Dear Students and Friends,
Practicing quietude, meditation and any form of self-awareness helps us to build up a better subconscious response to the physical and mental impacts of shock, large and small.
Staying with the sensation of the body helps us ground and occupy our physical space in a way that supports better emotional and mental health. We work on this in every Feldenkrais class. Self-awareness increases your ability to stay with yourself and our wandering attention as we practice meditation.
Here, I am sharing a short video from Feldenkrais and nature, brain-body specialist, Annie Thoe, with her permission. She has many wonderful short ATMs you can do on her youtube channel. These are a great resource, especially when you aren't able to attend a Feldenkrais class, but want or need support for mental, emotional and of course, physical stability. We need such resources in the midst of the world we now live.
Annie has this to say about her video: "This quick video has a powerful Sensory Awareness lesson based on the Feldenkrais Method® using hands to create mental and physical balance. [Instructor Annie Thoe, Feldenkrais Practitioner demonstrates a technique using your hands with a mind-body approach to "shift" the mental space your are in to a place of better balance, calmness and serenity.]"
Meanwhile, continue to keep your feet on the ground and stay in touch with your skeletal support so the rest of you can stabilize too. You can use this simple exercise from last month's newsletter to help you do it, even as you stand in line waiting. No one will really notice.
1. Stand and notice which leg and foot you stand on more. Shift your weight from foot to foot. Feel the difference.
2. Visualize the lines of your legs, from your feet to knees, to your pelvis.
3. Wiggle your toes, feel how the bones in your feet and ankles provide support for the rest of your body.
4. Notice gravity coming through the bones in your feet; practice standing with pressure on different parts of your feet. Hold onto something for stability; keep your movements small and slow.
5. Revisit these skeletal connections often and re-experience them.
Our connection as a community of learning, growing and caring people is our best resource for staying in touch with the deeper meaning of our daily lives. You may call me to discuss your situation or reach me easily via the contact form on my Renofeldenkrais.blogspot.com website.
Hope to see you in class soon.
Best wishes and love, Carole
