Originally published as our April 2020 monthly featured free lesson newsletter. You can subscribe to our mailing list (and receive four free downloadable lessons) right here.
As you may know, breathing ‘properly’ (whatever that is) – or even thinking about my breathing – makes me anxious, probably because I studied two contradictory techniques as a singer. My pandemic project has been Feldenkrais, and I now have the playful courage to dive in to breath.
(A touch of synchronicity, granted by a student I know personally: this quote is from an email I just received while putting the final touches on this post! -Nick)
Dear Feldenkrais fans,
I hope and pray this finds you safe and well.
Following the listener above, let’s dive in together! For this month’s featured content I’ve been inspired by users who have reached out enthusiastically about our Feldenkrais Project breathing lessons during the stresses of quarantine.
Below you’ll find links and descriptions for three free breathing lesson recordings, each unique in its focus. One can even be used to learn or refresh the basic Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement exploration they’re all built on in about 15 minutes!
And there’s a fourth lesson in video form, especially for Feldenkrais Project donors (available to Members and Patrons – here’s how to join the Project for as little as $3).
Whether these lessons are helpful for interrupting anxiety patterns and calming the mind, or simply supporting the healthy function of our most basic life process, I think you’ll find great value in them – and I bet you’ll find all of those effects! My own Feldenkrais-built breathing skills and awareness have been a mental lifesaver this last month.
Enjoy, stay safe, and please help us share these anxiety-reducers as widely as possible.
– Nick Strauss-Klein, creator and voice of the Feldenkrais Project
You can explore these lessons in any order, but if you’re new to Feldenkrais or paradoxical breathing lessons, I recommend starting with Lesson 1.
Free Lesson 1: Freeing Your Breath and Spine
It’s #7 in our Getting Oriented collection, but still a great place to start. You can do the first 16:30 of this lesson for a complete, simple back-lying introduction to paradoxical breathing, or enjoy the whole 37-minute lesson.
(And there’s an extended version for Patrons introducing another breathing tool.)
Free Lesson 2: Breathing from Head to Heels
Our original breath-focused Feldenkrais Project lesson. This full class recording is a more thorough exploration of paradoxical breathing.
Free Lesson 3: Differentiation of Parts and Functions in Breathing (Patrons)
A Moshe Feldenkrais original, taught in my words. Paradoxical breathing again, in different variations, configurations, and focus.
And here’s our April 17 breathing and uprightness video lesson and discussion for Feldenkrais Project Members and Patrons.
It reflects my most current thinking and teaching by linking breath explorations with healthy posture:
Members and Patrons Video lesson: Breathing Tall
After this class, a participant emailed me:
I loved your lesson yesterday…. This morning when I woke up I had a pleasant conscious awareness of my breathing in the stomach region. I love that about Feldenkrais; unknown regions coming into awareness, expanding the inner space of the body and becoming more and more alive (and calm at the same time).