It’s not magic
Any sufficiently advanced technology
is indistinguishable from magic.
— Arthur C. Clarke
The first rule of magicians the world over is simple, “Never tell the secret.”
A style of teaching Feldenkrais lessons seems to follow the same mandate. It is as if any mention of how a lesson works or what it has to teach about how our human frame is built for moving well would ruin your experience or reduce — or perhaps even eradicate — its effectiveness.
A teacher certainly can put too much attention on teaching tactics, neurophysical mechanisms, or anatomical underpinnings. Or introduce too many topics. Either way, the teacher’s comments and explanations distract from what’s most important: noticing how you are moving and discovering what you have been missing or never knew.
I learned from Moshe Feldenkrais to distrust any “either-or” declaration: It’s not that didactic and experiential learning are mutually exclusive.
Quite the opposite. Discovering what a lesson is about, why it works, or what it’s good for can make it more meaningful and memorable.
There is no reason to fear that revealing Moshe’s science-based approach means students won’t need the teacher anymore.
When we go beyond classic Feldenkraisian aphorisms such as “go slowly to learn quickly,” we make the potential of the brain/body connection understandable and accessible. By revealing the scientific basis of our tactics and techniques, we demystify the method and empower our students.
If you’re curious about how this expository approach works, I invite you to join me for An Educational Approach with Therapeutic Benefits on Sunday, March 3rd, 2024. In addition to teaching a classic Feldenkrais lesson during this informative, no-cost 90-minute webinar, I will stop at critical points to unpack the tactics and techniques and explain how and why they work. As part of this presentation, I will address crucial aspects such as:
- What moving slowly makes possible.
- How limitations create freedom.
- Why the beginning of an action is critical to change.
- The role of breath in retraining the brain and body.
- The power of improved body awareness.
The webinar starts at 7:00 PM in the Netherlands on Sunday, 3 March 2024. (Click on the preceding link to find out the time where you’re located.)
To sign up, please click here. If you don’t have an account on the website, you’ll need to create one. The process requires a good bit of information, but please feel free to provide fictional details. If your country of residence isn’t listed, please choose among any of the options. (Should you decide to enroll in the training program, you will be able to update the info later.) You can switch between Dutch and English in the upper left corner of the page.
We will record this webinar. Anyone who signs up will receive access to the recording.
Please note that this course is an introduction to the PRO-Feldenkrais International Teacher Training NL starting this August. Please click here to learn more about our state-of-the-art professional program and apply.
I modified a photo from pexels.com by Kaique Rocha, removing the logo from the magician’s sweatshirt and simplifying the background, for the image at the top of today’s post
Your thoughts?
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Hello Larry,
I would really like to sign up for the March 3rd free webinar. However, when I click on the link, it takes me to a site that is in Dutch or something. I cannot read or understand it. My question is: how do I sign up for this valuable webinar.
Thank you for offering this.
Hello Martha –
If you look at the upper left corner of the Panta Rhei website, you’ll see a red, white, and blue flag next to the word “Nederlands.” When you click on it, the Union Jack and the word “English” appear. Click on that to change the website to English.
Since you don’t have an account on the website, you’ll need to create one. The website requires a good bit of information to set up an account, but please feel free to provide fictional details. Also, if your country of residence isn’t listed, please choose among any of the options offered.
Looking forward to seeing you online!
I’m completely agree with you about “Discovering what a lesson is about, why it works, or what it’s good for can make it more meaningful and memorable.”!
But I think you’ve made a mistake about the date, haven’t you? Cristina
Hello Cristina –
Thanks for letting me know we agree about that cognitive understanding can enhance someone’s learning.
Yes, you’re right about the date. It was wrong when the blog was published. We have since corrected the post to the right date: Sunday, 3 March 2024.
Much appreciated!
Hi Larry I agree it’s worth expanding on some mechanisms for change in our classes and I often do that usually with experienced students in my small groups.
Thanks for that affirmation.
I’d like to hear your session As above in this blog but don’t understand how to access it and at what time in Melbourne Australia. I’ll most likely only have my IPhone. Can you please enlighten me. Thanks Lea kewish
Hello Lea –
Thank you for your affirmation of what I proposed.
I wonder why you only do this with experience students. Wouldn’t beginners benefit from appeciating how the method works? And being able to incorporate that in their lives?
Regarding the upcoming webinar: it is sponsored by Panta Rhei, the organization sponsorig the new training I’m directing in the Netherlands starting in August.
– To sign up, click on this link.
If you look at the upper left corner of the Panta Rhei website, you’ll see a red, white, and blue flag next to the word “Nederlands.” When you click on it, the Union Jack and the word “English” appear. Click on that to change the website to English.
Since you don’t have an account on the website, you’ll need to create one. The website requires a good bit of information to set up an account, but please feel free to provide fictional details. Also, if your country of residence isn’t listed, please choose among any of the options offered.
– The webinar is happening in the evening in The Netherlands, it’s going to be morning Down Unda. To find out what time is happening on where you are, please click here.
Please let me know if you have more questions.
Sure hope you’ll be able to join us — or at least access the recording. I’m really excited about this presentation.