Study tip: It helps to have a large bath towel nearby when you start a lesson. You can fold it differently for comfortable head support in any configuration.
Breathing from Head to Heels
Previously known as: Freeing Your Breath, Lengthening from Heels to Head
Various positions, about half back-lying. Experiments with the breath mechanism, learning how it relates to the head, spine, and pelvis, and integrates into the length of the heels for standing. Uses what the Feldenkrais community calls “paradoxical breathing.”
There is a hands-and-knees portion of this lesson. Adaptations to keep you comfortable are discussed. It may be helpful to have an extra towel, mat, or blanket nearby to fold up for additional softness under your knees. You may at any time stand on your fists if your wrists struggle with the position. Rest in another position as frequently as you like. If hands-and-knees is not possible for you, rest on your back with your knees bent and imagine the movements as they are described.
Click Clarifications for an important note.
The type of breathing explored in this lesson is not a prescription for how you should breathe. Nor is it “the Feldenkrais way” to breathe. It is only a tool to mobilize your breath apparatus and cultivate your awareness, so that your breathing can more fluently adapt to all of life’s demands.
We typically habitually use only a fraction of the options we have for breathing. One of the goals of studying the breath with the Feldenkrais Method is to free ourselves from habits and cultivate a more flexible, adaptive breath. Ideally our breathing is changing moment to moment always, in response to many factors: oxygen needs, position, movement, speech, our emotional landscape, etc.
This lesson is found in the collection called Lessons for Standing, Walking, and Running.
Like most of our lessons, this one can be studied out of context, but you may find additional learning value by approaching it in the order of the collection it’s in. It can be particularly useful to go on to The Anti-Gravity Lesson soon after studying this one.
Members and Patrons only. Please login or join the Project to download this lesson’s MP3 file.
Members and Patrons only. Please login or join the Project to view Nick’s comments about sources he used while developing this lesson.
Members and Patrons only. Please login or join the Project to view related lesson titles and links.
- Comfort & Configuration
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There is a hands-and-knees portion of this lesson. Adaptations to keep you comfortable are discussed. It may be helpful to have an extra towel, mat, or blanket nearby to fold up for additional softness under your knees. You may at any time stand on your fists if your wrists struggle with the position. Rest in another position as frequently as you like. If hands-and-knees is not possible for you, rest on your back with your knees bent and imagine the movements as they are described.
Click Clarifications for an important note.
- Clarifications
-
The type of breathing explored in this lesson is not a prescription for how you should breathe. Nor is it “the Feldenkrais way” to breathe. It is only a tool to mobilize your breath apparatus and cultivate your awareness, so that your breathing can more fluently adapt to all of life’s demands.
- Curiosities
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We typically habitually use only a fraction of the options we have for breathing. One of the goals of studying the breath with the Feldenkrais Method is to free ourselves from habits and cultivate a more flexible, adaptive breath. Ideally our breathing is changing moment to moment always, in response to many factors: oxygen needs, position, movement, speech, our emotional landscape, etc.
- Context
-
This lesson is found in the collection called Lessons for Standing, Walking, and Running.
Like most of our lessons, this one can be studied out of context, but you may find additional learning value by approaching it in the order of the collection it’s in. It can be particularly useful to go on to The Anti-Gravity Lesson soon after studying this one.
- Download
-
Members and Patrons only. Please login or join the Project to download this lesson’s MP3 file.
- Source
-
Members and Patrons only. Please login or join the Project to view Nick’s comments about sources he used while developing this lesson.
- Related Lessons
-
Members and Patrons only. Please login or join the Project to view related lesson titles and links.
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4 Comments. Leave new
Hi!
My name is Joelle. I just discovered this website and a new opportunity to access atms! Fantastic!
I tried to subscribe though and the access was denied….
Would you know why????
I just enjoyed one of the ATMs. Excellent work!
Learning every day!
Hello! Glad you’re enjoying the lessons. Thanks for your comment. I did find an error in the newsletter subscription process. I believe it is fixed now! Please try again and let me know if it doesn’t work.
That was great. Neck activated in bad way early but gone by pushing and pulling phase as predicted.
Wonderfully taught lesson! After 10 years of Feldenkrais I can still discover new things about my breathing. Thank you!