Reset Your Body Beat - 1 - Restorative Rhythms
Reset Your Body Beat - 1 - Restorative Rhythms
Remembering the natural coordination of beat to breath with feet
Based on “Restorative Rhythms: Feldenkrais Lessons for Health and Pain Relief” - 1 - Restoring Your Base Rhythm by David Zemach-Berson GCFT®
A Feldenkrais trainer, I wish I could remember who and when, noted that rhythm, as an essential component of movement, was the area yet undeveloped in the Feldenkrais Method body of work. Made total sense to me at the time.
The title of Feldenkrais senior trainer David Zemach-Berson’s recently released series, “Restorative Rhythms” grabbed my attention. So off we go, as I explore this series and bring it to you, i look forward to delving into how Zemach-Berson develops this theme with you.
The first session is a slow, gentle movement, “restorative” session to develop ‘enteroception,' or the sensing of internal stimuli. For experienced students, the lesson reestablishes the relationships between the breath, feet, pelvis, and, through the spine, the whole upper body. Rocking the feet introduces the a rhythm to which the entire self syncs. I also found it a quiet background against which to look for unnecessary tensions that block free movement and energy flow.
For new students, the lesson introduces the organic coordination of breath and movement.
The lesson is supine - lying on the back- with legs long for many segments. It begins by sensing the femurs rolling side to side in the hip sockets. As the lesson develops, flexing and extending the feet moves the femurs forward and back in the hip socket, which effectively rocks the pelvis and transmits ground forces through the legs to the spine and head. Turning the head while rocking is a classic Feldenkrais game that might challenge newbies and entertain more experienced students.
Science Nerd Candy Bowl: coming. There is much new research on how the brain processes rhythm that I want to look into. Stay tuned.
Set up for a supine lesson:
Lying on a mat with support for knees during the estnded leg segments, if desired. Some support for the back of the head, if desired, as long as your neck is long and your head can easily ‘nod’ up and down with pelvic rocking
Sitting on a flat bottom, armless chair, with knees and hips level, feet comfortably resting on the floor
How you might feel after this lesson: A bit trancey; Breathing coordinated with walking; Hips open and comfortably aligned; Legs aligned in hip sockets, with ground forces flowing easily from foot to hip to head; Shoulders surprisingly released; Curious about what’s next!
Wednesday 9:30 am or 6:30 pm class registration, keep using it. $40/month; $15/single lesson. PayPal or Venmo to jackisue@aol.com. Or check to Jacki Katzman, PO Box 116, Bethlehem, NH 03574
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