Perhaps the most obvious thing that newcomers notice about the Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education is that it is SLOW. However, what this apparently simple strategy makes possible is more in the realm of the elusive obvious.
Most Feldenkrais® practitioners "drank the Kool-Aid" long ago and understand the value of slowing down - even though we often realize that we are still learning just how deep this inquiry can go.
On the other hand, many new clients do not immediately understand why slowing down is so important and may find it very difficult to get 'inside' the Feldenkrais learning process for this very reason.
In this edition of In Touch, we invited our three contributors to help us understand the complex dynamics that are involved when we invite someone new to discover the value of a very different tempo of learning.
Violet van Hees is a long time Feldenkrais practitioner who also practices Tellington TTouch® with horses. In her work with clients, she also draws on her "Touching Trauma" training with Kathy Kain (based in Somatic Experiencing work). Violet talks with In Touch editor Seth Dellinger about the fundamental necessity for a client to feel safe in order to learn. She talks about how practitioners can recognize whether a client feels safe or not and outlines many trust building strategies that help set the stage for learning.
Feldenkrais Trainer Jeff Haller also speaks with Seth Dellinger in this edition. Together they explore in detail how the Feldenkrais learning process can represent a fundamental break with how clients are used to knowing and valuing themselves. Jeff underlines why it's essential for practitioners to see that a client's entire life story sets up the muscular habits they bring to any Awareness Through Movement or Functional Integration lesson. This kind of perception supports the creativity needed to awaken the kind of curiosity our clients need to explore fundamentally new narratives.
Practitioner Eleanor Montaño's article tells the story of how she taught her very first public class series. She describes how she chose which lessons to teach, her key talking points about the Method, how she connected her ATM® lessons to daily life and how she skillfully worked with a student who repeatedly told her she would not participate in class #5 of the series!
We hope you will appreciate the wisdom, anecdotes and insights of your colleagues and get new ideas from this edition of In Touch about how to help your own clients successfully navigate the "challenge of slowing down."
You can bring your experiences and questions on this topic to the next edition of In Touch Live on Tuesday October 9 at 7:30pm EST/4:30pm PST.
Violet van Hees and Jeff Haller will be on the call to dialogue with you!
Click here to register.
We hope to see you there.
Joe, Jane, Michelle & Seth
