Knees draw the arms
Submitted by Lynette Reid on Thu, 2007-04-05 14:34
If movements of your knees can reach your fingertips, and movements of your fingertips can reach your knees...that must mean we are each one of us a single whole creature, no?
NB: The audio is a little crappy this week. Sorry! The mike connection to the iPod wasn't secure and there were snaps and clicks, which I then tried to take out. We lose a few whole phrases through these snaps and cracks.
- Lesson Title: Knees draw the arms
- Teacher: Lynette Reid
- Length: 48:18 minutes (8.29 MB)
- Format: MP3 Stereo 11kHz
falling
So....what does it have to do with falling?
I've taught this lesson a million times, as it's in my favorite collection of "good basic lessons." (Mia & Gaby's SF Evening Class, 1977-78, available from Feldenkrais Resources.
Recently I was at a workshop with Jeremy Krauss studying the AY lessons, and we were working on 44. Crazy lesson. Anyway, this M&G lesson is like a baby beginner version of AY 44. Our work with 44 gave me a whole new perspective on the last section of this lesson. The way that letting the heavy knees tilt to the side--and lengthening (not reflexively shortening) on the side you're tilting to--can be seen as a balance challenge, a challenge to that reflexive response to falling, was a surprise to me.
So how can you take this lesson to a more challenging place? AY 44 works with using your free arm to pull the arm that's overhead (take hold of the wrist!) so eventually it comes under your head. You can keep rolling with those knees until you come onto your side (and what are the options for where your head goes?)--but do that with reversibility. And then...well, I'll have to record 44 some day. You can do all sorts of crazy things with your legs here!
Or if you want to work with this lesson through refinement--how about trying all that knee tilting with your feet in different places? Really go slowly, take breaks, don't rush: but feel what a difference it makes to the line drawing up and through your body to have your feet in different places.
Enjoy!
Lynette
audio quality
Turns out the lapel mic wasn't plugged in securely. It was recording through the integrated microphone from my back pocket, which is why you get hard disk noise and the loud traffic when I lean against the windowsill.
Knees draw the arms
Great lesson. I've done similar ones before but I think it's your way of communication, Lynette - so easy and calm.
Distribution of tonus was the main lesson for me today. I have something going on in my left great trochanter and it grumbles whenever I have to do movements such as tilting the legs to the right. Today I became aware that I have a tendency not to allow the left side of the back to release off the floor and go with the legs which puts added strain on the trochanter and the hip flexors. When I allowed the back to share the movement, it became much easier.
Also, as you point out in the lesson, the head and neck can go with the legs or in opposition, but today I noticed that if I kept my head centre, there was a natural lengthening at the back of the neck which caused my chin to tilt straight down towards my breastbone.
After the lesson, I went out in the street and as well as feeling remarkably tall, I was also very aware of being a body in space rather than the usual chattering head.
Thanks again
Laurance
Laurance Rudic
http://www.laurancerudic.blogspot.com
Post new comment