Explorations in semi-Conscious Living

This week I bought and planted a blue hydrangea.  Not so funny you think, but to me it is downright hilarious. I am entranced and entertained by those changes that happen in me that I cannot predict and come out of the blue (see in this context even that is funny).
 
Until five years ago, I totally did not like blue hydrangeas.  As a kid, I found the Mother’s Day displays to be some bizarre abhorrence of nature.  I did not, I did not, I did not like BLUE hydrangeas!  WHO WOULD BUY such a thing. True my rather creative but less than particular Grandma Bessie might enjoy such a color but RE-ally. 
 
How did I develop such an early clarity of anti-blue hydrangea sentiment? Continue reading ‘Self Entertainment’

Is the impossible,
possible for you or me in 2008?
 
What if it is?  Perhaps not by some fairytale version of magic wands (although I do enjoy those myths and find them a very important part of health and healing). Instead, what if this change is brewed through a recipe of time, play, persistence, faith…doing small things differently and non-attachment?
 
Recently, I expanded my own idea of personal possibilities by finding (once again) capacities on the physical level I had never before considered. The changes started with a small inner smile, a kind of optimistic hunger to try something previously unconsidered, and from there have slowly expanded.
 
Of course, my primary influence in such expansions is the Feldenkrais Method®, which at this point is reliably embedded into my life. At times, my own development takes big jumps–seemingly out of nowhere–but is the result of that magic brew:  time + play + persistence + faith + doing small things differently + nonattachment 
 
The sheer joy of feeling the impossible become possible in small incremental steps Continue reading ‘Impossible, possible?’

Perhaps you have heard about the recent publication of Mother Theresa’s letters to her spiritual advisors. In these letters written over many years she chronicles her spiritual challenges. 
 
Her struggle is poignant as she pours out how isolated she feels from God. Yet we know she continued to do the work she felt God called her to do as a young woman.
 
As I read the press version of these letters (I have not yet picked up the book), I remember the times in my own life when I have felt such despair. I reasonate with the challenge of serving others–still bringing forward the possibilities for them–while undergoing immense personal struggle. It is the nature of being human to have such times.
 
My internal wandering also brings two clients to mind. While people typically come to see me for reasons of a “physical” nature, it is natural that some clients spontaneously share other aspects of their lives. We all need someone we trust to hear our deeper experiences.
 
I recall Marilyn, a grandmother in her 80’s, who lost her husband several years ago. She shared how she misses him more now than when he died. She asked me with a kind of hopeful hopelessness if the pain in her body will ever get better. She wonders if her grief will subside.
 
My heart was most touched when Marilyn said, “I must not trust God very much. Every morning I pray and every morning I cry. Why would I cry if I trusted?”
 
Who among us hasn’t had these times of despair in our lives when Continue reading ‘Faith, Prayer, Tears, and Moistness’

You have probably heard that your body is in a continual life/death cycle. Within a 7-year time frame, every atom in the body will be replaced. This is spread out over time and happens without our being aware of any change at all.
 
Posture and movement are intimately linked to this remodeling.  Research continues to confirm that posture affects blood pressure and even our heart rate.
Additionally, the way we move makes a difference in the way the body recreates itself. 
 
One way movement impacts us is in bone remodeling. Stress on the bone Continue reading ‘How Movement Affects the Body’

If you are someone who has experience both of these works, I would love to hear from you.  How would you describe each of them?  What were the benefits?  How are they different?  How are they the same?

Or whatever you would like to share.  Just hit the comment button and type away!

I am also posting this press release about the two works.

Among Feldenkrais Practitioners, Rolfing is actually not discussed all that much. It is curious since Moshe Feldenkrais and Ida Rolf were friends, colleagues and pioneers in the field of human potential with the body as a primary vehicle.

Perhaps the lack of interest for many Feldenkrais Practitioners has to do with a principle of Dr. Feldenkrais’ that learning through pain was counterproductive.  And in the original format at least, Rolfing was Continue reading ‘Feldenkrais and Rolfing’

I received this note from a client of mine this morning:

I’ve been noticing more flexibility in my ankles; then two nights ago, while awake in the very early morning, “a voice” said “feet are just like hands!”, and I thought…well yes, they are…and if I were walking on my hands, how would they move?

And I pondered that for a while, half-awake.
The next day, my feet reminded me of this episode
and since then have been enjoying pretending that they were hands.

There are so many directions to go taking off from a simple note like this.

The first is the beauty of night learning. New studies show Continue reading ‘When Hands Become Feet in the Night’

Okay, I confess….I like Valentine’s. 

My childhood memories abound for Valentines and warm my heart.  My favorite was the annual decorating of a “mail” box or bag for school.  Construction paper hearts and a crepe paper ruffle completed my creation. Then there was the magic of the actual day–receiving and giving those cute little Valentine Cards. 

In those days, it was equal opportunity.  There were 33 kids in the class and therefore Continue reading ‘The sweetness of Valentine’s Day’

I just got back from leading an overnight retreat at the beautiful Moye Spiritual Center in Northern Kentucky.

Moye is a lovely place. I have a strong connection to it as I did my Feldenkrais Training there. So 8 weeks a year for 4 years, that is were I spent some of my most favorite time ever.

This weekend 10 clients joined me for a Winter Renewal Retreat. We did some work in what we wanted to become in 2007 using symbol, ceremony, and affirmations. Interspersed were great Awareness Through Movement lessons and explorations in Sounder Sleep. This was the first time Continue reading ‘Basking after a Retreat’

Just this past Saturday, I had the pleasure of learning with a small group of musicians at our studio. It was a day of movement aimed at improving efficient, pleasurable self-use and freedom in performance.

I so enjoyed this group comprised of pianists and then one each who has a passion for the organ, oboe, violin, and drums. Professors/Instructors/Students/Performers…it was an interactive group with lots of enthusiasm for expanding their world. A couple were current students of mine. And one had taken classes with another instructor some years ago and was back for more.

I wanted to start this thread to give them an opportunity to share any post-workshop thoughts that are burning to be heard.

When I was first playing with somatic learning, Continue reading ‘A lovely Saturday with Musicians’