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How we learn (with) Feldenkrais

Awareness Through Movement cover

In his book Awareness Through Movement, Moshe imagines that a reader, after working through the twelve lessons he presents there, could continue with his or her own daily practice, thinking up new lessons and spending as much time as he or she chooses on them (p. 64).

It is not my experience that people approach their learning in and through Feldenkrais that way. I know that for years I enjoyed coming and lying on the floor, being guided through these beautiful sequences of movements, doing less, feeling more, and most importantly, having no homework.

But I find for myself and for many students these days, there is much more interest in having a "personal practice," as we say now, influenced by yoga. I've been setting up a project I call "Do-It-Yourself ATM" designed to create better conditions for the possibility of people doing just that.

If you sign up at DIY ATM, you have access to recorded ATM lessons, and brief discussions of principles and activities to make use of in doing the work. And you can share your experiences and your inventions with others in the process.

Feldenkrais teaches a deep form of basic literacy--the "logic" of the human being in action. We all learn to write for ourselves, in our own handwriting; this does not mean that we do not appreciate those who have cultivated and studied more extensively the art of writing and do it as professionals. Indeed the development of our own capacity to compose strengthens our ability to learn from and to appreciate those who make it a life study in another sense.

Register (it's free) and try it out.

The project may be interesting to you as well if you are a practitioner; you are welcome to contribute lesson recordings or schema and theme discussions.

eyes -movement in link with gravity

I 'm very glad, to find here a site to discuss about ATM experience, but I need first to translate correctly from french language what I would like discuss.but, I shall try...
the question:
for many years, my head fall down on the right shoulder when I am at rest. it' very tired to get sleeping.
I found a respons at this problem: ...only keeping my eyes (not my head) on the left shoulder. the result was, I began to feel better my left shoulder, more relaxed. I felt the weigt of my head on the right transfered on theleft, and so my head naturally came right. In the same way I felt the diagonal beetween my left shoulder and my right foot ,..it was impossible before.
It's interesting to see that the eyes'déviation changes all the sense of lived body, and successes to correct the position of the head at rest.

A lovely story of a personal

A lovely story of a personal epiphany. The eyes are so fundamental... See this image I love: Eyes and Nervous System.

"I myself can work alone

"I myself can work alone these days (I felt I had no other choice till now )But I need some company,contact,connection with others in my area of interest. The lack of it has hindered me, now I feel thats about to change. This proyect is good Moshe's work."

That is the perfect way of puting it. The same is true for me. I am looking forward to joining.

  • By Anonymous (not verified) at 2007-06-30 16:52
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welcome!

Well, I'm glad you've found it and I'm glad the process speaks to you now!

DIY ATM About time!

What a great proyect, words like bold, creative, fresh, ,needed and others come to mind. Support like this will really make a difference to those interested in this area. Is great that technology can be used in such a positive manner. Sign me up for sure. I feel as excited
as I did when I first discovered Feldenkrais. I guess people can learn in different ways and some may do it alone and without needing any support at all. I guess Moshe was at least least offering a rich and strong foundation to those without any other alternative. I myself can work alone these days ( I felt I had no other choice till now )But I need some company,contact,connection with others in my area of interest. The lack of it has hindered me, now I feel thats about to change. This proyect is good Moshe's work.