Heel circles, 39 min
Feel how turning the ankles affects the joints all the way up the leg. It can be an eye-opening experience to make these connections more and more clear. Personally, I find the foot and ankle lessons some of the most effective lessons for noticeable, immediate improvement in how I use the legs in the back!
Thought for February 22nd: Doing vs. Being
Use Feldenkrais lessons to develop deep listening skills, the kind where you don’t interrupt the speaker—which is you, in this case!
Wait, wait, wait, and then ask, is there any more? I’m here, I’m listening.
Imagine giving yourself this gift of attention!
It’s paradoxical, I know. You’re “doing” a movement, but then you’re listening by noticing its influence, its effect, its consequence for your overall tone, shape, balance, comfort, etc.
Doing, doing, doing only repeats your habits, after all.
If you’re not connected with yourself internally, it’s hard to connect to others externally. Other people feel our inner muddiness, our busy life’s slosh and slew when it interferes with depth and meaning and connection.
My students often report that it took them about two years to believe me on this point—to really, really trust that “doing” is not the mission, but that a deep “being with yourself” is what changes experience.