Unlocking
the Power
of ATM:

Course Description:

Ready to dive deep into the meaning, implications, and application of rolling the head? It's one of the most fundamental and profound Feldenkrais techniques. This advanced online training kicks off with the quintessential "Rolling the Head Between the Hands" lessons. We'll investigate why this movement is so significant, explore its role in hands-on work, and reveal how it can truly enhance your students' learning – and your own!

Why Focus on Rolling the Head?

The freedom and fluidity of head movement aren't just random indicators; as Feldenkrais himself stated, they're the hallmark of well-organized, efficient human movement. This deceptively simple action holds the key to unlocking meaningful improvements in balance, breathing, posture, coordination, and your overall sense of well-being. This seemingly simple movement is profoundly consequential because it reflects the co-evolution of our nervous and musculoskeletal systems — a relationship absolutely critical to how we orient ourselves in the world and move through life.

What You'll Explore:

This course examines one of Moshe Feldenkrais’s original somatic inventions, rolling the head between your hands. He used it as a key variation in some Awareness Through Movement (ATM) classes, a theme for entire lessons, the basis for an extended series in the Amherst Teacher curriculum, and the context for one of his most famous and perhaps most misunderstood teaching stories.

Unpacking the how and why of this iconic framework reveals why it matters and clarifies when, where, and how to utilize it most effectively.

We will take a birds-eye view of Feldenkrais' original approach, reflect on its ingenuity, acknowledge the shortcomings, and then test-drive contemporary innovations that can make the ATMs more user-friendly, compelling, and beneficial. Moving beyond a superficial understanding of this foundational technique, you’ll delve into its intricate layers to genuinely grasp its potential for tapping into our shared inheritance to move easily, effectively, and with joy.

Here's what we'll cover:

• Consider the original sources: Revisit foundational Feldenkrais lessons to gain new insights into Moshe's methodology.
• What are we truly looking for? Uncover the subtle nuances and profound implications embedded within this movement to appreciate its observational relevance and transformative power.
• Understand the underlying biomechanics: Gain an in-depth understanding of the anatomy and mechanics that govern this movement.
• Appreciate why the very beginning of turning the head matters so much: Understand how this motion serves as a measure of coordinated action and the crossroads for consequential change.
• Update your approach: Learn how to teach your students in a way that aligns with current sensibilities and values, making these lessons and this action less frustrating, more accessible, and more impactful.
• Identify what interferes: Identify the typical patterns of restriction, tension, and compensatory habits that hinder free movement of the head around its axis and learn specific strategies for disentangling them.
• Consider the neurophysical perspective: Realize how honing the way anyone turns their head can be the key to facilitating embodiment, neuroplasticity, and enhanced motor control.

Making Learning Last:

A core focus here is making learning stick. We'll delve into proven strategies and core insights to seamlessly integrate these advanced concepts into your ongoing practice and teaching. You will learn how to harness the process of exploring how the head rolls for deeper integration, continued learning, and sustained improvement, effectively translating what happens during a lesson into ongoing growth.

Functional Integration (FI):

Applying what you've learned from unpacking the ATMs, you will improve this core FI skill. You'll refine your observational skills and enhance your hands-on technique, focusing on critical technical details, strategic reasoning, and the crucial role of your self-use as a teacher. The aim is to provide what’s needed to inform and elevate your lessons, leading to more profound and lasting improvement for those with whom you work.

Who Is This Training For?

This advanced training is specifically designed for certified Feldenkrais teachers and trainees.