Side Clock: Shoulders (and Intro to Hip)
This lesson works well on its own, though Side Clock: Hips (42m, Patrons) was designed as a direct follow-up.
Side-lying. Starts as a "Feldenkrais basics" shoulders-and-hips lesson, then uses the image of a clock face to explore precise coordination, developing freedom and skill in the shoulders, chest, neck, and more. An emphasis on choice, imagery, principles, and improvisation creates a unique learning opportunity for your Feldenkrais study: you're invited to complete your own hip clocks.
60m
Got a question for Nick, or a thought about this lesson?
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That was just what the Dr ordered Nick! thank you so much! been feeling somewhat dizzy all day, but your lesson has released a loaded of tension in my shoulders and hips which in turn released my neck and the dizziness is 99.9% gone! Feldenkrais magic strikes again (-:
Have a lovely Mid-Winter time
All best wishes, Muriel
Hi Nick, I find this lesson so challenging. I fell asleep the first three times I tried it, and I don’t think this is because of the side-lying position. It’s more like it makes me feel all the stuff that my body is carrying in the shoulder region. My shoulders feel very tense and especially to move them backwards is not easy. When I remember not to do an isolated shoulder movement but allow my chest and my head to move with the shoulder, I get a little further, but the whole shoulder chest area on each side feels like a tense lump, rusted together. Do you have any suggestions that might be helpful here. Thank you
Daniela
Thanks for writing about your experience, and doing it where others can benefit from discussion.
The best that Feldenkrais study can do for us will always come through pleasurable learning experiences, so it sounds like you should move on from this lesson for now. After many other lessons that are more immediately easeful and pleasurable to you (and after at least a few weeks), if you’re curious, you could come back later to check on how this one “lands” for you then. Sometimes lessons just aren’t “right” for this moment in time. It may take longer than a few weeks, too.
All that said, it sounds like you’re heading in a healthy direction: you’re making discoveries about yourself, developing working theories about your response, finding a little more ease with more integrated movement. All together my guess is still that not repeating this one right now may be the best choice, but follow your curiosity.
You’re a Feldenkrais Project Member, so you’ve got full access to the lesson notes. Have you checked out the many lessons in the Related Lessons tab above? Perhaps some of those will be more accessible in the short term.
Thanks for your support and, if you wish, let us know how this line of self-discovery goes!
Hi Nick, thank you for this lesson. I found it challenging but in a good way in that I feel there’s lots of potential for finding more ease in these movements. One thing I notice is that when I move my shoulder to 6 or 12, it doesn’t want to return to neutral of its own accord; I have to use effort to do this. Is this something which I may be able to learn/unlearn by repeating this lesson?
Thanks,
Andrew in England
Hi Andrew. Different folks’ structures and habits makes this a “your mileage may vary” kind of instruction. I’d say just keep it soft, slow, and smooth, minimizing the effort to return to a “middle,” neutral resting place. Also you might find that “neutral” changes a bit as you progress through the lesson.
Thanks very much Nick
Hi Nick, I have just finished your lesson and i found it a bit challenging at first. Then I decided to soften everything, slow it down to snail pace and make the movements tiny. With that, it all started to become so interesting and relaxing and much easier. Wow, i feel so relaxed in the shoulders now, thank you. I lay on the mat afterwards and had the most delicious bout of stretching lazily like my cat. I haven’t stretched like that in years. So pleasurable. My sincere thanks to you for sharing this lesson.
You’re welcome! I love how you found difficulty then adjusted into a personal space of real learning – a fantastic description! Thank you for sharing your process with other learners.