Our Little Dips explore a theme of Feldenkrais learning, then illustrate it with one or more lessons. They always include at least one free lesson or other free content. Most Little Dips are first published in our newsletter.
“What Action Is Good?”
This question is Moshe Feldenkrais’s title for lesson #2 in his book Awareness Through Movement, which he wrote to introduce his method to the masses. (Here’s our collection of recordings of all 12 of these foundational lessons.)
Feldenkrais’s answer is multi-faceted and worth exploring. My free recorded talk below explains his thinking. Lessons which illustrate his answers are also included.
One of Feldenkrais’s first points deserves special attention. It’s mentioned in the talk, but worth emphasizing because it’s so richly connected to all aspects of the Feldenkrais Method:
A good action, Feldenkrais says,
must also improve a living and developing body at least to the extent that the same action will be carried out more effectively the next time.
You can hear that he’s implying learning, learning better ways to do what we’re doing as we’re doing it. This is an inspiring standard he sets, which he means for us to apply in regular life, not just in his lessons. Feldenkrais teaches us to pay attention to our experience of everything we’re doing in such a way that we continually refine ourselves and our abilities.
This process can be harnessed to create more and more ease, autonomy, and dignity in our lives. When we follow the path of action that is good for us, Feldenkrais explains that we may even discover deeply satisfying abilities we hadn’t even dreamed of!
To learn more, dip into the talk and lessons below.
– Nick
“What Action Is Good?”
Free Talk (20 min)
Nick’s talk dives deeply into Moshe Feldenkrais’s answer in lesson #2 of his Awareness Through Movement book. Learn about many of the principles of physics, neurology, and psychology on which Feldenkrais built his method.
This was the best I have ever heard about Feldenkrais! Thank you so much for explaining it so clearly!!!
-Anna
Some Fundamental Properties of Movement
Unlocked for all through May 6
Normally a Patrons lesson, free right now! This is Nick’s rendition of lesson #3 from the ATM book. It’s a powerful classic with important connections to lesson #2.
Reversible Diagonal Lengthening and Lifting
Bonus video content for all Members & Patrons
An expansion of lesson #3 in the ATM book. Nick created it to illustrate his talk on lesson #2, above.
For more on these themes, check out this additional free content: