Remember to read the How-to Less is more. If you have any current concerns, or aren't sure on the instructions, try imagining the moves first, and do so little you barely sense movement. Direction is always in relationship to you. That means, up, is in relation to your head--lying down, up is towards the wall above your head. In standing, up is towards the ceiling/sky. Two links, this week, since I paused the recording and restarted. I'll combine them again for you later.
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Use everything, try everything in a slow, playful way. Get confused. Breathe. Don't worry. In the transcript of this lesson, Moshe watches everyone jump to do what they are told, which they apparently do without feeling how. He says: "Whoever [does] it immediately can go home because it is a sign that he doesn't know what he is doing" --what we are really doing here is learning to be in a process of learning. Doing the movement is not the point. Being in the process of learning is the point. Learning how you work, learning how you are with yourself, learning what is available for you--that's the point.
Remember, the lesson isn't about the feet, exactly. Or is it? And how do you keep the whole sole of the foot on the Earth, while you circle? Must be something to do with the feet relative to the lower leg (ankles) and the leg relative to the hip joints, and....what is happening in the spine and ribs and head?
This begins with an exploration of Brian-the-skeleton and the shoulder. The shoulder is connected to our neck, jaw, ribs, spine, from tailbone to skull. Perhaps this is why so often trauma to the rest of us shows up in the shoulder? This is a very quiet, one-sided lesson. Feel free to do a small amount, or even explore in bed.
This may be a challenging lesson. Try on an attitude of curiosity, rather than going for a goal. The end point is not important, it is the learning along the way that matters. The magic comes from letting the head be HEAVY. Not lifting the head... The recording at times is not the best, which probably is when I'm working with students in the room.
Walking scan, and then a lesson lying down. How do you transmit force down through your legs, how do you sense the rebound from the Earth? How does this lesson impact your movement after the lesson? For one student who mostly imagined, he began with a tremendous limp from a lumbar injury; at the end of class, no limp. What changed for you?
This is a partial recording of an amalgamation of many lessons and much playing. A lesson in standing, feel free to take time to rest seated, or lying on the ground. 22 minutes only, available.
Recorded on June 4th, at Wise Orchid Tai Chi in Seattle, this lesson is a beautiful exploration that helps us to reorganize the way we use our hip joints. Being able to access and use the hip joint effectively can decrease lumbar pain simply because for many of us, we use our low backs and other parts of ourselves, instead of using this most important part of ourselves. Go slow, go small. The greatest improvements come from the smallest explorations.
An exploration based on the Alexander Yanai Awareness Through Movement Lesson 179. How does your breath impact your movement? How does your movement teach you new possibilities?
We begin already lying on the floor. Curious? Review how to do an ATM before you try one!
The scan in the beginning is in standing! Go easy. Do less. Feel more. |
HOW-TORecorded at public classes, All audio classes are now on Patreon. Please read the HOW-TO before doing a lesson. Archives
May 2023
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