The Feldenkrais Journal #13 The Self-Image

56 Pages·2001·10.821 MB·English

by  Elizabeth Beringer (ed.)

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2001
NO. 13
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fhe Feidenkrais Journal is published arinually byThe Frioes<nals Gurln@
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if you hal'e an ariicie, poem, dra-rrng or Leiler to rhe editor to suLrmit ta rhe
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C-i -o4nq, and a second ccpv to Eiaine Yoder, afi. Ioulnal, 392; Rub:; St''
Oakl;rnd C.{ 9.1609. The editarial committee is happ'7 13 cornment rc hrs[
drafts cr -.uorks Ln progress. The Ceadline fcr submissions is !{av -L' 2t'}c\' For
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F!L}3\KF-1iSA. FEL'ENKN-{IS }.{ETH;]i,.&, FU\CTION.{;- i.\TEGR-{TION,9 A]1d
-\-vliRE\E sS r Hac u G i{ M o!-EMENTa are re gistere<1 serl cemarks ; su ito
.ERTIFrED FEIDENKRdiS PR{CTIO:\'ER* iS a iertificaric* mark; aI1d
*
F EIIE \<RAl s anrl ;r:s FEL'EIi K L{i s ; r.l riR-\-tl-'* a;e aadernarks ol dle
Filrrx<n-rls Gu rroa of North .{rnerica.
Editor: Elizabth Beringer
EditsrialAssistant: ElaineYoder
Editorial Board: Lawence GoldJarb, Jack Heggie, Pattv Holman. Carol
Kress, Carol Lingman, Deiores Ransom, Gay Scott
Design: Margery Cantar
trroduction Nlanager: Amaada ivlcCay
Proofreading
* copyediting: Connie Butler, Elaine Yoder, ElizabethWeiss
Cover ar* Susanne Mertner
lnterisi art: Mariene Toi:ias
BACK iSSUES
]ournal no. r General lssue (xerox copy)
Iournal no- z Martial Arts
Joumal no. 3 Special Interest Groups
Iournal no. + Emoticns
Iournal no. 5 The Arts
Iournal no. 6 Stories
lournai no. Z Conceptual Models
Iour-nal no. 8 General Issue
Iournai no. 9 Parallel Developments
Iournal no- ro Children
Ioumai no. u L1are Children
Journai ao. rz General Issue
1il back issues are available ihrough The Feroexxa-lrs GuIrc o.ffice' ?:ice ro
Guiid rnernbers is $6. :e noc-ineznbers $1s per copr/'-
OCcpin:ghr zocrThe Fzroslxerls G:;llc r;r 5la:a A,vlea:::'.
1-:ighr: :a-'=::'.. i:e aiiih.c:3 ,-:;cr: p.ibli:aicc.
The Feldenlcais fournal
i
ill-r:1i',,i,i 1;
Ihble of Contents
2
A Letter from the Editor
3 A Case Study: Some Observations About Image & Adversity Gay Sweet Scott
lO MyWideningWorld KimCottrell
13 Reflecting: Dance, Mirrors & the Feldenkrais Method Nancy Galeota-Wozaey
fB A Hip Lesson Liz Dickinson
19 Tel Aviv Letters from rgBo Nlark Reese
28 Flo
Carol Kress
33 Self-Imaging Elizabeth Beringer
39 BookReport RobinPhiltps
4D Transportation Iezur Elvin
46 The Friscner zurd Reversihle {E;rxrotion Felicia Trujilto
52 Condributors
2AL}'
THE FELDENKEAIS ,OUR},]\L \O' 1.]
Aletter from the Editor
Dear Colieagues,
I am pieased to welcome you to this neltr incarnation {}f The Feldenkrais {ottrnal'
Afler a f,ve--vear break I'-ie decided to come back to the editorship, and do so wtth
renewed enthusiasm. We also ha-re a nelv production and editorial team (which
includes many of the original members.) This is a new era, and our communio
has greatly expanded, creating a larger pool of potential writers' There are more
p"of t" with significant experience in the Feldenkrais ivlethod of somatic education
who are abie to conrribute work of growing depth' The theme of this issue is the
Self-Image. We received a soiid number of contributions' which r'vas heartening
for this new start. You'il fiad ttre subject treated from diverse vieltpoints, ranging
frorc case studies to more theoretica,tr discussioas, and many pieces tlral inter-
-weave the 8i/o.
Over the past f,ve-year period only one issue of the Journa-l has been published'
aithough before that it came out yeariy. It makes me wonder how important luit-
ing is for us as a community. If the newsietter or directory came out once every five
lre-ars ii seems there would have been significant complaint, but the commuailiv*
,""rrm to have bareiv noticed the ioi:rna1's absence. trVhat does ti is say about our
vaiue and -uvhere i,ve focus ou{ energv is as a group of professionals? Over the years
we've had some wonderfui pieces published here and in othel publications' still I
think the process of diaioguing about cur work through i'rriting remains somei''-hai
foreign to us. I beiie.,'e we need to nurnlre and de','elop a culture cf writing'
i am invoived in a group of Somatics professionals r'vho are attempting to
encourage.,l'riting in each of their comm-trnities' Intereslingly, the Body-llind
Centering communiry prcduced bv far the most writing. For'deis past conference
thel- pro'"ided over t-#enq,'- contributions. r'vhile w-e had one" This occurred despite
the fict thai thev are a lraction af sur size iand i can assure ,v'ou their work is no
easier to -rr;rite about). ir iurns out rhal lire-i' are required to write-up fif{'' sessicns
during their tiainingi In cther lvsrCs' it seetls rhe-v have ieamed to do it' Ho-"'v can
.'t-e dei;eiop the conditicns l+ i'.rrther more -'rniting atrout our wcrk? fhe,Iournai
staff strives tc i:take rhe eciirarial prt.sss as lriendiv and supporive as pcssibie
aad lc enccut:age pecpie lo r'"'riae. brt ihis is llni;u one smail pax' in,; r-houghrs or
iileas ycu ha-;e are '"'rtelconle.
?rc-,iciillg stlpport anri :nreracdng i'r'itl.: the pecple ''a-l:c 'lc rake :he :isk ic
"r'rite
,r;,rl ier.:ttel'. leip.ii.:-'ttcci,l-:gc I:'Ji;'r:il.'ieiiersicineediicl-:r-l;;-imer,liing
cn:he arlicles irespect-iui lisagr?elrleni:s.veic;i:rel , orlc cotlactthe aulhois
iirectly. ii's eas,.i:-or -,ne auihcrs anci iicse clus '',r'oii<i*g cn tire ioi:ri:ai ro ieei
r.1.e'r='i,!orl(ing iir a vacuifl -r"''hen nc crle r=spcnis Ytur ccmntents -'''iii leip
i;r-ng rhe lcur:iai aiive and give u: sij=e illonienlu:n lhe subjecr :i iie -e'"'r issile
i-< Pe1-I..)rrlr:rlt 1;i:;. :-l:icies deaiing -,i.";Jt at:'.: aspe.r :f :ne Pe{'er:nieg kts 'iili; tte
'F:tjfLi. ,r - .,lr-I' ; j: -. :C .:.'luriL.' .ilc: i:.:' ic' l -' ''1. :u^;?i' :'l l* '-''-'''-
e:ei ie gai..liess r I ri'.e : a li:c:,ilar riie;re
i ,.,va:l, lc :-llalk er€a:riIte ,,'r'Lc iii:ipei .,',+:h ihrs lss;:e. jin':e;-r is li;r Sisi;s;ile
--E-.te:.e, .ri,l ,.,..-r: :. ...:i-.,.'-^-. i.. i.:.: :. -a.'--1 ..: .La.:-.'-
.-. :: ,:... i .t.". , - -'-: ' -.r.'.'-i:. : :''i - "'it"l"' '
Sincerely,
2{)0 1 Tl{E FEIDEI'IKRAIS ,OuRtiAl }rO. 13
GaySweet Scott
A CASE HISTORY:
Some Observations About lmage & Adversity
noiion of self-image , ralher llke ihe noiicn of pcsarrre and rhe idea r--i
self-esteem seems often regarded as an attribute ic be judged: 'goad
posture." "bad post'*re," ''good self-irnage," "bad"-as if postule or
self -,qrere in<iependent cf Lristory, environrlrent ald ckcumstance, as
if seif-image or sef-esteem !a--ere" One rarelr,-hears, she has a :ompetent.
ad-renturouslhumorcus self-image. Popular usage implies a static quaiir,,'. as a
photograph or likeness is flxed, perceirred and judged b,v -,'aiues rhat ina;,' |g 31
odds with rhe experience of seif in the .*orid instead of a neasure of adaptabiiir,',
potentialiry-. lmprorred self-image is not a nicer picture cf oneselt-a rnors flatter-
ing photograplr-i:ut rhe capacir,r,: to incorporate Ci.rerse refiec*ons cf seit-. Il is
inforrred b-v learning to rnake distinctions that are meaning{ui, and the pracdce
sf abilities that emerge itom engagement I,l-ilh others and -rhe i,vor1d.
Aa rhe time of rhe accidenl Garreth was 38, a:naster carpenrer, marrieri and
tre latrher ot an i-r-ilanr son. He d been a comperitive ;rr imrner in coljege
and had continued ro Cistance.wim in ihe San Franciscl Bar ia ad,liilcn r-'
i;ackpacking in the Sierras. He irad a degree in archiiecture irom UC Berkeie-.-;
he ra,'as regarded as sornething of an unierach.iever by i11nt"il and orhers, as :iie
gifted often are. He was'r-rnusuall-v bright, beautitul, skilleC, ariii quick.
One day while ciea,aing tire street after a cocstl:Llcticn jcb. Garreia:.i735 !1; |:,r 4
car gcing 4c miles an hour" Both his iegs, rz and ,:3, arrd his rigil; ila,:ci.,r:::
lractured; rhe righr shouider's rsrator cuff-!vas lcrn. Botir knees ivere sericusl-"
iniured. I{is righl e1-e socket -rvas rmslred, ti-ie e],-e iaji;red .c ,J:ar rr is sr:11, ajier
fil
surgery" perpet:ially dilaierl, anii he e,<perience,l se\.ere-!ra,in sheer. r:bs-..""e::
broken. He was in a corna for five weeks. TtLe neuroiogist told his -wjfe, a nurse,
that at best she could iook forward to chareging his diapers and spoon feeding
trim for flre rest of his 1ite. She sat by his side in the rcrr and talked to hirla day
and night" Gaireth says, sntiling, that he came tc. to tel1 her to stop talking. At
ttre time ire regained consciousness he was para3-vzed"
rautual acquaintance paid for Garreth's first lesson. During the initial
-A,
telephcne intervie-w he explained with equanirrtity t&at he had recently
compieted the iast of rrine operatioas, this last to fuse cz ald ca, He was,
against aii odds, put back together agaia. Flowever, he was impatient with
poor coorCinalion, as 'well as -wit-h short-term mernory lcss and difficr-dry multi-
tasking. His voice was strained and his speech, while clear, was slow-. He sounded
bemused at hearing the Feidenkrais Method would not "fix" him but cor-rld provide
an opporrunity to explore improvements. He explained, "I'm a no pain, no gain
kinda guy," and I laughed. "This experience may be a little different then," I
cautioned. Garreth would provide the opportrrnity to Lnow someone who was
articulate, humorous, and courageous in constructing his life anew.
2001
?HE FELDE}IKRAIS JOURs.\L 50' 13
As Westerners or,:r first rn-.,'th per:taining to self-image, Dr image of seif is
often the story of )iarcissus-a iaie frequentl-'r presented as cautionarl Nar-
cissus. we ale ,-varned, v,Ias sc entranced b-v the apparition of the beautifui
reflected in r&e ri-rer rlat i:e drartted, his death a result of becoming
-vouth
Lnamcured widr his 'llr:r reflecied image' Nurnerous anci varied schocls
of ps,,rchology describe naicissisan as one of the rnore stigrx'alized and dis-
lf
agieiaole disorder:s, the se'luction b;.' a re{lection ':f self pcrtends disaster
one sort or another-frequentht fatai. Priacess Diana, llariil-n )Icr:rce are
cited. But, one r,vonders, had Iarcissus been more fu11y acquainted ''dth tlre
irnage he beheid, perhaps he might ha.le maintained his balaace on rhe
irank. l-arcissris is -rulnerable io a flattering mirror. albeit a transitory one'
as well as the curiosiry- that brought him to the brink' NIanl7 mvths and
stories instrucl us nct to be curious-ir*m Pandora's Box lo the Curious
Gecrge stories for children. Bur one rilav argue that Nalcissus perished
because he..rias ignorant of iris owrr beaury as rnuch as lhat ire died of vanit"'
and curiosiq,.. Had he understood or felt his ov'rr loveliness' would he ha-"e
been fatall-v entranced by a traasito ry itrrLage? To de-"elop self-iole is a iask
for manlr of us under any circumstances, to mllster it after severe injuries is
e-./en more challenging. One of Garrerh's gifrs, howe-;er, his apprecia-
"vas
rion sf having surri-rerl against a-11 odds; another was the self-knowiedge
gained thrcugh arhletics and practice of a craf,t.
Mi, friend, an MSCS in a priraary schcol in avestern Massachusetts' teEs
me that lvhen aeacLrers bring her a child ivho has difficultv reading the-;
frequenriy sav, ''He has icr,r'self,-esleen." M-1; fuiend sa-vs, "trrtlliail has
tro.rbi" reading." The-v say, "i{e has 1o',v self-esteem"" She sa-vs, "i;\ii}iam has
trouble reading," to address tlre particular issue at hand' F-eading skili
is not'vlilliam. Having troubie acquiring a ski11 is, t"or most of us, a iairllr
C o mrrton exp erience. \,\hile p anicu-lar acco rnpiishrnents r:ra-r' inform
"seif-esteern" and "seif-image" as reflecred b-v others' approval' mcre
significaat is lhat most of us graCuall-v clir-rl ? 3€rlSe of seif frcrc :he prc-
cess of encountering :haJlenges. Ta belie-"e cefiain accornpiishments'
particriiar goais. are the source of seil'-esteeir: Ela:/ ieduce cur ''rndersrarrd-
in g cl le amin g-and te achil g-tc rieiel:1' the refl ecticn s f ac ccrnp iishr:len:
:,is-a-is cthers' standards.
Gailelh presented hinself -,'.'itll iJ:e composure of scrnecne accustcmei
ro 1ea:ning. i{e airi-..ed cn the doorsrep -,vearing a hea-'w bacxpack' 3* icri;
he had a surprisilgil'-rcuriefi;l quaii=,- His -"iie haC riii-"e* hirn ic l-!:e
appcin tment but ire planned rc .,vaik hcsle^ Fiis chesi -,vas eievateci evei:
',r''ithout rhe ',veighr cf rhe pack, his leck pulied straighr back aliri tc ihe iig:l '
-*.ithcrit ler:,'ica1 iure. i{is right ieg steod'..ide. t}e knee h"'?erextendeo'
His neck had i:ee:r it z *rzce for inca&s. as had nis right ieg' llis ier ieq
apFeaite:-,'ec :ess presena. the habl. li prcrec:ing his i:eck lr-cplse'* rigri'
iq, in eis :c::lc aidi:, tc '-r'.r:iarrt' t ti3i'ie relle:' -\- ic?::ail.[e re'-g{i -': :-he
:ei-rical s-nine. ile apcear:C lc ha'ie alr;sl ac rctaaicn rr iis tcrsc-as -ti
rJ.iele i,-ere just a ii:ni side and a aackside Ga-:::ih -<at "*ili his eight ;c
rhe 1:ack ci ihe sit acaes, !ii5 !.3r'a';Ei i:ack ::undei, ieer drar'rT ; ba"c' x .-i;:'ier.
hir:. ::is iaai eleriareii ani =;lined i: :he nghi. Hi: iace anc ja-rr si-l-ailerl
,. a,-,A:; ri-i.-.laf ., '-r rt '--t t-.).. -f --.,,. ,, .-t I r,in:,1 :.i -.i- .; .a ' '-i.'
_:.,-.'.-. ,. - -.:- :. +r.:..', ,.a,.. ;i.-- ...- --'*...^ iP: 'i ." -"
,-1,:..l,-..,:j- =...-- 1- i ;. i-.. ; - l'i;:': T:i:: '.-t;it'lr'-.,:.i-
,::l':':.'r-g:ii]ai::ii':iiyl:r,-.1g=r3;::irl:.tl:,1-:.7-l:*-:-.il''--
.*
2001 TI{E FELDENKRAIS JOURIIAL NO. 13
iting with ski1l as a competitive slvimmer, a backpacker in summer and a
skier in winter in the Eastern Sierras. No.,v he lurched.
That first da_v he was profoundly ft'ustrated with what seemed endless
atternpts at an illusive recovery. He had undergone nine surgeries and con-
siderabie phirsical therapy with an unusua-l appreciation of his physicians'
and therapists' expertise and good intentions. The loss of short-term mem-
ory had serzed him in surriving pain and anxietv. His wife was supporting
the family; he had lvorker's compensation but nc .'vay to look forwarC ic
future emploS.,rnent. His desire -/i/as to reestablish a relation to the world
that included independence and responsibilitvfor his family. He was close
to despair. His f,rst request was to be able to walk wirh greater ease. He said,
"I can onlvwalk left side, right side. There is no connection between thern."
Thus our initial goai was to facilitate r,valking.
As we talked we began working in sitting. Ufting each leg in various
pianes urith an eye for the reiation of the knee to hip, ankle, shift of weight
and crgarrtzation of the torso, revealed that the tsnLrs in his right leg was
particularly uneven and corroborated the impression that the relation
of the leg and hip was unclear. Excessive work in the right leg appeared to
compensale for comprornised struclural clarit"v and for the injuries to the
ligarnents of the left lcree.
Garreth chose to lie on his right side, which was interesting, as it is the
more "difficult" and the side that shortens, but the right eye has fi-xed dila-
tion and is thus vulnerable. There were areas of rernarkable suppieness and
clarir.y* aiong his spine and areas that were clumped and torqued; his right
hip felt to have forgotten many planes of movement.
.tfter this initial explorarion of the spine Garreth lay on his back with
feet standiag. When rotating his knees in and out, then each in opposition
to rno\rements of the ankies, the ieft leg appeared clearer and more open to
innovation. The right hip still feit glue-v. Garreth's shoulders t'elt wedded
io ihe iable. So as to a.,,oid challenging his Lread anC neck it seemed safer to
continue though the legs, first feeling the direction of the muscles, then
angling compression behind the trocanter to access the opposite shoulder.
As rjre path"".rav rhrough tJ:e spine became ciea; the tonus in his neck eased
a iittie. There -^ras a little mov-enlent in his head; the shouiders lifted from
tl:e rable quite easil.v. Corapression rfuough the knee snaked a relation tc
i:is hip, pehis. spine and heaci. He responded surprisingiy easil.v to pulliag
the i<nee over rhe focr, beginning in the direcdon cf the lirtle toe and,ihen
successin'e1=r: tcr,varCs rhe big lce. so as to clariii/ weight bearing and balance
in standing. Sl intentian w-as ro suggest the possibili{'of movement in the
pel..is, fcr cerrainl-v tJre pelris seerned absent tiom ihe picture.
Ihe iessca rn the table ccnciuded with pushing through bsth knees
aai puiiing:ach sc he inighr ieel *re connecticn cf his legs, irips, pelvis
and ;pine; and ti:ea iorr=ilressicn thrcugh each ieg tc organize fcr standing.
The ccncern :^'as ac wcrk mini*aii;r ro insure ahere lvas just the suggestion
:f moverrrenr in l1* h-'ad-sc as ic jusi imagine safe rnobiii ,;. During the
iesscn Carren& .r&-15 y?rrr aiert. e cancluderl in sitring again. indeed bcth
ieei;r.ere ilicr3 3lren rc.J:e flcc";,i,: . ,Jornpression d:::ugh his righr knee nclv
r=",':ued iia.rrlneali+r :: i,e :pposir: ;hi,;lder it: be cieai, Garreth
llc:ir:ed 'lt: ct.rl ai:.:l.t r',!i&.;;lprise. ': :-,;ii i'tr,r I'rn a ac pair:, ac gair:
itc*a g-t-.- ' re l:r::rndei;::e. B':; .-r.,he:.:ie gri -ip .'c ivalk abcuf he iockel
:1rri: a!'aaiiar::3.3ie. Il:-l= .,'l--r ::,:.11, i:1.,f : --1ir:eiiier: i:i his llr5,3 ai-a perlrili
;
lHE FELDEIIKR-{IS lOrJRliAI_ NO. 13 2()t t
!V'l:at '"rras most striking was how quickly he responded. His years of
training as arr atilete would prove a blessing and a source of frustration.
Unusual kinetic intelligence informs his learning and at the same time
often makes his daiiy pcst-accident accomplishments bifier. He compared
how it r,vas before rt i-rh norai without self-pity but also withour, it seemed,
apprecialion of present acccmplishments. A recurring conversation would
be how to use the kncrvledge and skills he had eajoyed in the past to serve
newieaming.
A few days later our mutual friend called to say he had coffee with Gar-
reth the day after the lesson and that Garreth was thrilled because, while he
had no idea why, he could walk without the conscious effort of "righ.t side,
left side." He had walked the six rniles home into the hills easily. Would
more iessons help him? iA'hen Garreth called again to make an appoint-
ment I guessed that he did despite worry aLrout pa].rnent.
The second lesson was three weeks after his first. !!tri1e compensation
-was necessary for his sense of hirnself, there was a way out. As a mat'rer of
professional ethics there has always been at least one prc bono client in my
practice; the person with w-hom I had recently:,vorked on this basis had
recently died of oid age" !\'hen Garreth could arrange for worker's compen-
sarion that,,vouid be file; in the meantime we would continue. "But I'm
sure lirere is sorneone more deserving than i am," he said.
"That may be, but they have not crossed my path." We agreed ta meet
once a week. &1.v condition for the arrangernent rnas that he not refer to the
Feldenkrais Method as "touchy feely."
"I don't know ho',v else ro describe ir-but t do know I need to be in
touch with mvself in ne1^/ ways, " he said. The straregy cf arpending more
effori and -*rorking harder, familiar to hirtr fronr years of training, failed no-,v
tc effect the changes he w-anted"
Garreth did rwc jobs at r-ay house in the ensuing weeks in trade for
iessons until he ar:anged -'."ry-lth his phl,sicia:rs for rororker's comp. He did not
like t&e idea of nct doir:g somethrilg il retuin for iessons-not knowlng that
it is a gi* to r,vsrk'.,Liifr iomeone sc open. t{e said Cre jobs'vlere ccclipa-
rionai therap_',,: the;,r prcvided tlre oppcrtunir-v fcr him to begur work again
,r,i'l:cur il ressLiie. Thev affcrded rae the opporti:nitv tc obsen,e liorn, he
used himself and tc appreciate rnore till;i ,,vhat iropaired :hr;rt-terrn meni-
or,,'ard iripaired nuki-tasi<ing cali mean. There w-ere dmes .r.-;hen dle
deraiis cf a;'ob o1.€raivhelmed hirn and he had to stcp. Smail pa-rrs like
*e flttings that supported sheivesltrculd disappear. Cnce" a trip to ihe
neighi:crhor:d hald.rvare siore for a raissing piece of pipe tcok aimcst trrrs
hcurs arlC he iei:;rned defeated."trith the'rr,'rcng pa.t, ha-."ring iistened ic
'.rhai he keew ro,.as oad adlice. He said he iiid nor have dte coafiCence
rr pelslsi in asking l-ar r.he *ght pa*. "t leel like Foresr Gun:p. " ire sarri.
T;c lnae-v -'isuai ietdls :cuid :ause him r,: siri-rt cic-,,-:r, he l'ek his rnind 'ec
Llark. " Cn rhese cc:asiocs he riefa,;heti tc lr1-iperertensicn and his l;alance
cecafile precaricus. Harru.-e'zer, somelimes prcjects -!^/enr rinexpecterii_v -weii.
He began ic iake cn rlirrrersr,ts jcbs far tiends anci neighl,.crs.
,-ar:r seilnd lesscr -'ore -ricrked -,,vi-'l: Ilexic ir ;lnd e.-itensicir ir:: side :-,,i-g.
li:': :cr-e-ccn lras ic pi:-,.rCe Cte sersai;q;n +i 3:rl alli i:ack :f
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1
2001 THE FELDENKRTIS IOUR}ii \O, :3
chest below his clavicles. His face was suddenly older, sadder. His friend
who had sent hrim to me also has a posture of elevated chest-they were
sweet dudes together. "Look," I said, "there's no one posture, youltave a
choice"" hiuances of flexian and extension are a meta theme we have revis-
ited in various ways during this -,zear" Quite recently Garreth pointed out to
me that he had discovered that he stiffens into hlperextension if he feels he
is loosing his baiance, and that he has found that if he "stays 1oose" he
regains equilibriurn. In addition to the other injuries, dre vestibular orgars
in his right ear r/vere damaged by the accident; baiance with so rn?ny nel.i
factors has been a delicate and challenging process.
Prior to our ttrird lesson Garreth went on vacation in the Eastern Sierras
with his family and was able to take long da_v hikes. He had begun io swim
again although not with the same fluidity he remembered. But he looked
less desperate. His primary concem was still walking and baiance. He said,
"This is called a lesson, but i worry I am not learning r,vhat I shoulci or doing
my pafi." lVe talked about iearning, effort, attention and how a Feldenkrais
iesson is not the same as a lesson in school. Nonetheless his comment
underscored that zrfter all the interventions at so manli diverse professional
hands it w-as essential for him to feel responsibie for his learning and to
appreciate that it was his oum-not some magic done to him.
That day we did the Arrificial Floor, prefaced by the abserv-atian that it
was a classic Feldenkrais lesson, as it so ciearl_v demonstrated providing
conditions for the nervous system to learn. At the end of the session we
returned to briefly recapitulare the flrst lessoa, finding a stable neutral fcr
each foot in standing on the table, and a pathway from each foot lhrough
hip, pelvis and spine to the head. This tirne there was much more moye-
ment in his head. Lifting his shoulders revealed clarifled diagonal move-
ment through his torsc artd the tonus in his neck was markedi3r reduced.
tr\&en Garreth sat he appeared fatigued but his face',vas free cf charac-
teristic strain. In standing there was a clearer iine between iris shoulders,
pelvis and heels. As he i,^ralked aiternateiy frontward and Lraclc.nzard he
could look to atl the comers of the room: his eyes l,vere not f,xed :o the
ground. La:er in the '',veekhe called to coffirm cur rext appointment,
"lAtren i walked home I could walk and appreciate rr.7 en-irrnment ior
the first tirne since rhe accident. I :hink I Lrnderstand the lesssrr, " he saiti.
"I trust my feet can search tle path so m-v eyes are free. You don't krrow holv
much ttrat means""
The Artificial Floor proved sigrriflcant it was the first Fr that Garretkr felt
he understood. He often remarks, "I don't understand Feldenkrais but it
works, " as may we all, but the ,Artiflcia] Fioor was an epiphany. That he feit
he could tnrst his feet on the grouad rnarked the beginning of his return to
the world of skills. As significant was his understanding that he was the per-
son doing the work of learning even thoqgh itwas within a newvocabr-rlary.
Frorn then on it seemed he trusted himself to search a new patti.
Our fourth lesson began with an abbreviated version of the a:rur, Fcur
Points, a lesson on hands ald feet ttrat presents ti:e challenge of whar ini-
tially feeis to tle an unbalancing of one's lirnbs fur various combinatiocs. The
plan was to use a configuration that was closer to the ground and close tc
eariy developmental exploration to acdvely pursue pcssibilities of shiftrag
weight, and diagonal atganizatron- Each parl of tlze lesson presented an
unexpected puzzle; even standing on his feet aad hands required nego-
tiating complicated issues of flexion, not ts menlion lelting his head irang,
his pelvis eievate-a cha-llenging silualion contrairr' tc his histoqr pre- and
a
2COl
THE FELDENKR,{IS NO. 13
'OURNAT
post-injury. However, Garreth is accustomed to challenges from his vears
is an athlete and he is used to doing all manner of exercises with p rs' l{e's
game. He discovered he could, in fact, organize himself to explore the ';aria-
tions and find increasingiv reliable four poilts with less effort' He liked dis-
covering how to rnove in waYS that seemed at fust blush to be impcssibie'
The arlr had the advantage of noveltlt, it -'vas not r"rilnerable t'l compa::ison
with pre-accident accomptishment, and it pror,-ided a safe situation in
which to expiore the counterpoint of stabiliwlinstabiliry essenlial to bai-
ance. We flnished the lesson on the tab1e, w-orkingagairtwith the relaiion cf
his shoulder to opposite hip, hip to opposite shouider, and ending T ery
lightly organizirrgthrough his head so he mighr sense standing on h"visrt -il-er ft
leg and then his right.
The next w-eek Garreth said he had discovered he cculd do a flip rurn irr
the pool, a filovement heretofore 1ost. The tLrrn depends not oni-v- on diago-
ralorgartuation but complex orientation in space. He obserreci that Four
Points "made it happen." It was evident that more Arrt aeed be folded into
our lessons, as his scheduie didn't permit an -+:rlt class. He saiC he had toid
his physicatr therapist that, "Feldenkrais is giving me back mypeivis and
my procreators-instead of proprioceplors." He iaughed. "Ah, .'vhal a silver
tongue I once had."
Because Garreth has had a host of therapists, mall,i very skilied, -,ve have
pl
taken into account his work.,rrittr them. Tbus i,r'hen his had him 1ifting his
pelvis in the air-are did Spine'Like a Chain-and included artention to all rhe
variations evolving from changing weighr oc the feet, placement of the feet,
and breathing. V/e aiso worked hands-on with the intenticn of first suppart-
ing his predilection for efiension and tbr side bending to the right, and rhren
challenging it" At the end of -il:e lesson we returned to Spiae Like a Chain
to observe the differences. In fact, it',vas easier for him to lift his pei-'ris
in the air and to move it ieft aad right. His feet rvere more reliabie on the
table, the moyerflent of each vertebra ciearer" His chest cooperated. his
head responded ta the movements. Finail-'r we '',vorked a bit in siting so as
to provide an opporluniQ,- for Garreth to i'eel his ireaC ira*siate righr and ieft
and sense his whole spine in sitting.
Two weeks later ive did Pelvic Clock -',n'iti: littLe hanCs-cn i.'ucrk. .rfier ;c
much experience as '&e recipient cf iherapies ibr saits it seemed ;'iral '*ai-
reth mobiiize prlximall-v' He Cid remarkabi-r' ri'eii' The eilelt was Cran:at-c
il
impro',rei'nent rn his heaC ani aeck. lie':,r'as lbser-.'ani of lhe n:cverneni
his nbs and the relarion cf his peivis tc d:le rest sf nis seli - anci he '-'^,'as
surprised tc disccver that his heaci, i-rerelricre held tc a 'rery irmired lalge
rncved easii-v in ne-,r'pianes. Sabsequenrlv he tc unli he cculd lcck i-: ''ltn -
out sr.ringing his ,r,-hoie boci-.- inao ertensica and :c -,,1e iighi: his eer:k --'t, a:;
tncreasinglr suppie eren in grr i:. fh* rri"ir.s':a' r:s:;:d i"-,--::"i.r.
alrer'.r-earing a n-eck tra.-e lor l'3i llrc'i r,',! ,, :lld::.*-a :lr'--' -i3'a,''
r?s-cilnse ii necK iri:3el sucs:de':.
Recenti--r'rJ:ere are lhemes ihai energ? ic iritu: -l:r al-i -L-i:as aesi
addressed b'.-:n;'ciding {T}l F3r sia:r:r'it ' na' : i-?1 ;i- ," -i:lr'-ril :'
:he legree .; '' r^.lch -lr:.ri1 ixised':si' n -:.r j-'a ^i:r'l - --.,t'"j'-;. : -.'.3: :-:-
rion, ir'!'hen he tnc-;es his :'r'es lc 'J:e lghL :r lel-' ie :.:ri:ll::lc=s .l':r-.:i:
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