OCTOBER 17, 2018, Healthy Beginnings MagaziNE
- BY CAROLE BUCHER, BA, GCFP, RENO FELDENKRAIS INTEGRATIVE
MOVEMENT
The Feldenkrais Method® is awesome for refining athletic skills. Some of the world's
most elite athletes use the method to improve their competitive edge. You may not be
an elite athlete (yet), but you can certainly use Feldenkrais lessons to improve your
skiing and boarding abilities (and the same lessons improve golf as well).
This short and interesting Feldenkrais lesson can improve your skiing form and
flexibility in a matter of minutes!
most elite athletes use the method to improve their competitive edge. You may not be
an elite athlete (yet), but you can certainly use Feldenkrais lessons to improve your
skiing and boarding abilities (and the same lessons improve golf as well).
This short and interesting Feldenkrais lesson can improve your skiing form and
flexibility in a matter of minutes!
Do it many times to embody and integrate movement patterns into your nervous
system. Focus attention on your feet, ankles, knees and hips after you’ve done the
lesson twice.
system. Focus attention on your feet, ankles, knees and hips after you’ve done the
lesson twice.
Do only what is easy and pleasant, never strain or push. This is how the body
learns!
learns!
- Stand up comfortably and place your left hand on your right shoulder
(LHOYRS). Several times, turn your head and upper body to the RIGHT and
back, without straining. Your feet don’t move. Pick a point on the wall to
remember how far you turned comfortably. Rest in standing, arms down.
- Again, left hand on your right shoulder (LHOYRS), but this time, fix your eyes
in front as you turn right. Only your head and upper body turn — your eyes stay looking forward. Repeat 8-10 times slowly and gently, exhaling as you turn.
Rest.
Photo: Sean Mirus
- Repeat the original movement, LHOYRS, turning the whole body (except feet)
right and back. Do you turn farther now and use less effort? Stop and rest.
- Come back to the same position; this time, keep your head and eyes forward
while turning your body right … 8-10 times. Then pause, repeat the original
movement and notice any improvement … rest.
- Same position — turn your head, eyes, and body to the right as far as you can comfortably and stay there. Now slowly turn your head and eyes left and right,
many times, then repeat original movement, noticing additional improvement
… rest.
- Left hand on your right shoulder (LHOYRS), turn head, shoulders and body to
the right and stay there. Slowly move only your eyes right and left along the
horizon, 5-8 times; then draw an arc with your eyes 5 more times, lifting them
up at the ends of each movement and down in the center.
Photo: Sean Mirus
- Return to front, do the original movement, notice your improvements … rest.
- Now, slowly turn everything to the right and back 8-10 times, rolling your weight
onto the inside edge of the left foot and the outside edge of the right foot, each
time. Let your left heel come off the floor as you turn. Come back onto both feet
as you return to center. You may find a big improvement now.
- Next, without lifting your feet, let your weight roll to the edges of your feet as you repeat the original movement, keeping your feet on the floor … then rest.
- Finally, do the original movement with your eyes closed, 8-10 times; stop at the extreme point and open your eyes … did you turn even farther? Now turn with
eyes open a few times. Can you relax something in your body so you can go as
far as you did with your eyes closed? Rest again.
Photo: Sean Mirus
- Now stand normally and turn to the right to look behind you. Then turn to the
left a few times and decide if you’d like you to do the movements on the left side. Pretty cool, isn’t it?
I hope you enjoy how easy this is, and have fun on the mountain this winter! Please contact me using the form at the top of the page for information about classes and
private sessions. Real improvement doesn't happen by itself. It takes desire and commitment, but it will change your life!
private sessions. Real improvement doesn't happen by itself. It takes desire and commitment, but it will change your life!
Carole Bucher, BA, GCFP, is the only active Guild-Certified Feldenkrais practitioner
and teacher in Northern Nevada and is the owner of Reno Feldenkrais Integrative
Movement. She teaches the only ongoing Feldenkrais Awareness Through
Movement classes in Nevada, and has since 2009.
and teacher in Northern Nevada and is the owner of Reno Feldenkrais Integrative
Movement. She teaches the only ongoing Feldenkrais Awareness Through
Movement classes in Nevada, and has since 2009.
