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Tilting pelvis sitting: another recording

As we start the last 6-week series before my sabbatical, I am in the mood for coming back to the basics–with the fresh eyes I’ve developed and you’ve all developed from doing more Feldenkrais. And from living.

The title of this lesson talks about tilting the pelvis. There’s never one answer to the question “what is this movement?” but there’s a lot to be said for this as an exploration of the idea of how your back relates to your knees. And the surprising places that can take you.

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Flexors

This is a “core” lesson in many senses! This kind of lesson is usually one of the earliest lessons in an introductory series. It’s full of the paradoxical approach of Feldenkrais–free the extensors for more effective action by moving in the direction of flexing; “strengthen” the flexors by making more effective use of your back moving backwards (lengthening the extensors); and pay attention to the “vegetative processes” (e.g. breathing) as you go!

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Lifting a long leg

This is the first of two lessons in the January 15 Workshop: Weight and Weightlessness, 2011. We’re in sidelying, finding how to manage the weight of the long leg in various directions/configurations.

It’s a mash-up of Mia & Gaby’s lesson (1977 #9) and Moshe’s AY #232 (minimal movements lying on the side, for those following along at home.

The second lesson is Walking Backward–or in a recording from a couple of years ago, Walking backward.

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On the right side, head and knee under the frame of the left arm

When we fold forwards (flex) we think of this as shortening. But every shortening involves lengthening. You can lie on your back and take your knee and elbow towards one another–and that involves a certain level of challenge in lifting lefts and head. This lesson takes a familiar idea and does it in a different Vary the lesson: orientation, manipulation, timing orientation — sidelying — and in this very low-effort environment, more refinement is possible.

This is the second lesson in the April 2010 month of lengthening lessons.

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Making the spine flexible and integrating it

Albinus_t03Chronic tension of the lumbar and neck extensors is a fundamental pattern of limitation. This lesson addresses these areas actively and passively, with ingenious variations that address some key “hidden spots,” particularly in the upper back and neck.

The image from Albinus may help you visualize the bodies and spinous processes of the vertebrae.

You can read a discussion of some passages in Moshe’s books that relate to this lesson here: Commentary on AY 177: Making the spine flexible and integrating it.

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