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  • Priscilla on Connecting Shoulders and Hips Part 2

    Thank you, very helpful!

    April 9, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Connecting Shoulders and Hips Part 2

    Thanks for commenting - it's great to give voice to challenges in these lessons! I'm guessing you're talking about the leg movements? They definitely benefit from a smoother surface to help reduce the friction, a smooth mat or blanket or glossier rug (almost no one can lie comfortably on their side on a hardwood floor - I definitely can't!). The other big ingredient is counter-balancing: having done the lesson, I wonder if a second exploration (after a couple days or weeks) where you begin with your learned awareness that the hips roll back when the leg slides forward, and forward when the leg slides back, will help you find a pleasant coordination and much less effort. Explore very minimal movements for as long as you need to. If the range grows, it should grow in pleasure and ease, not by willpower. Reaching a little into the Related Lessons tab: Side Clocks is a smaller, more proximal variant on this lesson. For a very quiet study of the beginnings and ends of movements in this lesson, try The Liminal Lesson (Patrons). It's all about how we organize ourselves internally before action begins. Hope that helps! Don't hesitate to comment again with questions.

    April 9, 2025

  • Priscilla on Connecting Shoulders and Hips Part 2

    I'm envious of everybody else's experiences of this lesson! For me it's fairly challenging. Friction with the floor makes the opening a lot of effort. I'm having a hard time imagining anyway around that except maybe lying on a hardwood floor so that it's slippery (though uncomfortable). I only made it about halfway through the lesson, and although the friction problem disappears, I'm still really puzzled about how it starts to feel effortless. I don't know if I just don't have the right strength for this one or if it's a matter of finding the right coordination. I guess towards the end, maybe I started to have some small feelings of easier moments. I feel like I must be missing some piece of how to engage with the directions.

    April 9, 2025

  • Sara on Curiosity, Not Mastery: Three Dimensional Shoulder and Hip Circles (Patrons)

    A very pleasant warm feeling in my back as I'm walking afterwards, feeling much more aware of the back of my body than usual. Neck and head also much lighter and lifted.

    April 9, 2025

  • Kay Sweeney on Legs as Free as a Baby’s

    I just can't believe how I felt when I finished this lesson. i am a 93-year-old woman and I felt like 30 again. I have been having lower back more stiffness than pain, but it is very uncomfortable. At the end of the lesson, it was gone. I am walking around with ease. A great lesson!

    April 8, 2025

  • Jacob Slominski on Anatomy in Action: Scapulas
    (Members & Patrons bonus video)

    Really liked this one. Brought on a little soreness in my right shoulder but feels in a good direction. Today, after doing this lesson last night, I could really feel my scapulas wrapping and sliding around my ribs as I swam in the pool. Aware of more options for moving, rotating, lengthening my arms.

    April 7, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Folding, Foundation, and Feet

    Pardon my slow reply. The self-image is both the things you said: it is our concept, in body/mind/social spheres—and everything else that we are—of who and what we are, and what we can do. Arguably the most important thing Feldenkrais ever said or wrote is simply the first sentence of Awareness Through Movement: "We act in accordance with our self-image." To improve ourselves we must change our self-image, in order to change our behavior.

    April 6, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Easing the Jaw, Neck, and Shoulders

    Can't say from afar about your first question, but for your second, I believe I mean to notice any movements or tensions in the neck and chest that are parasitic or unnecessary to moving the jaw and head. A comfortable sense of wholeness is always a good thing, so your interpretation sounds good (sense it, watch out for tension). For your final question, you might want to check out holding the breath and balancing the breath (look for those phrases) in Breathing with Vitality. Working with the closure of the airway, and "leaning" a slow exhale on consonants, are both nice ways to start on the path you're curious about.

    April 6, 2025

  • matt on Easing the Jaw, Neck, and Shoulders

    Nick, Great lesson as always. or years when in deep meditation (anapanasati) I experience my bottom lip pulling under my upper lip. In today's lesson I realize (or wonder) if this just jaw relaxation)? Another question: when moving jaw and head you suggest to notice movement in the neck and chest (and I find I do feel musculature there moving) then then you say to quiet this...so I am trying to sense it, but then not let it exaggerate or cause tension? Just a little confused by the two instructions: to notice connectivity but then to quiet it). Finally: I imagine there are lessons somewhere that relate even more then way we talk (jaw, tongue) to neck and chest muscles? feels profound just as I notice.

    April 5, 2025

  • Diane on Music on a Mission: Recordings from Another Lifetime

    WOW! I put my headset on, closed my eyes and felt myself transported to a concert hall where you were on stage, Nick, dressed in a black tuxedo seated at a Grand Piano and simply experienced the music. You are a Maestro- so accomplished! Thank you for sharing your music and the story of how Feldenkrais brought you to a deeper level of yourself. Classical piano May live in your heart but Feldenkrais dwells in your soul.

    April 4, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Differentiation of Parts and Functions in Breathing (Patrons)

    There’s no set guideline for when to repeat a lesson or move on, besides your active curiosity. If it feels rote to repeat, it’s probably best to do another lesson (check out the Context and Related Lessons tabs above for more breathing lessons, if that’s what you’re curious about). On the other hand, if you loved how you felt and want another chance to explore what led to that state, you can repeat a lesson as often as you like! This particular genre (paradoxical breathing) is probably the type of lesson I’ve done the most of, personally! There are 3-4 versions of it in the breathing Deep Dive. Regarding digestive issues, any lessons that promote space and length through the lower torso are great. This is a good genre for that. You can also explore our pelvic floor lessons, the tanden lessons, and lessons about spinal lengthening or lifting up and through.

    March 31, 2025

  • Michael on Differentiation of Parts and Functions in Breathing (Patrons)

    P.S. I'm trying to address digestive issues.

    March 31, 2025

  • Michael on Differentiation of Parts and Functions in Breathing (Patrons)

    I did this lesson yesterday and it was really terrific. I had an amazing feeling of tension having left my body. I'm wondering what lesson I should do today, or if I should repeat this one. I've done various Feldenkrais breathing lessons in the past, but nothing recently.

    March 31, 2025

  • Karin on Breathing for Liftoff (35m + 25m, Patrons)

    Thanks, Nick. It really enlivens the space and context.

    March 23, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Breathing for Liftoff (35m + 25m, Patrons)

    Not mine. May have come from Feldenkrais himself somewhere but I learned it from Feldenkrais Trainer Richard Corbeil.

    March 23, 2025

  • Karin on Breathing for Liftoff (35m + 25m, Patrons)

    Really interesting experiment when the room breathes in as I breathe out and the room breathes out as I breathe in. I love it. Is this your innovation or does it figure in one of Moshe Feldenkrais' lessons and if so which one? Thank you!

    March 22, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Chanukia, the Candle Holder Lesson

    Your instincts are good. In the short term keeping the area quiet while exploring functional mobility at far ends of the chain of joints is great. Long term, gently rediscovering mobilization of the shoulders, arm rotation, and upper ribs will be important. Going quietly and inquisitively in all phases of healing is essential. Every new step in any lesson is to be met with "should I or shouldn't I?" and a slow fade from imagination into light action. Use our Search & Filter's advanced options thoroughly: omit the keyword, filter for Most Accessible lessons, and exclude body positions that aren't available right now. Then browse the results' lesson descriptions and see what appeals to you. There are many, many lessons without arm rotation or major shoulder involvement. Don't be concerned if there are sections of otherwise accessible lessons that you feel you should skip. Just rest and breathe and imagine - it will help. Do explore lessons you think aren't related at all: you will be consciously working around and with the injury, integrating it as it heals, even if on the surface it seems like the lesson is "off topic."

    March 20, 2025

  • UR on Chanukia, the Candle Holder Lesson

    Hello Nick, Could you please recommend lessons to do after a collarbone fracture? Ideally, I would appreciate your thoughts on immediate and longer-term care. My initial idea is to mobilise the pelvis (pelvic clock). Also, very gentle movements with the hand, such as Bell hand come to mind. As most lessons I know include rotating movement, I would appreciate your suggestion. Thank you.

    March 19, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on The Buttocks

    Hard to say a lot without knowing more about him, but your line of thinking about your son makes sense. This is a bit of an odd first Feldenkrais lesson, so if he's new maybe consider inviting him to lead up to it by going through at least some of Getting Oriented, and/or exploring it in context in its collection, or the Grounding for Liftoff Deep Dive.

    March 16, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Length Without Effort (36m)

    Hard to say from a distance. Keep moving slowly and minimally as you move in these types of explorations and you'll get more and more sensitive to how they affect you as you're doing the lesson. Consider exploring other studies in the Related Lessons tab, or use our Search & Filter. It's also ok to avoid lessons/positions that are hard to navigate at this time, and circle back to them everyone once in a while to see how your learning is developing as you explore Feldenkrais.

    March 16, 2025

  • Kay Sweeney on Length Without Effort (36m)

    Repeated this lesson today. Interesting. The discomfort has moved to my hips and lower back more than my knees and more after the lesson than during it. I do feel more solidly on my legs and feet after the lesson but with some discomfort in lower back. Any clues to why that might be?

    March 16, 2025

  • matt on The Buttocks

    Nick, second time through the buttocks lesson and just listened to the arches lesson. My son is both hypotonic and has collapsed arches (and wears orthotics). He also has weak but muscles and tight hamstrings...I am beginning to see a connection, it all clicked in when standing (in this lesson) clenching both butt muscles and noticing the feet arching and weight moving to the outside of the feet. My question is that intuitively from this (as someone without colapsed arches) these exercises would be good for one who has them. In my son's case he works on flexing his arches (from a PT) but this seems complementary and more intigrative. Would appreciate any advice/reflection on this. sorry for poor spelling.

    March 8, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Frequently Asked Questions

    Sure, and depending on your state, and/or the particular lesson, it may lead to a nap, or perking up!

    March 5, 2025

  • Romily on Frequently Asked Questions

    Thank you. I am going to experiment with doing it at different times of day to see which works best. I have noticed that my energy levels are lowest in the mid afternoon. Is it ok to do the lessons during a time of low energy? Thank you once again.

    March 5, 2025

  • Ralph Hadden on Relaxing Your Neck and Jaw (39m)

    Thanks Nick, our study group enjoyed your lesson. One group member had neck pain for several days, joined us with a heat pack on her neck. At the end of the lesson her neck pain was gone! The power of Feldenkrais- we all agreed- simple, yet complex and effective!

    March 3, 2025

  • matt on Softening the Ribs

    Thanking you for this!

    March 2, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Bending Sideways

    Aw, shucks, Wendy, that's a beautiful, deeply meaningful compliment. Thank you. I remain at my core fascinated by pedagogy, by the inter-subjective challenge of communicating about the nitty-gritty, moment-to-moment operating details of a human life. I recently found a quote that will find a larger context on this website soon, by American poet Mary Oliver: Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.

    March 2, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Lesson Search & Filter

    I like movements of gentle rotation of the forearms, and mobilization of the scapulas, to free elbows of repetitive and specific tissue pressures. Explore lightly and softly, work asymmetrically whenever necessary to maximize comfort, and try Softening the Ribs or Anatomy in Action: Scapulas (Members & Patrons bonus video) or Rotating, Interlacing, and Integrating the Hands, into Palms Lengthening Overhead (Patrons). Do not apply any force; rather alter the lesson as necessary so the pleasant curiosities of exploration are the highest value, not interpreting every detail of the instructions "correctly."

    March 2, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Softening the Ribs

    If you're exploring in comfort, and with a friendly wide-open curiosity toward your tightness, you can spend a little extra time with it. However, often a less direct route leads to more rapid and lasting change: when you study the "good" shoulder, and the tight shoulder's movements in the larger context of the lessons, you expand your mind's image of what a shoulder is, how it can feel, and how it can function. This seeds your imagination for what's possible for the tight shoulder. Image precedes action, so as you learn to treat the tight shoulder not like a problem to be solved, but a part of the whole of you that is functioning more efficiently and pleasantly, your habits of holding it tightly will slip away. They have less "scaffolding" supporting them in your nervous system, because your image of action is different than the self-use that built the habits of unnecessary tightness.

    March 2, 2025

  • Ellie Rollins on Spiraling into Circling the Arm Under (Patrons)

    So pleasurable and freeing. Like I just woke up from the best nap and had the best cat stretch of my life. As I ironed out my sides I noticed I sunk into flexing the seemingly opposite muscles on my other side to create the most pleasurable resistance. Like when you wake up. Or used to wake up long so. Almost as if I just did get good rest and I am now strong and relaxed. Incredibly refreshing. A++

    March 2, 2025

  • Wendy Hoben on Bending Sideways

    I do this lesson every few months and each tine I listen to Nick I become aware of new layers and nuances I haven’t noticed before. I’ve had things from this particular lesson—new coordinations, new understandings of myself—pop onto my awareness as I go about my daily life (also while skiing which is not so daily). That happens with other lessons too, but right now this one seems to be the one best at sneaking beneath my usual movement patterns and tricking me into simpler, fluid ways of moving that feel delicious.! I used to just like Nick’s voice, his clarity, and his commitment to sharing Feldenkrais widely rather than for maximum profit. But now after having done ATMs guided by many others, I am continually impressed by Nick’s depth of perception and ability to communicate a level of bodily awareness to me by coaxing it out of my own experience of the lesson movements.. That’s an amazing gift. Thanks Nick.

    March 1, 2025

  • susan Meier on Lesson Search & Filter

    Just wondering what would be the best exercise for tennis elbow if there is one. Thanks

    February 25, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Frequently Asked Questions

    Welcome – I think it's great that you're exploring Feldenkrais, given your interests and challenges. And yes, it's helpful for your learning if you can let yourself get quiet before and after a Feldenkrais lesson. Studying before bed is great! Some people, especially creatives, find it useful to do ATM lessons early in the day, to quiet the nervous system and become more open and clear in their minds. As you wrote, though, you may not want to start with this strategy. I would experiment, and do a lot of lessons. Trying to do a short lesson every day may be a great way to start.

    February 19, 2025

  • matt on Softening the Ribs

    thanks, Nick. another question: I have a tight shoulder-chest (left side). Tight in the sense that the whole shoulder looks much shorter, less open and defined than the other. So many of the instructions (this lesson in particular) seem to work toward opening the shoulder (if I am saying this right). My instinct then is to spend a bunch of time working on just my tight shoulder to open it more (with the various exercises that are within the larger lessons- in this case the lifting of the elbow and replacing to lengthen, but also self-hugging and so on). Does that sound right?

    February 19, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Softening the Ribs

    Yes, “shining” means turning over your interlaced hands and aiming the palms toward the ceiling or a side-wall. If you interlace your fingers in front of your face, notice that you can turn your palms to face outward by rotating them from thumbs up to thumbs down.

    February 19, 2025

  • Matt on Softening the Ribs

    Nick, as always a great lesson. what do you mean by shining the palms? if it means facing them toward the direction, that feels really awkward, but maybe I am misunderstanding or just have weird inflexibility!

    February 17, 2025

  • Ralph Hadden on Length Without Effort (36m)

    Our little study group appreciated this lesson, thank you Nick! It was nicely paced, very relaxing and we could feel the building up of sensing the connections from foot to head. The Feldenkrais practitioners amongst us commented on your skilful 'languaging'- very clear, precise, inviting in a neutral way.

    February 17, 2025

  • Romily on Frequently Asked Questions

    Hi Nick, Firstly, thank you. I am disabled and thereby unable to work, which tends to make accessing holistic forms of healing off limits. I suffer from anxiety and while this predates me doing any form of writing practice, it has got worse since I've tried to do so. If I would like to use this as a way to show my body that self-expression can be safe, would you suggest doing my writing before or after? I noticed above the advice to not do anything strenuous for 30 minutes before and a couple of hours after. If I write in the mornings and do a Feldenkrais lesson before bed do you think it could help me be less scared of my authentic voice? I currently meditate before writing but sometimes the fight or flight response rages so much that I'm scared to try again for days. I have read so much about the value of somatic practices and I want to make sure I'm not hindering the benefits of this method by doing it too close or too far in time from one of the central struggles I'm trying to overcome. Thank you,

    February 16, 2025

  • Nate Loker on Essence for “Experts”: Whole Body Arms (31m, Patrons)

    Thank you Nick! It’s great to learn about the ribs, spine, and pelvis from using the arms.

    February 15, 2025

  • Lynne Burson on Essence for “Experts”: Whole Body Arms (31m, Patrons)

    Thank you Nick. The area under my right scapula was in a spasm when I woke up this morning. after this 30 min lesson, no pain no spasm.

    February 14, 2025