Shriner's Warm-Up
Shriner's Warm-Up is an energetic full-body warm-up in which players perform a series of exaggerated physical movements in unison, often including arm circles, knee lifts, and ridiculous dances. The shared absurdity of the movements bonds the group and breaks through self-consciousness. It is a classic pre-show ritual in many improv communities.
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Related Exercises
Aerobics
Aerobics is a physical warm-up exercise in which one player leads the group through exaggerated, often absurd exercise movements. The leader adopts the persona of a fitness instructor and guides the ensemble through increasingly ridiculous physical routines, all performed with full commitment. Participants mirror the leader's movements and match their energy regardless of how outlandish the routine becomes. The exercise serves multiple functions in improv training: it raises the group's physical energy at the start of a rehearsal or class, breaks down self-consciousness by requiring participants to look foolish together, and establishes a shared physical vocabulary before scene work begins. Aerobics belongs to a family of physical warm-ups that draw from fitness disciplines such as yoga, tai chi, and martial arts, adapted for the specific needs of ensemble performance training.
Barney
Barney is an energy and movement warm-up exercise in which players adopt an exaggerated, lumbering physical character and interact with the group through simple, playful commands. The exercise asks participants to embody a large, slow, friendly creature (often described as a dinosaur or monster) and move through the space with maximum physical commitment and minimum self-consciousness. The inherent silliness of the character lowers inhibitions quickly, making Barney effective as an early warm-up for groups that are new to physical work or uncomfortable with large physical choices. The exercise builds comfort with exaggerated movement, vocal projection, and the willingness to look ridiculous in front of others, all foundational skills for improv performance.
Sock 'Em
Sock 'Em is a physical warm-up exercise in which players engage in a playful combat game using soft objects or exaggerated mimed punches. The exercise builds physical confidence, stage combat awareness, and the ability to react convincingly to imagined contact. It teaches performers to sell physical action through committed reactions.
Stretching
Stretching is a physical warm-up practice in which performers release tension and increase range of motion through guided or self-directed body movement before a rehearsal or performance. The practice grounds players in their bodies, signals the transition from everyday life into creative readiness, and reduces the risk of physical strain during exercises that involve movement, physicality, or sustained ensemble work.
Heave Ho
Heave Ho is a group energy exercise in which players build shared physical momentum through synchronized movement and vocal sounds, working toward a collective release. The group rocks or sways together, building rhythmic energy through a repeated "heave" motion, until a shared peak is reached and the group releases with "ho." The exercise builds group synchrony, physical awareness of collective rhythm, and the experience of shared energy building to a shared release.
Rubber Chicken/crazy Eights
Rubber Chicken/Crazy Eights is a high-energy warm-up exercise in which players perform a sequence of increasingly frantic physical movements while counting down from eight, then seven, then six, and so on. The accelerating pace builds group energy to a fever pitch. The exercise is a reliable session opener that breaks through low energy and self-consciousness.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Shriner's Warm-Up. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/exercises/shriners-warm-up
The Improv Archive. "Shriner's Warm-Up." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/exercises/shriners-warm-up.
The Improv Archive. "Shriner's Warm-Up." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/exercises/shriners-warm-up. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.