tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.comments2023-06-22T03:18:27.655-07:00FELDENKRAIS thoughtformsGabrielle Pullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03728140303906523518noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-73897793431295302852013-07-07T00:01:09.991-07:002013-07-07T00:01:09.991-07:00Saw your post on writing. If you write with your ...Saw your post on writing. If you write with your non-dominant hand it will keep you in the present, your thinking can't get ahead of you pen, Also you will be open accessing memories so I've heard. I have enjoyed you writing. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-10277827451937073522012-12-31T18:14:37.703-08:002012-12-31T18:14:37.703-08:00i find Feld and Alexander tech to answer a few que...i find Feld and Alexander tech to answer a few questions that appear within the yoga practice ... as one moves to stillness in practice ATM is the intermediate process that leads to that stillness ... muscle release and correspondingly mental release is necessary to enter that space ... it does take time for people to appreciate that space and see that space ... and all techniques at the end of the day are to find that space and be in that space of happiness and peace.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-50932098729737262862012-03-28T13:48:34.997-07:002012-03-28T13:48:34.997-07:00Thank you...awareness by any means, coming your wa...Thank you...awareness by any means, coming your way, in the present moment!Gabrielle Pullenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03728140303906523518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-24324293499423711672012-03-28T11:51:59.011-07:002012-03-28T11:51:59.011-07:00Great post! I especially love the suggestion you p...Great post! I especially love the suggestion you provided, "...include the awareness that experiential movement could have augmented learning for both audience and presenters, by providing relief from eight hours of sitting and by instigating a mental state change to prevent intellectual overload and further cement new learning as a somatic experience". Quite honestly, I think this conference can EASILY be made into a weekend. I will definitely share my suggestions as well through my post.<br /><br />To answer your question, 'awareness through movement' does lend itself to being human. Actually, after the Being Human conference, I saw the band, Quantic, perform in Downtown San Francisco and noticed how individuals moved to the music. It was so visablly apparent that the individuals who incorporated free flowing movement and really sank themselves into the movement looked and seemed most alive and present. In any case, sorry for the tangent but I loved how you incorporated your somatic practice and education into the post. Again, I enjoyed reading it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04926788114743609292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-41697315838516124212012-03-28T11:51:38.952-07:002012-03-28T11:51:38.952-07:00Great post! I especially love the suggestion you p...Great post! I especially love the suggestion you provided, "...include the awareness that experiential movement could have augmented learning for both audience and presenters, by providing relief from eight hours of sitting and by instigating a mental state change to prevent intellectual overload and further cement new learning as a somatic experience". Quite honestly, I think this conference can EASILY be made into a weekend. I will definitely share my suggestions as well through my post.<br /><br />To answer your question, 'awareness through movement' does lend itself to being human. Actually, after the Being Human conference, I saw the band, Quantic, perform in Downtown San Francisco and noticed how individuals moved to the music. It was so visablly apparent that the individuals who incorporated free flowing movement and really sank themselves into the movement looked and seemed most alive and present. In any case, sorry for the tangent but I loved how you incorporated your somatic practice and education into the post. Again, I enjoyed reading it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04926788114743609292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-57898488714485106552011-11-02T02:58:40.221-07:002011-11-02T02:58:40.221-07:00Amelia,
You are bringing up some really important...Amelia,<br /><br />You are bringing up some really important issues: many practitioners do not seem to relate to feldenkrais in this way. I have asked them and from some I get a blank stare; even though after any atm in a training, you can tell something has shifted in the entire room. It's what they call a 'state change' in neurolinguistic programming. It can effectively pull us from a state of anxiety, or disorientation into a state of calm presence and a feeling of being grounded.<br /><br />Your comment begs the question, 'Why is the experience so different for different people?' The obvious feldenkrais answer is because we are all different and all have different histories. Yet, there is more than that going on here. For me, it's definitely because I am a person who was an addict. And, furthermore, all addicts are different. Some like speed, some like to be slowed down. I am of the variety that loves nothing better than to nod. And feldenkrais takes me there without harm, while actively improving how I think, how easily I can remember things, and while helping me learn to find new ways to cope with life that are not dependent of escape.Gabrielle Pullenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03728140303906523518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-68954433456206290262011-11-02T02:37:12.017-07:002011-11-02T02:37:12.017-07:00Amelia,
I love your comment, 'Perhaps we nee...Amelia, <br /><br />I love your comment, 'Perhaps we need to redefine what it means to be adult.' As a society and individually, for each of us, I believe we do need to do that, for sanity's sake in a world gone more mad than the last generation, or so it would seem. <br /><br />I am struggling with it, because I can be way too serious anyway, and I am in a situation that has made me see life through the filter of mortality. I'm also looking at how caught up I got, in the last few years, in 'making' it work. <br /><br />So, with regard to recommendations for the time between now and the end of your training. Listen to your gut. Remember how kids are supposed to be given a chance to grow up without having to deal with issues that are a part of the adult world (issues that affect our innocence & trust)? When I read between the lines, I hear that you perhaps had less of that in your own childhood than you needed. So, take that time now to be playful and gentle with yourself until your training ends. The feldenkrais training is a gift. Honor it by participating fully in the playfulness and the heart-opening qualities of it. <br /><br />For myself, I have completely abandoned the health and fitness model in favor of the learning model as I present what I do. The medical and the insurance industries in America are worse than unhelpful to practitioners who are not in the medical field. This is a stark contrast at the moment, because here in Switzerland, where I am visiting for a month, the insurance companies cover feldenkrais and the doctors have respect for this amazing modality that works on parts of ourselves that have yet to be measured by the most sophisticated new equipment devised by modern medical science.<br /><br />I also recommend that, if you can do it without too much stress, start teaching atm as soon as possible. no more than one class a week, a finite series. For me, I think we were encouraged to wait too long, until we understood it better, but first impressions are really powerful with feldenkrais, and my advice is 'Go for it,' should you feel the draw, but without pressure. Its a fine line, that only you can sense within yourself. Thank you for your correspondence. <br /><br />-Gabrielle<br />Currently most active on this blog:<br />www.peacestartswithin.orgGabrielle Pullenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03728140303906523518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-50752450756134421342011-10-29T02:18:53.281-07:002011-10-29T02:18:53.281-07:00Gabrielle I love this post too. I really loved how...Gabrielle I love this post too. I really loved how you talked about how this is a conscious way of entering the zone. I am ALWAYS trying to enter the zone and I feel like it is always dependent on external factors, like if the song I am playing on my headphones is exactly what i need, or if an interaction with someone was positive. But I have really been looking for a way to have some sort of control over these things so that I am not always at the effect of the world around me.Amelianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-3223949925295766122011-10-29T02:10:02.926-07:002011-10-29T02:10:02.926-07:00Hi Gabrielle,
Thank you for your thoughtful post....Hi Gabrielle,<br /><br />Thank you for your thoughtful post. I just started training in the Anat Baniel Method, and I am experiencing many of the things you mention. For example there is so much laughter and connection among the people in class! It almost makes me uncomfortable, so much of learning for me has been under a state of extreme stress and tension. In fact, that is the only way I ever learned anything. Learning from such a new space is so foreign.<br /><br />I loved how you use the archetype of the fool. Indeed so much value in this society is placed on being "mature" and "adult". These terms actually often suggest the ability to criticize, judge, do what is "right", and operate under a lot of stress. Perhaps it is time to redefine what it means to be adult.<br /><br />I have another two years before I receive my certification and am not currently in the health and fitness industry. Do you have any advice on what I can do between now and the end of my training to further what I hope will be a career as a practitioner? Thanks!Amelianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-19685479630697589812011-06-16T18:15:39.098-07:002011-06-16T18:15:39.098-07:00Institutions DEPEND on maintaining predictability ...Institutions DEPEND on maintaining predictability to maintain a cultural system of competition and control. The paradigm of any organization, even the good ones, is to set things up so that the masses in the organization abdicate the burden of consciousness so that the leaders can deal with all that distasteful decision-making. Hence, any organization perpetuates a lack of awareness unwittingly. This is why we have so much apathy in the world.<br /><br />The good news is that it's ultimately individuals that make up institutions. In her book, 'Creating Partnerships: Unleashing Collaborative Power in the Workplace,' Dr. Cynthia King, states that "a fundamental challenge in transforming organizations includes the will and commitment to nourish personal leadership in everyone."<br /><br />Here's another place where FELDENKRAIS supplies much needed answers. How can a person be a leader of others if they don't know how to direct themselves. AWARENESS THROUGH MOVEMENT teaches independent thinking experientially so that lemmings turn into people who stand for something and don't just go with the status quo 'because that's the way it's always been done...' (I'm not knocking tradition - I'm knocking the unquestioning mind that accepts all tradition without looking to see if it's functional!)Gabrielle Pullenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03728140303906523518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-45995141697884575772011-06-15T16:58:38.776-07:002011-06-15T16:58:38.776-07:00Wow Gabrielle, there's a lot of thoughts in th...Wow Gabrielle, there's a lot of thoughts in this post! I totally agree that Moshe Feldenkrais "investigated" this Method. <br /><br />He himself writes in his ATM Book that it takes a genius to find something, but then he also writes: once it is found, his students can elaborate on it and become much better than the one who found it!<br /><br />Of course institutions are exempt from this. They rely on sponsors and government money. They can not just change their policies. And once someone is working inside such an institution, they are quite cozy and well embedded there. Adapting new ways would mean they put their fortunate life at risk!<br /><br />So yes, it's us individuals who can learn, evolve, and embrace better ways of thinking and acting. The first tarot card of the major arcana "The Fool" fits so well for your point!<br /><br />Thanks for posting.Alfonshttp://www.myfeldenkraisbook.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-85560643145591373442011-04-27T11:09:43.317-07:002011-04-27T11:09:43.317-07:00Gabrielle - What an informative and timely (probab...Gabrielle - What an informative and timely (probably timeless) article. Thank you. bevAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-35664632841688478292011-03-01T09:38:39.402-08:002011-03-01T09:38:39.402-08:00'And what is good, Phaedrus, And what is not g...'And what is good, Phaedrus, And what is not good — Need we ask anyone to tell us these things?' (Robert M. Pirsig)Alfonshttp://www.myfeldenkraisbook.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-65853406056052449502011-02-27T19:01:36.312-08:002011-02-27T19:01:36.312-08:00P.S. When people get to me; I hang out with horses...P.S. When people get to me; I hang out with horses.Gabrielle Pullenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03728140303906523518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-79333269177517540592011-02-27T19:00:09.425-08:002011-02-27T19:00:09.425-08:00Alfons,thank you for your considered response. I d...Alfons,thank you for your considered response. I did expect some dissent from the community! However, the wonder of the Feldenkrais Method is that it takes each person in the direction of what most interests them, and that's another reason why I think it's such an essential part of my life. As you say, I don't have to rely on experts, approval, or (tonight most people are watching the grammys) the media to tell me what's good, what makes me feel the most alive or what I should love. This idea that we live in a state of hypnosis or unconsciousness may be one that Moshe got from Gurdjieff, or from the eons of wisdom that preceded him, but I agree, it is clear.<br /><br />But I beg you to hang in there (i.e. keep rolling on the floor and see what evolves) and do not be so cynical about people! The law of similars states that like attracts like. So get out of your habit and try thinking about people in some way outside your habit and see if you find people more palatable. <br /><br />If you still feel inclined to disagree, debate is welcome, I believe that IS a part of the evolution of human consciousness. Let's lay our cards on the table and invite humanity to step up. It's time.Gabrielle Pullenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03728140303906523518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-69394749542008472632011-02-26T05:48:58.709-08:002011-02-26T05:48:58.709-08:00In my recent opinion "The core of ATM" i...In my recent opinion "The core of ATM" is about choice: living what other people told you VS living your own life (told you about what to eat, how much to eat, how to walk, how to sit, when to sleep, where to place your computer screen, how many minutes stay in sunshine etc etc etc). I prefer my own life. ALMOST ALL people prefer to follow an expert. I don't pity them; but I fear that the planet will be inhabitable before I turn 80.<br /><br />Then "The core of ATM" is about living in reality, get out of your mind more and more often. Access the real world. Usually - when not highly concentrated - people only look at reality every 0.2 seconds or so, the rest is entirely modeled (and opinionated) in their heads.<br /><br />Then, somewhen, yes I agree, ATM is about improving ability to sense oneself.Alfonshttp://www.myfeldenkraisbook.com/aboutnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-53178559268764510412011-02-25T09:10:56.908-08:002011-02-25T09:10:56.908-08:00Thank you. I love the humor I hear in your opening...Thank you. I love the humor I hear in your opening paragraph and I, too, have found Byron Katie to be amazing!Gabrielle Pullenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03728140303906523518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-14886173892903296702011-02-23T10:42:11.329-08:002011-02-23T10:42:11.329-08:00This is great.
I'm giving a talk in a couple ...This is great.<br /><br />I'm giving a talk in a couple of weeks on why and how I, <br />in my sixties, decided to come to a town where I'd never been<br />and knew no one but two people who wouldn't get back to me.<br /><br />And what's evolving is this feeling, you call hope, and I call trusting that "I don't know" will get me through just fine, no matter what, no matter where. That from the Feldenkrais work, and a bit of help from Byron Katie.<br /><br />Great essay.chris elmshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14693928904474520561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-1169526838499499712011-01-10T11:25:06.004-08:002011-01-10T11:25:06.004-08:00This is the most thorough explanation for the diff...This is the most thorough explanation for the difference(s)between ATM and yoga I have ever found. Thank you, Gabrielle, from my whole self!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-40302447157382444892010-07-22T09:33:45.939-07:002010-07-22T09:33:45.939-07:00Wonderful article! How true that our bodies (and ...Wonderful article! How true that our bodies (and those of our animals) hold negative emotions in the form of tension and pain. I have to remind myself of this often - whenever I am frustrated or angry, I try to tune in to the fact that it is doing me more harm than good. I, too, as a young person was much more reticent to say anything when someone was crossing the line - but now, feel quite comfortable doing so. <br /><br />And, what wonder massage and Feldenkrais hold - the very lack of demand is an oasis of compassion and empathy.Frederika Zylstranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-17672584062085123452010-07-21T14:45:20.603-07:002010-07-21T14:45:20.603-07:00Hey Gabrielle,
This is a great article. Moving, pe...Hey Gabrielle,<br />This is a great article. Moving, personal, and informative. I'm very touched by what you wrote, you are courageous and tender both, and sensitively intelligent. I love how all that comes thru in your writing. Yes, the Feldenkrais Method has so much to offer the world. Be well!Allegranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-73180753090904060632009-02-06T15:28:00.000-08:002009-02-06T15:28:00.000-08:00Thanks so much for the writing -- I have (grateful...Thanks so much for the writing -- I have (gratefully) been receiving FI's and exploring ATM's and attending Feldy residential retreats for more than 4 years now -- due to happenstance and pleasure first, then as a way to cope and find grace and health after a herniated disk/other complications. I have asked countless practitioners to explain the basic neurological and physiological foundation for Feldy work, have researched and otherwise spent a lot of time coming to dead ends. My experience is that human and written Feldy resources readily act as an advertisement for the ephemeral and fantastic potential outcomes of the work but seem unwilling or unable to response to queries for more down to earth and concrete info- plain, truth full, simple telling of the story of the method, without criticizing other healing methods or dramatize the virtues of this work. Though I understand the excitement and enthusiasm of practioners who have studied the work in the 4 year program. Many a creative and artistic person becomes a practitioner, I know. Of course. And how grateful we should all be to such people who risk and follow their loves and dreams! But, the over generalized, romantic and ephemeral telling of the Feldenkrais tale is sorely lacking. Endlessly I have been told "profound", "life-altering", amazing" and "miraculous healing" stories of of clients of Feldenkrais. Though for a time these stories provided me with hope and optimism -- it became clear to me that the these experiential stories, though moving, and perhaps entirely true -- created a sadly shallow foundation to invest and trust in when seemingly impassible neurological or otherwise mysterious physical experiences appeared along the my journey out of chronic pain. The answer I received often was that the magic of Feldenkrais could not be explained or described. The other response was - take a four year training. Surely, this is not necessary to have available the essence and substance of the work Perhaps I am an oddball among the folks who choose or find Feldenkrais -- I do delight in the ephemeral and creative, am a kinesthetic learner AND am intent on having answers that feed my mind and can be compared to other practices in full light of day. Thank you again. This is a promising new day in my journey with Feldenkrais - I am happy I stumbled upon your site.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-13306610312699966882009-01-11T21:06:00.000-08:002009-01-11T21:06:00.000-08:00What an enjoyable read this is! I laughed more th...What an enjoyable read this is! I laughed more than once. I'm looking forward to reading some of your other articles. Thanks for the bright spot in today :)Brenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01860859214854682075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-38618534792602146552008-08-11T14:44:00.000-07:002008-08-11T14:44:00.000-07:00Hi Gabrielle - Good to see that you are still blo...Hi Gabrielle - Good to see that you are still blogging and that you made it to the last conference. I missed this one, unfortunately.<BR/><BR/>- RyanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13169841.post-13356701658104292852008-08-04T07:58:00.000-07:002008-08-04T07:58:00.000-07:00I too, attended the Feldenkrais Conference and als...I too, attended the Feldenkrais Conference and also found some profound insights when I returned home. My observations were about noticing my body reactions when an emotional experience would come up, and to be an observer to it. I had to leave my son off to camp, and was saddened as well as happy that he was able to leave on his own nature journey. It was a very interesting experience to feel my sadness as well as observe it kinesthetically. I don't know what the ongoing result will unfold, but through the insight of Jeff Haller's workshop about living with our changing experiences was truly enlightening.<BR/>Thank you for your comments,<BR/>Stacy Barrows, PT, GCFPAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16829440962888980823noreply@blogger.com