#floortime
You can’t fall off the floor.
― Paul the Apostle
Most Feldenkrais classes start with the teacher asking students to lie on the floor and tune into their physical sensations.
This ritual invites you to shift your attention from whatever you were busy doing to noticing your physical experience in the present moment. You begin to sense the rhythm of your breath, notice the position of your trunk and limbs, and feel your contact with the floor.
At some point, I might ask the participants to consider the floor a friend. After all, the floor is so reliable and dependable. No matter where you go, there it is.
Regardless of how you feel or look, the floor accepts you as you are without comment or apprehension. It is empathic — listening to everything you say without judgment — and trustworthy — you can confide in it with confidence, knowing it will never divulge your vulnerabilities and secrets.
The floor has an even, undemanding temperament and clear boundaries. It has no expectations, demands, or requirements. Though it is forever getting stepped on, the floor never whines or complains.
The floor never tries to hold onto you or hold you back. Instead, it offers a baseline, provides orientation, and gives you a starting place, a springboard for action, for wherever you’re going.
If you think about it, who or what else is so consistent and unconditionally supportive?
I was reminded of this idea last week when I read a New York Times article entitled Are You a ‘Floor Person’? Why Lying on the Ground Feels So Good. The piece extolled the benefits of spending quiet time on the floor and reported that this practice has been catching on lately. It turns out that the hashtag #floortime received millions (millions!) of views on TikTok.
When I finished the last sentence, I could only think, “Come on down; there’s plenty of room.”
Thanks to M. Rubin for letting me know about the NYT’s article.
I took the photo at the top of the blog at the beginning of a class and the other photo walking around Amsterdam.
Your thoughts?
Please let us know your perspective! Add your comments, reactions, suggestions, ideas, etc., by first logging in to your Mind in Motion account and then clicking here.
Commenting is only available to the Mind in Motion Online community.
Join in by getting your free account, which gives you access to the e-book edition of Articulating Changes (Larry's now-classic Master's thesis), ATM® lessons, and more — all at no charge whatsoever.
To find out more and sign up, please click here.
Please share this blog post
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
This blog may contain one or more affiliate links. When you click on a link and then make a purchase, Mind in Motion receives a payment. Please note that we only link to products we believe in and services that we support. You can learn more about how affiliate links work and why we use them here
Love it!
YAY!
(Thanks for letting me know, Moira.)
Love this ode to the floor, Larry!
– DQ
Thanks, DQ!
l think we all need to take time out from overstimulation of our modern world to quiet things down and lie on the floor, letting go, as well as meditating to clear our minds in a more spiritual way.
Yes, I’m with you, Doris!
Thanks a lot
It is like the song of love
the song /ode to the floor
I really appreciate this feeling when I am outdoor barefoot
👌
You’re welcome, Manuela!
I’m glad you appreciated my homage to the floor.
Larry, your blogs are interesting and the FLoor is my favorite as I do so love the floor. I am so glad you wrote about this and gave me even more reasons to love the floor. I hope you are well. I’ve been a bit underground for awhile with thissa and thata and coming up for air now–wanting an immersive, live Feldenkrais experience (ATM). It’s the Floor calling my name.
Hello Lucy –
I love the floor, too.
I encourage you get in touch with one of your local Austin-area Feldenkrais teachers to get that immersive ATM experience you crave!
Hi Larry,
What fun to read your blog about how good lying on the floor feels! I enjoyed it very much.
Vicky
Thanks, Vicky!
I glad you enjoyed this blog post.