One of the most rewarding parts of the experience was hearing how participants planned to apply what they had learned.
The following day, I received messages such as:
“I have an opportunity to speak at work tomorrow, so I’m going to be more conscious of opening my gestures and using pauses.”
“I’m going to practice the sense of spaciousness and the use of pauses that you taught us, both in everyday conversations and during presentations.”
“I came away feeling inspired to put these techniques into practice, both in my personal life and in my work as an instructor.”
One participant even shared the exercises with another community member who hadn’t been able to attend, and they practiced together.
For me, this is one of the most meaningful outcomes of teaching.
A workshop becomes more than a one-time experience when participants begin bringing what they’ve learned into their workplaces, conversations, and everyday lives.
From Acting Techniques to Business Communication
Although this workshop focused on helping women discover and express their personal charm, its underlying principles are the same ones I use when coaching executives and leaders in public speaking and presentations.
Consider the moments when a CEO communicates a company vision, a manager explains a new direction to a team, or a sales professional presents a proposal to a client.
Even the most carefully chosen words may not have their intended impact if the speaker’s voice, facial expressions, physical presence, and intention are not aligned.
Conversely, the same message can be received very differently depending on how the speaker stands, how they engage with their audience, and the intention behind their delivery.
Body Speech is not simply about changing how you speak. It begins by transforming the state you bring into speaking.
By aligning body, words, and intention, we can develop a more authentic and compelling presence.
These principles can be applied to everyday communication as well as high-stakes business presentations.
My workshops emphasize direct experience rather than passive learning.
Participants are invited to move, speak, experiment, and notice the differences for themselves.
During this online session, I also adapted the flow of the workshop in response to participants’ reactions, creating opportunities for interaction and connection even through a screen.
Whether I’m performing on stage, delivering a keynote, or leading a workshop, one principle remains constant:
The most meaningful experiences are created together with the people in front of us.
Speaking Engagements, Corporate Training, and Media Inquiries
Mayumi Ogata, founder of Body Speech, draws on her extensive stage experience and professional acting techniques to coach business executives, organizational leaders, TEDx speakers, and students in public speaking and presentation skills.
Speaking engagements and training programs can be tailored to different audiences and organizational needs.
For CEOs and Executive Leaders
Executive presence, leadership communication, and delivering a compelling vision through public speaking.
For Managers and Team Leaders
Communicating clearly with employees, strengthening leadership presence, and building trust through communication.
For Sales and Presentation Teams
Delivering compelling client presentations and developing practical skills in voice, eye contact, pauses, and gestures.
For Women’s Leadership and Personal Development Programs
Developing confidence, authentic presence, and expressive communication through acting-inspired techniques.
For Schools and Educational Institutions
Interactive workshops focused on self-expression, public speaking, presentation skills, and developing the confidence to communicate.
Coaching and workshops are available in both Japanese and English, online and in person.
Media inquiries are also welcome on topics including the application of acting techniques to business communication, executive presence, nonverbal expression, and the role of physical awareness in public speaking.
For keynote speaking, corporate training, workshops, or media interviews, please contact us through the official website’s inquiry form.
Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Japan Chictivity Association for inviting me, and to everyone who participated so enthusiastically and shared such thoughtful feedback.
I look forward to continuing to bring the art of physical expression from the stage into everyday communication, leadership, and public speaking — helping more people discover the power of their own voice and presence.
コメント