The One Shoulder Lesson (Patrons)

Don't miss this brief, potent, asymmetrical exploration of movements of one arm and shoulder in relationship with the whole self. It's intended to leave you experiencing the differences created between the two sides of your body, which is a curious and powerful learning state that will improve both sides. (You can also repeat the recording for the other side, or improvise it, later.)

Before you begin read this for practical tips and your responsibilities, and check out Comfort & Configuration below.

Recorded live in a Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement (ATM) class, this lesson is copyright Nick Strauss-Klein, for personal use only.

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Tip – LESSS is more

LESSS is more: Light, Easy, Small, Slow, & Smooth movements will ease pains and improve your underlying neuromuscular habits faster than any other kind of movement, no matter who you are or what your training is!

Tip – Directions are Relative

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Tip 5 – Discomfort

Study tip: If a configuration or movement causes any increase in discomfort, or you feel you just don’t want to do it, don’t! Make it smaller and slower, adapt it, or rest and imagine.

Tip 3 – Head Support

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.

Tip – Complete the Movement

Study tip: Complete one movement before beginning the next. You’ll improve faster if there’s enough time between movements that you feel fully at rest.

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We offer over 50 free lessons, but this one's just for Patrons. You can learn about it in the free lesson notes and comments below. To access the audio, join The FP at the Patron level. Learn more

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Once you’re lying on your chosen side you’re invited to rest your head on your arm or a folded towel. A small firm pillow works too. It’s great to change your head support as the lesson progresses, if you find something else is more comfortable.

Lying on your side, all the movements of this lesson are done with the ceiling side arm extended directly toward the ceiling, standing up plumb in gravity. Please lower it for rest any time you wish, and even pause the recording and rest on your back at any time (just be sure to return to lying on the same side).

On a subsequent listening, if you’re reasonably comfortable lying on your non-preferred side, try this asymmetrical lesson the other way, with the other arm and shoulder doing the movements of the lesson.

Another great option for the 2nd side: improvise it without using the recording, based on what you remember. Exploring Feldenkrais study without a recording or book is a fantastic self-empowerment skill you can develop. Remember to breathe, relax, and enjoy the sensory differences between the different combinations of movements of your arm, head, eyes, and knee.

This lesson is found in Patron Treasures, our exclusive collection of lessons for Feldenkrais Project Patron-level donors.

Like most of our lessons, this one can be studied out of context, but it also appears in our Deep Dive course called Shoulder Cloak, Rib Basket, Sliding Sternum.

It was recorded as the second lesson in my Twin Cities Feldenkrais 10 Year Celebration workshop. Patrons also have access to the full uncut workshop recording here.

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2 Comments

  1. Ann Thomson on September 9, 2021 at 1:30 pm

    At the end of this lesson, selecting my left shoulder,I had an overwhelming wish to come to standing from my left side. It seemed quite remarkable that this short lesson changed my long established habitual right side preference .I am 84yrs old.
    Ann

    • Nick Strauss-Klein on September 10, 2021 at 10:56 am

      Thanks for sharing! After more than 20 years of Feldenkrais I myself am still surprised by personal discoveries asymmetrical study can lead to.

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