In Essence: Your Primary Spinal Bias + Short Lamprey Lesson (Patrons)

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Previously known as Your Naturally Asymmetrical Spine, this “In Essence” lesson includes a short version of The Lamprey Lesson: Your Primordial Spine (Patrons). Either can be studied first, or used to expand on or review the other. 

Discover essential differences in your nervous system between one side of your spine and the other – differences Nick calls your primary spinal bias – and how these differences are foundational to walking, and all action. Learn to sense the relationship of movements of your arms sliding along the floor with the side aspects of your spine, and how movements of the extremities are actually organized and initiated from your spine.

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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.

Tip – Pause the recording

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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.

Tip 4 – Padding

Study tip: Comfort first! Carpeted floors usually work well, but it’s great to have an extra mat or blanket nearby in case you need a softer surface in some configurations.

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Tip – what to wear

Study tip: Wear loose, comfortable clothes that are warm enough for quiet movement. Remove or avoid anything restrictive like belts or glasses.

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!

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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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  • Comfort & Configuration
  • Curiosities
  • Context
  • Related Lessons
  • Source

This lesson benefits from a low friction environment. You’ll frequently slide parts of yourself on the ground. Consider your mat/socks/clothing accordingly.

It also benefits from using the minimum comfortable head support you require. If you do need something under your head be sure it is smooth and level, so your head can easily slide on it.

As we begin the “seesaw” torso movements near the end (“draw in the belly, filling up the chest / flatten the chest, expanding the abdomen”) you’ll hear me note that I knew everyone participating was experienced with Feldenkrais “paradoxical breathing” movements. If you’re not yet, you can find an introduction to this genre of study in Freeing Your Breath and Spine (16m or 37m), from our Getting Oriented series.

This is a perfect lesson for reversing all the lefts and rights on a subsequent listening, so that you explore movements on the two sides in the opposite order (gathering left first, instead of right as it’s recorded). Notice, do you experience yourself differently throughout and after the lesson if you’ve explore the sides in the opposite order? This question may help as you suss out your primary spinal bias.

Another review strategy would be to periodically repeat just the first 10 minutes of the lesson. It’s one of our simplest discovery processes for your primary spinal bias, and is worth revisiting as you refine your sensitivity.

 

About “In Essence” lessons

  • Essence means these 30-minute versions cover the essential learning of a particular lesson, and use it to illustrate essential aspects of Feldenkrais ATM study.
  • With “In Essence” lessons either this short version or the full-length version can be studied first. Study both to expand on and review your learning.

 

Feldenkrais essentials emphasized in this lesson:

  • The Feldenkrais Method doesn’t seek symmetry of movements or feelings in our bodies. That’s an arbitrary and unnecessary pursuit, compared to what we’re actually training for: more effective, satisfying, and sustainable action in all aspects of life.
  • Sensing and acting with and from your primary spinal bias is a useful self-learning technique to bring to almost any situation. With practice, you’ll be surprised how much it can help you compose potent and comfortable actions.
  • Learning how actions with our extremities are organized and powered by our proximal structures makes movement more efficient, sustainable, and pleasurable.
  • Healthy, uninhibited breathing and spinal functions support each other.

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

It was recorded live in the January 2020 video conference for Patrons.

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Got a question for Nick, or a thought about this lesson?

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3 Comments

  1. Robin Marlowe on February 29, 2020 at 7:28 pm

    I am motivated to explore asymmetry especially because I have a scoliosis.

    Reply
  2. Lorraine on April 4, 2021 at 4:44 pm

    I enjoy the fact that the differences I notice in the way my spine folds differently to each side has less to do with pain, injury and deterioration than with prior learning.

    Reply
  3. Gertrude Schmidt on January 28, 2023 at 12:50 pm

    What a relief for my lower back accepting my asymmetrical spine.

    Reply

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