Handout for Advanced Training In Tel Aviv December 2007
by Yochanan Rywerant
For a deeper view on the subject; read The Feldenkrais Method Teaching by
handling
How to plan an Fl?
What is the thinking behind the doing?
How to teach it?
A. Strategy: bringing the client into accepting alternative options of
acting.
B. Tactics: using various ways to address "adverse" factors.
C. Increasing the likelihood of having the change assimilated
(integration).
A. Strategy: bringing the client into accepting alternative options of
acting.
1) Find out what change might be needed:
a) the client's story, eventual complaints.
b) visual appraisal: posture, walking, etc., lying on the table.
c) kinesthetic appraisal, mainly stiffness and over tonicity (exploring
manipulons).
i) supine, loose knees, shoulders not pressed down, elbows, head
rotation, lifting, flexing-extending.
ii) prone, bending knees, lifting shoulders, moving dorsal vertebrae,
rotating thighs in hip-joints.
iii) on side, stiffness of chest-pelvis by moving them horizontally,
rotation of upper thigh by lifting upper foot, moving head
horizontally.
iv) sitting, stiffness of trunk by looking down and up.
2) What changes, significant for the situation, are more likely to be
accepted:
a) go with the system (conforming manipulons), avoid anti-patterns
(security !) that are controlled by the lower level
b) address patterns already "wired in" in the CNS
i) the use of the skeleton in the field of gravity
ii) the use of the skeleton for propagating forces
iii) straightening a joint and thus freeing muscles for action
iv) using supports for saving, on energy
v) righting reflexes for enhancing survival value
c) draw attention to the sensory feedback (verbally or not).
i) various sensory modalities, especially kinesthetic
ii) draw attention to parts that move, or not (proximal involvement)
iii) what is expected with the action (corollary discharge)
iv) changing the front (orientation).
v) attention to new (non habitual) patterns.
vi) be aware of change in the level of control
d) lead into change (leading manipulons), by changing first one of the
parameters: direction, speed, amount of displacement, amount of
force used.
i) choosing which parameter first.
ii) look for signs of acceptance: moving easier than before, lowering
of tonus, deeper inhalation, verbal remarque.
iii) persisting at the displaced situation (the "extreme") or not.
iv) acknowledge a very c1ear sign of acceptance.
v) proceed with making use of the gained freedom Juxtaposing and
integrating manipulons).
B. Tactics: using various ways to address "adverse" factors.
1) The "adverse" factors that could hamper acceptance:
a) the dynamic self-image incomplete and not being developed
adequately.
b) the sensory feedback that comes with an intentional action (the
corollary discharge) not clarified
c) patterns and anti-patterns habituated (controlled by a lower level),
perhaps with lack of security, sometimes lack of interest
d) antagonists that interfere
e) social constraints or preconceived ideas.
2) Ways to address the "adverse" factors:
a) effort substitution.
b) non-differentiated movement, then differentiated.
c) the neutral point, starting with small changes only.
d) the Judo" –principle
e) distal versus proximal involvement.
f) relative conjugate movements.
g) giving security by bringing limbs nearer to the trunk rather than
extending, providing supports
h) muscles involved in more than one pattern.
i) avoid touching precarious places.
j) go slowly.
C. Increasing the likelihood of having the change assimilated
(integration).
1) Various ways for integrating the changes:
a) changing the position (the direction of gravitation relative to the
self)
b) combining elements.
c) changing the support
d) changing the context, or the purpose of the intentional action.
e) doing everyday-like actions that make use of the new pattern :
moving, doing work, handling objects, breathing, while preserving
the freedom of choice
f) reassuring an improved adaptability to various circumstances, and
daring to go to extremes.
g) realizing that the self-image has changed and accepting this..
2) Advices to follow after the session:
a) to remember the new patterns as options and not just to avoid the
previous ones.
b) to do a few exercises as a reminder, without spending much time on
them.
Published by Eva Laser www.somatik.se http://bit.ly/10O5TOH
