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  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Easier Sitting Workshop Lesson 1

    “Roll with it,” as you said, the majority of the time. When you try the lesson again, note carefully at the beginning (but without judgment) the difference between the sides in this action. As you go through the lesson you might sometimes gently image/explore your way toward a more pure side tilt, but never by force or adding discomfort. Just an investigation - and the most relevant sensory info will probably be found elsewhere than your pelvis. Then simply notice at the end if it’s different than the beginning, and how. These kinds of asymmetries are normal and we don’t need to try to fix them. You’ll find more functional, pleasurable movement in regular life by using them as a source of curiosity about your whole self in action during lessons. Furthermore, by applying curiosity and awareness instead of willpower, the asymmetries often reduce in an organic way.

    July 8, 2025

  • Priscilla on Easier Sitting Workshop Lesson 1

    I've noticed that when I'm tilting my pelvis to one side it also most naturally tilts a bit back too. Is this something to roll with or to experiment with or to try for a purer side tilt?

    July 7, 2025

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

    Glad it helped! Probably someone has recorded a French-language version of something similar. I know Feldenkrais is alive and well in France, and this is a pretty common lesson genre. I’d recommend doing some Googling or reaching out to the European Feldenkrais guild.

    July 7, 2025

  • Simon Wacker on Free While Constrained: Side-Bent, Stepping Down (Patrons)

    After working through the whole library in the past 9 months, I just revisited this lesson and found some deep structures to the left of my thoracic spine close to my heart that when activated consciously to side bend made me cry from an old part within and brought up some forgotten childhood memories. Thanks for facilitating this deep and releasing experience through this lesson recording. When I did the lesson for the first time a few months ago I thought that I was already using most muscles on the sides of my spine and now I realize that I had missed important ones. Maybe I put them away for protection decades ago. I found the muscles by really trying to only side bend from the side of the spine with a particular focus on the thoracic vertebrae not helping with the shoulder cloak or "pelvic cloak" at all.

    July 7, 2025

  • Julie Turner on Pelvis Lifting and Rotating on Its Axis, Part 2 (Patrons)

    Thank you Nick. This is such a wonderful pair of lessons. It is funny how often the right thing comes along at the right time. I have a tetchy little sensation in the middle of the right side of my spine which sends its tendrils out into my shoulder and arm, and hip and leg - I call it my 'doing tension' -years of right-sided doing and (especially at school for me) with underlying anxiety. There is often an accompanying sense of never being able to get it to speak to me and tell me what it wants, if that makes sense, it's like an itch that will not be scratched!! I have felt it and worked with it for years, but recently I have been going very deeply into the actual spine and especially the relationship between the front and back of the spine as well as into the very centre and what wonderful mysteries and intelligence lie there. So when you said, in Lesson One of this pair, that Feldenkrais said that this lesson was not about the pelvis but about the thoracic vertebrae, that statement opened a doorway for me into experiencing the spine in that area. You mentioned that there is a lot of stuckness in that area for us Westerners - I believe that is to do with being educated to 'do' rather than to 'feel', to react rather than respond, and to cut away from the nature of the heart in a more metaphysical sense. When I walked after the first lesson, I was aware of the usual lack of fluidity in that area and how that had changed..I feel that this has taken the heat off the tetchy sensation and its accompanying frustration because the sensation begins even further back in myself than I thought, and it is back there that I can begin to make the changes. The 'doing', becomes more fluid, more natural and freed of deep-seated anxiety after these lessons. Even if that is only temporary, I am aware (after some years of Feldenkrais) that the learning begins to change things more permanently The other reassuring thing is that it is us all not just me!! Anyway thanks again. I love the references to meditation now, it is where all of this awareness leads in the end - and ultimately to a knowledge of ourselves even beyond the sensations of the body.

    July 5, 2025

  • Sara on Pelvis Lifting and Rotating on Its Axis, Part 2 (Patrons)

    Wow. These two parts together provide such a good way of experiencing how upper and lower body can more freely move around each other. The place where thoracic spine meets lumbar now feels wonderfully mobile. And I also see how much pressure can be taken off my hips joints if I move my pelvis and spine more fluidly.

    July 5, 2025

  • John on Easing the Jaw, Neck, and Shoulders

    After 2 hrs of dental surgery y upper body was definitely awry and thanks to this lesson I recovered my bonhomie. I will advise my dentist of its effectiveness so that others may benefit. Now here is the snag , as I am living in France I wonder if any French edition of this lesson exists so he could advise non English speakers?

    July 4, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on The Buttocks

    Could be a lot of different things. It’s just a hunch, but I’d actually recommend you start by exploring lessons that soften the chest and thoracic spine. You could search for chest or ribs or side-bending. The lesson called Rib Basket, Shoulder Cloak is a good option.

    July 4, 2025

  • Pat on Spiraling into Circling the Arm Under (Patrons)

    A wonderful lesson! So many opportunities to improvise and experiment.

    July 2, 2025

  • Matt Weiner on The Buttocks

    Nick, back Again for this one (again). I find when doing sitting meditation that my sit bones are very asymmetrical (I sit almost entirely on the left sit bone) but after a long sit they even out. sometimes when doing what seems like random Feldenkrais exercises this happens as well, and so I am wondering if there is a lesson or two that might be more fine-tuned for this symptom (asymmetrical sit bones). I imagine it would be stuff around pelvis, buttocks, hips?). Matt

    June 30, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Essence for “Experts”: Flexors and Extensors from the Hips and Waist (33m, Patrons)

    Just want to acknowledge your beautiful and rich comment, in all its humanity and connections! And yes, I am always learning and exploring—one's own honest curiosity and excitement is the only place one should teach from, I believe.

    June 23, 2025

  • Colby Nolan MBA on Side Clock: Hips (42m, Patrons)

    When I initially thought of clocks, I initially pictured wall clocks--the type you would see in classrooms in the 1960s. Or perhaps the type behind Walter Cronkite. I know, I know. I'm dating myself. However, the lesson functioned better for me if I used the image of a much smaller clock-face, so I switch to a watch. In fact, a "ladies watch" worked better than a "man's watch," at least initially. Nick often encourages us to go smaller and smoother, so why not? Toward the end of the lesson, I could switch to a clock the size an old-fashioned wind-up bedside alarm clocks: the type with the two bells on top and the central clanker. I could eventually use a bigger clock, but only via "silly" movements, and only a few times in each direction. My bias was clock-wise while on my left side, and counter-clockwise on my right side. Thanks Nick!!!

    June 23, 2025

  • Sarah on Talk: Feldenkrais for Self Empowerment

    Thanks very much!

    June 22, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Talk: Feldenkrais for Self Empowerment

    Yes, please take a look at the Context tab above for all that info. We recommend always clicking through the lesson notes tabs under every audio player on our site. This talk is duplicated here among our freely offered lessons to make sure everyone can find it easily, since it has standalone value outside of the donors-only workshop in which it was recorded.

    June 22, 2025

  • Sarah Kerr on Talk: Feldenkrais for Self Empowerment

    I really appreciated the clarity of your explanation here, but I'm not sure what lessons you are talking about. You mention the "first" lesson, about spiraling up and out from your heels, and then the "second" one about integrating a movement of feet and ankles. Do you have these lessons organized in order on the site? Thanks very much, Sarah

    June 22, 2025

  • Julie Turner on Essence for “Experts”: Flexors and Extensors from the Hips and Waist (33m, Patrons)

    I love this lesson and its depth. However, I just wanted to talk about what I experienced after the lesson and sometimes after other lessons. Ignoring you asking us to stand up I continued lying and visualising my bones just resting on the earth almost as though they don't belong to me anymore, but are part of the earth. After a while, I began to visualise my body in action ( I have had an injury recently and my movements have been restricted). I watched my skeleton without muscles etc performing all sorts of physical feats some that I wouldn't normally be able to do and some that I would - like back flips, hand stands, swimming, a handstand on one hand, rolling, leaping, jitterbugging and other things. As I did that, and because of two years of practising Feldenkrais using Nicks incredible resource, I can literally feel what it is like to be able to do those movements - like my muscles know exactly how to do them if I could just let them. Sometimes I recall childlike movements, skipping for joy, running with abandonment - freedom in a nutshell! My conclusion is that it's possible to change the whole of your inner world, physically, emotionally, spiritually through the imagination, to literally re-invent yourself and make things possible within. This means that we do not have to be limited by the version of ourselves that we have become entrenched in. Even in times of limitation like when you have had an injury like me, or when other things cause restriction you can still find the freedom. Sometimes I also reach out beyond the body into the space around me and acknowledge that space at a quantum level, feeling/listening into it as I do into my body until that spaciousness also becomes a state of being. This is expansive, it lifts me out of myself into something bigger, it enables me to look in on my habitual patterns of body and mind and release them. Like you Nick I am a piano player and can use this way of changing my inner world to affect the way I touch the piano and transmit something beyond 'self' into the music - grace, beauty, ease, or - for want of a better word - the divine. I just felt moved to share that and to acknowledge the never-ending depths of this work which have unfolded for me over the last two years and which continue to unfold . I would also like to thank you for being so generous with your knowledge, Nick it is obvious that you never stop acknowledging the rich pastures that Feldenkrais opened up to us all and that you continue to learn and explore - which is what makes your teaching so accessible. You are sharing your journey with us not a fixed system of 'this is how it is or should be' and that is inspiring. x

    June 22, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Essence for “Experts”: Flexors and Extensors from the Hips and Waist (33m, Patrons)

    Good to hear. I agree: there really is a place for this kind of study, and we'll keep on recording more of these Essence for "Experts" lessons.

    June 18, 2025

  • Hanneke De Witte on Essence for “Experts”: Flexors and Extensors from the Hips and Waist (33m, Patrons)

    I really love this essence for experts concept. I often (more often than my ambitious self would like to admit) find myself wanting to revisit certain concepts but lacking the motivation to redo an entire lesson, and lacking the inspiration for self study. This shorter in depth type of lesson is really wonderful in those times. Thank you

    June 18, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Six Lessons for Anxiety

    These comments are great modeling of the learning process, Joan—thank you for sharing with other listeners! Intuitive urges to personalize the lessons become more and more detectable the more we study. Following them can supercharge our learning.

    June 17, 2025

  • Joan Oliver Goldsmith on Six Lessons for Anxiety

    Also, I found during the bell hand practice that I had the urge to place my hands on my lower ribs and expand and then collapse them in a relaxed but big way. So I di. I see that softening the ribs is on this list, so there we are.

    June 17, 2025

  • Joan Oliver Goldsmith on Six Lessons for Anxiety

    I have found that it works better for me if I dissipate the anxiety energy before I start the bell hand. I clench my hands, face and belly. then release and exhale. Then do a slow relaxed complete breath. Then repeat two more times. Only then can I easily sink into what I call "the Feldenkrais Zone." it feels like briefly accepting and going into the fear energy first. Maybe I won't need this someday, but I do right now.

    June 17, 2025

  • Joseph on My Journey

    My favourite lesson is whatever Patron Treasure that Nick posts next. Beyond enjoying the variety it provides, I always seem to gain a new insight or breakthrough whenever I try a new lesson. Keep 'em coming Nick!

    June 14, 2025

  • Julie Turner on Long Belly, Strong Back: Short Version (38m)

    Yes, I realised that I thought working with the abdominals and desiring a flat stomach meant pulling the muscles in. Now I realise that lengthening them will naturally bring that flatness about without effort and without judgement. I have also realised that you can lengthen the back muscles at the same time— I thought it was one or the other!

    June 13, 2025

  • Lynne Burson on Advanced Connecting Arms and Legs: Equal and Opposite (Patrons)

    I think this is my absolute favorite lesson. I am so much lighter. My right knee and right big toe were so painful yesterday and today they are not. I think because they have a different relationship to the rest of my body and they are sharing the load and not taking the entire load.

    June 11, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Your Navigational Pelvis

    Oh yes! Patrons always have access to everything. And Today’s Lesson just features particular content, for people who have trouble choosing or want to study like it’s a “survey course.” But all the free and Patron lessons are always available to you, and that’s a great lesson to repeat often. Thanks for your generous support!

    June 8, 2025

  • Linda Nenno Breining on Your Navigational Pelvis

    Nick, I just updated to patron and saw that your amazing lesson, Your Navigational Pelvis, was today's offered lesson. will I be able to access it when i would like to? I struggle with congenital hip dysplasia and scoliosis and this lesson was so helpful to me in a very profound way and I would like to be able to it again and again.

    June 6, 2025

  • T Koch on Gathering the Spine, Stepping Down

    Most remarkable were the ones for better walking. Before I just walked, but now I really enjoy it. I hoped for a similar change from the neck, spine and shoulder lessons, but it seems like I have a lot more tension in my upper body. Thats why I started Jaw, Neck and Shoulder Deep Dive today. But I think I will revisit all of them at some point.

    June 5, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on In-Person Class, June 4–25: Drop-In Space Available

    Yes! See the drop-in instructions above, and contact me if you have any questions.

    June 5, 2025

  • mike hitz on In-Person Class, June 4–25: Drop-In Space Available

    HI, I just found your website and missed the first class but would like to come to the next 3 classes. Is that possible?

    June 5, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Gathering the Spine, Stepping Down

    Wow! Wonderful that you worked through all of them. Very glad The FP is useful to you, and thanks also for your donor support! Have you marked favorites–or ones that left you with questions—to return to?

    June 2, 2025

  • Tomai Koch on Gathering the Spine, Stepping Down

    Just finished the free lessons in order in about 6 months. I just wanted to thank you Nick for this great journey.

    June 2, 2025

  • Sara on Skillful Scapulas Make Graceful Arms and Hands (Patrons)

    I noticed how more effective use of my scapulae takes a lot of effort away from my neck vertebrae and musculature. So fascinating to explore movement this deeply.

    May 28, 2025

  • Colby Nolan MBA on Essence for “Experts”: Flexors and Extensors from the Hips and Waist (33m, Patrons)

    I understand. The muscle specificity does not do justice to the sensations//full body awareness. For the sake of discussion, let me further clarify. Nick's explanation during the lesson of moving the pelvis downward (toward the feet, from the recumbent position) was informative but initially perplexing (in a good way), until I realized that the only way to do this was to “pull” (without pulling) from the insertion of the psoas (or whatever) to flex the hip, or at least in that direction. Now that I’ve lost everyone, all I’m saying is that this insight allowed me to start moving in a nonhabitual way to coordinate a series of movements that might otherwise not have occurred. As Nick often says during lessons, the purpose of the ATM is not to achieve the movement… This reminds me of a discussion I had with a different Feldenkrais instructor several years back. The discussion revolved around the title “Awareness Through Movement.” The questions was: Might it be better named “Movement Through Awareness”? Was the title intentionally ambiguous? Was the title an imperfect translation from the Hebrew to English? Etc. After learning from this lesson, I am now of the mind that Moshe’s title is probably intentional. I say this because, if you can’t feel the movement, you can’t feel the awareness. So, it is awareness through movement and not the other way around. Perhaps I read too much into this. In any event, it’s a great lesson. Thanks Nick!

    May 28, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Essence for “Experts”: Flexors and Extensors from the Hips and Waist (33m, Patrons)

    I love it when a lesson gives me the feeling you articulate so well: "I’m going to have to take this one to the woodshed to study it." Enjoy diving deep! I too find it really interesting in this lesson to study movement function with such muscular specificity in mind. As long as we're open to the experience of the whole self as we explore, getting clear on anatomical details is a great way to expand the self-image. And, Jody will let you know if she wishes to connect.

    May 27, 2025

  • Colby Nolan MBA on Essence for “Experts”: Flexors and Extensors from the Hips and Waist (33m, Patrons)

    This lesson is really deep. No, I mean really DEEP. Anatomically, that is. Reviewing the three-dimensional anatomy of the obliques and psoas was helpful to me for this lesson because I had lost sensation/awareness of their functional movements as needed for this lesson. Hip flexion via the psoas is often beyond my awareness, and the coordination of the obliques across the midline is not easy for me. I’m going to have to take this one to the woodshed to study it. On a related note, I’m fascinated by Jody’s journey toward the discovery of mesenteric adhesions. To what extent was this confirmed anatomically or surgically? was confirmation via medical imaging involved Etc. Nick, Can you please facilitate communication. I’m hesitant to reveal my identity in the public space because of the sensitive nature of my work, so can you please give Jody my email or phone number for direct communication so we might talk privately. Thanks!

    May 27, 2025

  • Sara on The “Morning Prayer” Lesson (Patrons)

    Just wanted to add that I DO use this often ... in the morning when I want to feel both strong and flexible and devotional towards the day ahead.

    May 25, 2025

  • Lainie Freeman on Advanced Twisting Part 1

    In my training which took place in Northern California 25 plus years ago, I recall a similar twisting lesson which included this instruction from one of the teachers: "Do the movement so small that I can't see it:" It gave me the freedom to make tiny movements which are as impactful (or more) than going to big and risking hurting myself. I too have an over ambitious nature. Huge learning curve for me when I did tiny movements....

    May 23, 2025

  • Shayla on Pelvic Floor Connections (37m)

    Thanks for your speedy reply, Nick. I love your lessons and find no matter which one I do, my whole body feels better. Regards Shayla

    May 21, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Pelvic Floor Connections (37m)

    I'm glad you're enjoying them! If I remember correctly there's a light guidance toward releasing the pelvic floor as you inhale.

    May 20, 2025

  • Shayla Goldberg on Pelvic Floor Connections (37m)

    Hi Nick During the lesson, I lost the sense of when to breath in and when to breathe out. No one has mentioned this, so I wonder if it's usual. I love these classes and thank you for your expertise.

    May 20, 2025