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  • 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

  • Ellen Rutgers on Activating the Arches

    Thank you! I am healing from A broken ankle and a broken foot, learning how to walk again, and this lesson makes a big difference in being able to walk without wobbling. Thank you!

    February 13, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Spinal Support and a Powerful Pelvis (35m)

    Great that you added that towel support for comfort, and a great sign that the need for it diminished during the lesson. As long as you're moving in a way that is comfortable and relaxed when you hear those cracking noises it's unlikely they indicate anything of concern. Probably just joints starting to mobilize as you soften and move in new ways. Obviously if anything hurts go lighter/smaller/slower, or just imagine the movements.

    February 13, 2025

  • DEBBIE on Spinal Support and a Powerful Pelvis (35m)

    I feel a pain in my right lower back when I lay flat. If I insert a part of a towel for support the pain goes away. I know I have specific back issues but found less of a need for the towel support as the lesson went on. However, my back made cracking noises sometimes esp when making vertical moves. Comments?

    February 13, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Essence for “Experts”: Whole Body Arms (31m, Patrons)

    Copying over some discussion from the original Patrons Quarterly video version of this recording. Richard Fancy on January 24, 2025 at 1:55 am This review lesson and the short head under the gap lesson felt very similar. In both I had the feeling (since I had done the longer version several times) I “knew” how to do it. I had what amounted to physical memory of the long version which made it easy to experience the moment as a whole as Nick was emphasizing. Nick Strauss-Klein on January 24, 2025 at 8:11 am Great, yes! The goal of sensing and acting from the spine and pelvis—really the whole self—and blending flexion, extension, rotation, and side-bending into multi-planar functional movement explorations...all this creates a close link between these lessons. I love that you called this out, especially since the two lessons start in different relationships to gravity: one is side-lying, one is back-lying. Students often isolate their physical imagination based on that, but in fact the starting configuration of the body in gravity is often just a convenience for teaching and understanding at the beginning of lessons. Awesome that you caught that these lessons are about the same things.

    February 12, 2025

  • Maja Zilih on Secrets of the Seated Twist

    I enjoyed the increasing subtlety of sensations in the sternum and spine as we progressed. Thank you so much for such clear and detailed interoceptive guidance. One comment: I had to keep the back foot pointed in sitting in order to be comfortable, even when elevated on a cushion. I mean the top of the foot on the floor instead of flexed ankle. The later would toss me to the side too much probably because of my uneven pelvis and scoliosis.

    February 10, 2025

  • Joanna Jenner on Secrets of the Seated Twist

    Thank you, this was amazing for me. When we twisted to the right at the very end I heard a series of crunches on my spine, that gradually disappeared as I continued to repeat the movement. What a change in posture and sense of my self! I can’t wait to see if it is easier to breathe that side when I swim.

    February 6, 2025

  • Nate Loker on Breathing Tall + Q&A
    (Members & Patrons bonus video)

    I loved this lesson. It’s nice to do paradoxical breathing in the different postures. Very helpful for exploring different breathing muscles and building awareness. Thanks Nick!

    February 2, 2025

  • Susi Bali on Deep Dives

    Thank you Nick - to study quite regurlarly is definitivly on my list! All the best form Vienna/Europe 🙂

    February 2, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Deep Dives

    That's an interesting question. A wide variety of types of ATM lessons, studying very regularly (at least 2-3 per week) will be very helpful. If you want to try something that is more "on the nose," I wonder about the hand/eyes differentiation explored in this lesson? You can also search our lessons for "eyes". Another thought is to explore your primary spinal bias (this is one of the "Little Dips" above). It may be fascinating and integrative to dive deeply into your natural asymmetries. I've often thought of expanding this Little Dip into a Deep Dive, but as it says, you can also simply use our Search & Filter for the term "bias" for lots more on this topic.

    February 2, 2025

  • Susi Bali on Deep Dives

    Hi Nick! I am about to dive into your wonderful page again after a longer break. I am looking for lessons that can help inprove lateral organisation of brain and body. I only recently disoverd that I could be a forced right hander and have a cross eye-hand donminance. And I do have problems with balance, concentration. Since ATM has helped me a lot before, I do believe there will be many benefits in a lot of lessons. Maybe it could be an idea to bundle them. Or maybe you could be so kind an point out where to look. All the best!

    February 1, 2025

  • Sara on Sensing Stability: The Sacral Clock (Patrons)

    I appreciate the way we work with asymmetry in order to feel what true balance would be. A sensation of width and warmth across my sacrum now.

    January 31, 2025

  • Catherine WHITE on Long Belly, Strong Back: Short Version (38m)

    This has been my go-to first aid lesson for the past 2 weeks after 2 encounters with a new PT. In an effort to strengthen my core, my PT aggressively introduced me to IAP (Intra-abdominal pressure). Although Nick's warning light went off as I tried to EFFORT my way to push and pull my abdominal muscles, diaphragm, and pelvis, it was my back that screamed at me! I blamed myself for doing it incorrectly, so returned for a second session, and as my back pain returned, I heard Nick's voice reminding me that my body deserves better than this! Nick's reference to creating a "cylinder" at the beginning of this lesson confirmed that I was on the right track to lengthen my belly and strengthen my back in a kind way. Each time I do this lesson, I'm aware of spacious length and ease, and a way happier back! Knowing I can turn to Feldenkrais lessons has opened me to a world of options, surprises, and possibilities! I'm so grateful, and in the meantime will substitute PT sessions with ATM's.

    January 28, 2025

  • Sara on Agile Hips, Knees, and Feet

    I am finding this to be a wonderful way to explore a relative limitation in left hip mobility which sometimes causes discomfort and recently produced twinges in my knee. It is showing me how to work gently but broadly to discover how all those movements of the left limb fit together. And to let my upper body help. Goes deep.

    January 28, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Patrons Quarterly, January 2025
    (ATM – Essence for Experts: Whole Body Arms)

    Great, yes! The goal of sensing and acting from the spine and pelvis—really the whole self—and blending flexion, extension, rotation, and side-bending into multi-planar functional movement explorations, all this creates a close link between these lessons. I love that you called this out, especially since the two lessons start in different relationships to gravity: one is side-lying, one is back-lying. Students often isolate their physical imagination based on that, but in fact the starting configuration of the body in gravity is often just a convenience for teaching and understanding at the beginning of lessons. Awesome that you caught that these lessons are about the same things.

    January 24, 2025

  • Richard Fancy on Patrons Quarterly, January 2025
    (ATM – Essence for Experts: Whole Body Arms)

    This review lesson and the short head under the gap lesson felt very similar. In both I had the feeling (since I had done the longer version several times) I “knew” how to do it. I had what amounted to physical memory of the long version which made it easy to experience the moment as a whole as Nick was emphasizing.

    January 24, 2025

  • Muriel Soriano on The Anti-Gravity Lesson

    That was a really interesting lesson. I was amazed how different the floor felt when I got up! it was definitely "pushing me" up! Thank you Nick!

    January 23, 2025

  • Dee on Head Under the Gap, Supine: Workshop/Review Version (32m, Patrons)

    Great! That's so helpful – thank you. The exploration has resonances with Baby Liv's explorations on your 'what is Feldenkrais' video page!

    January 18, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Head Under the Gap, Supine: Workshop/Review Version (32m, Patrons)

    No dumb questions, and I'm so glad you asked, because it made me realize I've got a few readily available photos this. For anyone reading this before doing the lesson: DON'T CLICK the following two links! Try the lesson first. It's better if you don't have an expectation. Here's one photo and here's another. NOTE: It's not at all necessary to be so far "under/through the gap" as the man in these photos is. But you can see how the back of the head slides back through the gap created by the bridged arm.

    January 17, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Patrons Quarterly, January 2025
    (ATM – Essence for Experts: Whole Body Arms)

    Thanks for listening to the podcast! I'm so glad it was useful to you. Your wording is just about right, and I may have said it exactly that way. What I should have said is: it's the flexible parts of our body that typically get hurt, because they move more or differently than they should, because there's not enough movement in the rigid parts. Practical neuroplasticity practice, if you haven't done it yet: our Jaw, Neck, and Shoulders Deep Dive. All the lessons should be useful, but as you may be suspecting, the "non-jaw" lessons may be even more important to relieving your symptoms and improving function than the jaw-focused ones. These kinds of relationships are why there are so many neck and shoulder explorations in this Deep Dive. You can even skip the direct approach to jaw study to start, if it's too provocative.

    January 17, 2025

  • Dee on Patrons Quarterly, January 2025
    (ATM – Essence for Experts: Whole Body Arms)

    Hi Nick, I loved your podcast interview – I played it on the train journey home just now, And will definitely be listening to it again I learned so much from it - including, for example, you saying that (and please feel free to correct my wording) it's the flexible parts of our body that experience the pain, but the rigid parts that can be the cause/origin of it. It made me wonder afresh about the pain in my facial muscles (including tight masseter, muscles directly under my jawline, and the pterygoid? behind the ear) and how I'm holding my mouth and jaw, and then what parts of me might be rigid elsewhere, that has contributed to these self-made, unconscious "adjustments" to my muscles/jaw in my bodies attempt to protect me/keep me safe. I also loved hearing your story of how you came to Feldenkrais, and yes – practical Neuroplasticity!

    January 17, 2025

  • Julie Turner on Rib Basket, Shoulder Cloak (Patrons)

    There is something so beautiful and internally aesthetically pleasing about finding the space between the ribs and the shoulder blades. Every time I do this lesson I learn to feel that space more. Today I truly felt that the ribs and scapulas were in a dance together each responding in its unique way rather like the violins and cellos in an orchestra - in harmony but each with their own line of music. I finally have a shoulder cloak! Thanks Nick - I love this lesson

    January 17, 2025