Making Comparisons
Making Comparisons
This idea of making comparisons allows you to develop a higher skill of attention to yourself, especially in movement, where you can notice improved functioning in how you use yourself immediately. Let’s explore this now so you have an experience immediately and see where something feels easier.
Come lie down and get comfortable. What does that feel like? Notice if it takes some time to settle, and how do you quiet down? Align yourself to sense your head is on top of your spine as if you created an imaginary line through you that goes from the crown of your head down to your tailbone, and then reverse this process to find that line that trails up your spine. Bring your feet to stand on the surface, and then interlace your hands behind your head. Notice where you place your hands, are they closer to your neck, can you feel you are touching your ears, or might you place your hands at the fullest portion of your skull? Now make a comparison, first lift your head, but only where it feels easy. If you notice you hold your breath, that’s making it harder, so do this again and exhale as you attempt to lift your head. What did you do with your arms and elbows? Are the elbows out to the sides as you lift your head? Where do you look? What happens in your chest? Is it able to soften and fold a bit? Now, lift the elbows towards the ceiling as if your upper arms were hugging your face a bit. If your interlaced hands are closer to your neck, or you can feel your ears, I suggest this is your habitual pattern that might not be as efficient. Now, with your interlaced hands resting at the most significant portion of your skull, discern if it’s easier to draw your elbows forward, so the tips of your elbows point towards the ceiling. Did this already accommodate your head shifting a bit into the beginning of a declining sensation, did your chin depress a bit towards your chest? Notice if you can lift your head easier and let go of the focus on how big. Does that make a considerable difference?
We all have biases, so notice in this gentle exploration if your head biases a bit towards one side. Can your eyes be soft and if you open your eyes, are you looking between your legs, or more towards the right or left? Which arm is working harder? Another thing to notice is the timing of lifting. Are you able to return your head to neutral and elbows open towards the floor at the same tempo as you lifted, or is one movement faster in the going or coming back? Or think of this, might you smile in the process of doing to allow your face, throat and breathing to be relaxed with no interference of striving?
“The aim is a body that is organized to move with minimum effort & maximum efficiency, not through muscular strength but though increased consciousness of how it works.” Dr Moshe Feldenkrais
Paying attention to the little things before they become big challenges and finding solutions is easier and saves energy and wear and tear on our structure. Start small to progress. It’s in the equality of the movements, with your attention linked to what and how you are doing. This is the best way to compare what feels easier and is efficient.
“To learn we need time, attention, and discrimination; to discriminate we must sense. This means that in order to learn we must sharpen our powers of sensing, and if we try and do most things by sheer force of will we shall achieve precisely the opposite of what we need.” Dr Moshe Feldenkrais
I will be offering 3 Awareness Through Movement (ATM)® lessons this week as I begin a new endeavor of speaking on Pod Cast programs to share this body of knowledge that has enabled me to continue to grow, learn and know myself better despite the events in life that often can derail us. We have strategies to enable us to continue moving forward more resilient and easily.
If you are not currently receiving my class links, please reach out, as it’s always a pleasure to welcome you. Whether you are interested in sampling or joining my classes, I offer 3 options of drop-ins as well as 2 different monthly memberships. And if you are interested in experiencing private sessions live, in person, or virtual, I’m always willing and do my best to accommodate.
I hope I have earned the privilege of your time and attention, and look forward to connecting with you.
Warmest,
Peggi
