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  • 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

  • Rachel Shaw on Lesson Search & Filter

    Oh, thanks very much Nick and I’ll have a look at all those possibilities. I think it is the Patrons Basic Arching and Folding actually, brilliant thank you.

    January 15, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Lesson Search & Filter

    Thanks! I'm pretty sure you're describing Basic Arching and Folding (Patrons). Our only free lesson that is prone is The Power of Prone: Twisting on Your Belly. For better or worse, in aiming for accessibility I describe extension as "arching" and flexion as "folding." For more related lessons, try those terms in the search above.

    January 13, 2025

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

    Hi Nick, I know there is no such thing as a dumb question, tho this one feels a bit like one…! I couldn't understand where my head was meant to be, or what the "gap" was when, part way through the lesson, you said "under the gap"… I tried various different things like turning head left and right, up and down, and I knew it was somehow related to the hand position, but… Could you elaborate please! 😉

    January 12, 2025

  • Martha on Our Community

    Hi Nick! Inhave another question: Somewhere here have you written a comment on the relative merits of doing the same lesson repeatedly or doing a new lesson every day? I guess there is a sweet spot between repetition and variety. Also I guess there may be some criteria for judging. Is progress in Feldenkrais usually gradual or more like punctuated equilibrium in evolution, where you suddenly jump to a new understanding? Thanks!

    January 11, 2025

  • Martha on As Light as a Finger: Games of Weightlessness (Patrons)

    Interesting and profound indeed. For most of the lesson, I was following your directions but mostly noticing how much effort was needed, especially to lift the head, rather than ease and weightlessness. Then, suddenly lifting the left foot was Easy: Qualitatively different. It was then fun to explore exactly what that meant, to compare, etc., but time was running out. I will take Joan's cue and repeat this to see what develops. Thank you! Also thank you for the "talking" which is equally important to me.

    January 11, 2025

  • Rachel Shaw on Lesson Search & Filter

    Hello ☺️ I’m wondering if you could please help direct me to a particular lesson I did some time ago? It was a full length lesson, (I’m sure it was a freely available to all one) which involved a lot of lying prone, lifting the head and then torso by following eyes forward along the ground in front of me and gradually further up the wall - as if following a little bug! I seem to remember you saying! - lengthening up through the front of the body. The lesson also included some lying supine, folding up with hands clasped behind the head and elbows reaching to knees. I’ve searched under various headings such as flexors/extensors/prone but without success. Thank you very much! I love your project it is a fantastic resource.

    January 11, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Have you found all our short lessons?

    Sorry about that. We made a technical change today that prevented this list from displaying temporarily. It is now fixed.

    January 9, 2025

  • Marc Bauchet on Have you found all our short lessons?

    « Below is the complete list. » but there is nothing.

    January 9, 2025

  • Trudy Jacquelin on Long Belly, Strong Back (38m)

    Oh and I meant to say. This lesson is about the societal pervasive suggestion of having a flat stomach. Well that's what I ended up with........a flatter stomach. I guess the lengthening in the exercise helped to release my stomach area, and bingo, a flatter area.😃😃😃 Thanks Nick!

    January 7, 2025

  • Trudy Jacquelin on Long Belly, Strong Back (38m)

    This lesson left me with a wonderful sense of ease, comfort, peace and a distinct length in the front of my body. There was much more ease and range of movement, as well as engagement of my whole body, which became evident from the standing test of turning from side to side following the lesson. My whole digestive area was gurgling and suggested to me that it was more relaxed and at ease........."thank goodness....I can relax" it said to me 😃 Love these shorter classes Nick and I appreciate this wonderful resource that I can use anywhere, anytime, wherever I am in the world! That is a "stability" for me knowing I can take care of myself anytime I need it. Thank you!

    January 7, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Sitting and Turning with Length (26m)

    Sure! In the middle, the moment when you're not turned at all, you are in a pretty fully-flexed position: pelvis tilted back, back rounded, head low. Then as you turn you unfold into arching, and looking up. Does that explain it? Feel free to ask more questions.

    January 6, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Rib Basket, Shoulder Cloak (Patrons)

    Those are lovely details you caught the second time through. Thanks for describing for other users how the process of re-exploring lessons tends to go. It is always a new experience! I believe your 30-100% observation will indeed be very helpful to explore. Very small, slow, light movements, where you sense that you don't have to go to 100%, will help you find more sensitivity and control.

    January 6, 2025

  • Frederik Theuwis on Rib Basket, Shoulder Cloak (Patrons)

    This is my second time doing this lesson. I really like it as it frees my chest and upper back into a almost fluid vessel for breath and movement. Also, it deepens my interest in the clavicula-scapula region. Having had many shoulder injuries, it is an area of both interest and avoidance for me. What I see in doing this lesson again, is that there are really a lot of ways of moving the shoulder blades throughout this lesson itself. There appear more and more options of how they stay on the ground and how they move according to the suggestions, and where the initiative comes from. It quite surprised me how more diverse my second experience was than the first time. Still I see that I uncomfortably strain the sides of my torso, serratus anterior. It seems that they go from 30% contraction to 100% and may have to learn the subtle gradualness in between.

    January 6, 2025

  • Martha on Folding, Foundation, and Feet

    Thank you! I have been reading " Awareness Through Movement" , and realizing I have been approaching these lessons with many misconceptions, so I was glad you addressed this at the start. Is this correct?: We are trying to improve our awareness by analyzing how we move, and the goal... or perhaps the measure of progress?... is improvement in our "self-image". ? By "self-image" does Feldenkrais mean physical proprioception (our internal idea of where parts of our body are, size, etc., without touching)? or is he referring to self-image in terms of social characteristics, e.g.,how we relate to others, function in the world? A mind-body connection?

    January 5, 2025

  • matt weiner on Sitting and Turning with Length (26m)

    Nick, this is amazing stuff! the instruction toward the end when you suggest we turn, but then look down to the pelvis and twist the pelvis (?) and then arch back up....this is the only instruction you've ever suggested that im not sure I follow how you mean....any help?

    January 5, 2025

  • Muriel Soriano on Anatomy in Action: Scapulas
    (Members & Patrons bonus video)

    Thank you so much Nick for this really interesting lesson. The video before the lesson showing, the mechanics of the shoulder and shoulder blade, was really helpful. I'd been suffering with painfully stiff shoulders and neck for the last three day, and, as always, Feldenkrais wove its magic: pain gone and arms so much looser! Thank you. Muriel

    January 5, 2025

  • Sara on Free Your Torso for Better Posture, Walking, and Running

    A fascinating thing happened when I went walking after this session. After a while I noticed that my hands, which usually face my body, were facing backwards as my arms swung. I've always wondered why some people's hands naturally do this since it seemed so unnatural to me. My shoulders and shoulder blades feel as comfortable as usual; the sensation is more as if the way in which my humerus fits into its socket has become more mobile.

    January 5, 2025

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Arms in a Hoop, with Continuous Ground Support (Patrons)

    That's a great way to think about this lesson. I'll be reviewing it at some point with that in mind, and may add it to our Better Balance Deep Dive. Thank you for the idea!

    January 5, 2025

  • Sara on Arms in a Hoop, with Continuous Ground Support (Patrons)

    I was fascinated by the way this asked me to zone in on the vertebrae in the middle of my spine where the upper body can turns one way and the lower the other. A revelation also about using a strong wide base while still being able to turn through the whole spine in a lifted way. Should be good for balance skills, which makes me think that this lesson also belongs with others on balance.

    January 4, 2025

  • Martha on Driving and Dynamic Sitting – Floor Practice

    Thank you, that is very helpful, especially the second paragraph. I am trying to develop a more appropriate perspective on and understanding of what Feldenkrais (and other non-medical but life-supporting? modalities) can do. Attitude is the one aspect of life we can control, but even that is subject to/responsive to physical influences. Thanks again.

    December 27, 2024

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Driving and Dynamic Sitting – Floor Practice

    Definitely, far more! I doubt Shan is excluding other benefits when she says she feels wonderful with Feldenkrais! As far as any individual's health circumstances, one never knows all causes, especially from afar. There are endless factors, including genetic influences, patterns from childhood, any lifetime's accidents and injuries.... Practicing Feldenkrais helps us find the internal resources to meet a chaotic world with more dignity and autonomy. I myself, with nearly 25 years of Feldenkrais practice, experienced a serious spinal injury this summer. I still don't know how it happened. But the awareness gained in my decades of study has helped me claim agency in my healing process, and speed my recovery.

    December 27, 2024

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

    What an incredible journey into how the position of the scapulae can either hinder or enable wonderful movements of neck/head, arms and spine. I am discovering I think that my neck is often twisted slightly to one side and that explorations like this are helping my body to learn that this need not be so!

    December 26, 2024

  • Martha on Our Community

    Usually in lessons, you ask us to begin with the "easy" side, and them most of the work is done with that side. For example, in the "Driving & Dynamic Sitting", most of the time (10-20 min??) is spent on the easy arm, and then barely 2 minutes on the other arm. I can't understand how this helps. Generally the reason given is that the other side "learns" from the adept side. Yes, I believe such learning happens--, but only when the practice time is reversed. That is, if I as a rightxhanded person, want to play tennis with my left hand, I hit the ball with my right arm, as a model, and then spend most of my time working my left arm. I don't spend 20 minutes hitting balls with my right arm, 2 minutes with the left, and expect results. Am I wrong? It is said Feldenkrais "rewires neural circuits". It seems to me the easy side is already wired fine, plus it has the muscles needed. It's the off-side that needs rewiring AND muscle development. Sometimes in the lesson you will say, "ok, now you can do it all with the other side.". But by that time my focus is waning and I have no more time (also, in the winter, I get cold, there on the floor). It seems to me long practice time for the easy side is minimally productive, where it could be hugely beneficial fir the off-side What am I missing here? Thanks!

    December 25, 2024

  • Chris Sigurdson on Integrating the Feet, Torso, Head, and Breath: Connecting to the Earth (44m, Patrons)

    Had a trochanteric bursa inflammation and secondary Achilles strain. This is helping me move well again.

    December 25, 2024

  • Martha on Driving and Dynamic Sitting – Floor Practice

    Interesting. I would have expected Feldenkrais (especially over 30 years) to have prevented the need for hip replacements. Isn't this about more than feeling good?

    December 25, 2024

  • Kay Sweeney on Length Without Effort (36m)

    Thank you for validating what I am doing. I will try your suggestions as well.

    December 22, 2024

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Anatomy in Action: Scapulas
    (Members & Patrons bonus video)

    Discussion and Zoom chats after class included some great wisdom from students:
    I loved having the visual at the beginning, because I really had an anchor for at the end of the lesson, when I felt my arms hanging down in an almost ape-like manner. I’ve been having some shoulder pain lately, and I think the muscles released in a way that was very satisfying!
    My ribcage was more forward and lifted, allowing my arms to hang freely. So different than pushing my shoulders back, which makes me hyperextend in my lumbar.

    December 22, 2024

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

    Great questions and observations about yourself. It's a great sign that how you did the lesson (with a personalized, improvised alteration) created relief. A refinement of "don't push through any pain in Feldenkrais" is, "don't do anything that increases pain." As you're moving and observing, if a familiar discomfort is part of what you're noticing, keep experimenting with little variations or alterations (like you did!) that create ease. Follow even the slightest pleasantnesses you find, even pausing the recording to play with them. Being present with your breathing is really helpful while experimenting like this. In this lesson the alteration you found works particularly well. You could also rest that knee on a large soft pillow. Other alterations are having the sole of the foot standing further away from you than is described, and/or in some lessons and parts of lessons where it's possible, leaning your bent knee on a nearby chair or bed or couch.

    December 22, 2024

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Relaxing Your Neck and Jaw (39m)

    Welcome! Hard to say from afar about the tinnitus. I can't imagine this lesson isn't good for anyone, but next time you try it use about 25% of the effort and range you were using the first time, and see what happens. Let us know here if you wish!

    December 22, 2024

  • Frederike Pol on Relaxing Your Neck and Jaw (39m)

    Thank you Nick for this free excercise. I am beginning to get aquainted with the Feldenkrais method and hope to dig deeper into this and experience the benefits of nervous system regulation and stress release. After doing this exercise the tinitus buzz in my right ear has gotten louder. Should i do LESS or is this maybe not a good exercise for me?

    December 21, 2024

  • Kay Sweeney on Length Without Effort (36m)

    I have been having pain in my right knee. My gut feeling is that it is not arthritis which my doctors all think because of my age. I have a high tolerance for pain and find myself doing the movements even when I feel pain and I keep reminding myself that pain is a no no in Feldenkrais. I did some of the right-side movements with the leg flat rather than standing and that was possible with no pain. I find despite it all my body is quite flexible. At the end of the lesson there was less pain in my knee standing. Any suggestions for adjusting the lesson when I feel the knee pain.

    December 21, 2024

  • B R on Advanced Connecting Arms and Legs: Equal and Opposite (Patrons)

    I thought this was similar to other lessons. Until, and, (at least for me) Until: paying attention to the revelation,- when Nick ties everything together-through Nick’s guidance a lot of answers just flow through. The realization gave me the feisty happy content laugh, and enabled me to try and enjoy one of those poses that seems easy but it is not: the lord of the fishes. This lesson provides a key to so much treasure. The hip powers and balances by lightening the foot on slight eversion. Wow.

    December 19, 2024

  • Hanneke De Witte on Head Under the Gap, Supine (Patrons)

    Wonderful empowering lesson. Hypermobility makes it easy for me to perform movements like bridging and sliding my head under my arm, but makes it hard to feel hów I do these things and how I can better organize and control it. Exploring the different ways to initiate the (seemingly) same movement was great for this. I've recently been i'n search of' my middle back muscles/ lower shoulder stabilizers and lessons like this one are really helping me locate and activate them.

    December 16, 2024

  • Nick Strauss-Klein on Head Under the Gap, Supine (Patrons)

    I really appreciate this reflection on your studies and the shift in my teaching. I think it's an accurate distinction you're making: I now often ask people to work more directly toward organizing better functional ability for themselves ("ready to move," you said) by steering students toward more awareness of ground reaction forces and the profoundly enabling buoyancy they offer, and toward more immediately and simultaneously distributing the image and muscular contractions of action throughout the whole self. I've noticed in recent years that teaching in this way is more empowering for students. It better leverages – and brings conscious attention to – natural advantages for self-improvement created by the interaction of physics and our nervous systems. And these two awareness skills (ground forces and global distribution) can be taken instantly into any activity, without first "relaxing". Relaxation becomes a wonderful side effect of functioning more efficiently and effectively, rather than a first step toward it. And I also want to acknowledge: there is great value in the softer, "snuggling," "indulgent" (great words!) approach too, and there will always be many lessons like that at The FP, especially for newcomers. With more emphasis on "relaxation" in these lessons, the nervous system and musculature shed self-limiting, pointless busyness. Then, since the nervous system is predisposed to more efficient function when we're relaxed (when parasitic efforts are inhibited), new options are easy to introduce, and easy for the student to select, during the lesson. Both pedagogies seem very effective for most people. The older one may be more important for newer Feldenkrais students, and for all of us whenever we're struggling with self-care. I believe the newer one offers more responsibility and agency to the student, more clear training for how to take this work off the mat and into all life's activities. Grateful to you for reflecting with me, here and offline, on this shift in my teaching! I've been meaning to write a blog post about it and will when I can. Please keep the feedback coming.

    December 15, 2024

  • Sara on Head Under the Gap, Supine (Patrons)

    I especially like the way working one side of the back and then the other helps to reveal and then harmonize the two sides so that they work together well. Actually, one side crosses over to the other from top (shoulder blade action) to bottom (hip/pelvis roll) in a diagonal (and vice versa) so that the harmonizing is even more wondrous. I love Feldenkrais method! And Nick's teaching.

    December 15, 2024