He who laughs, lasts.
— Mary Pettibone Poole
Patient: Doctor, it hurts when I do this.
Doctor: Well, then don’t do it anymore.
Sometimes, the Feldenkrais Method is a sophisticated version of this classic Henny Youngman joke. I know, this is over-simplified and misses the all-important aspect of what we offer, which is that we help students discover ways of moving that not only don’t hurt, but that are enjoyable, effective, and even easy.
This joke, and the idea of direct, yet often humorous, advice, came to mind recently when three friends independently mentioned Bob Newhart's portrayal of a psychologist during the past week. None of them were referring to this comedian’s role in the eponymous TV series, which ran for six seasons from 1972 to 1978. Instead, they wanted to talk about a sketch broadcast in which he played a therapist named Dr. Switzer.
I knew the skit well. I saw the original broadcast in 2001 on the sixth season of MAD TV; I have never forgotten it. The word iconic is tossed around excessively these days, so I won’t use it, or any other hyperbole, to describe Newhart’s deadpan routine.
I don’t know about you, but I’m guessing most of us can use a laugh right about now. The routine only lasts six minutes and four seconds. Although the video quality leaves something to be desired, whether you’ve never seen it or it’s been a while, I invite you to grab a snack, pull up a comfy chair, and click on the image below:
If you’re wondering, the patient was played by Mo Collins. Since then, she has appeared on ‘Parks and Recreation’ and ‘Fear the Walking Dead.’
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