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WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU COME TO AN AWARENESS THROUGH MOVEMENT® CLASS? Move from Muscle Pain to Flexibility with ATM Lessons
Verbal instructions are given directing movement sequences and focusing awareness on particular areas of the body, or how to improve posture. Lessons are not demonstrated, but rather described, allowing the student’s brain and body a chance to “learn” the movement from conception. The lessons start out with simple movements based on infant development, such as: lifting the head, reaching with the hand, rolling over, or crawling. Then, as the student progresses, the lessons become more involved, exploring optional movements to use with daily functions or more complex combinations.Therearenorightorwrongways todoamovement,onlyyour way. During a lesson you “explore” the different options and combination of movements your brain and body come up with, improving your flexibility and range of motion. ATM has two basic rules: First, move only in your comfort zone. Not what you think the instructor wants you to do, not what the person next to you is doing. Your body interprets the instructions as your brain figures them out. The idea is to work smarter, not harder. The lessons take you beyond your normal limits by finding new combinations of ways to move. Second, carry out the instructions only as long as you are aware of what you are doing. If themindbegins towander, if themovement becomesmechanical, stop, rest and then resume. Awareness is key to learning, “if you know what you are doing, you can do what you want”, was a favorite saying of Moshe Feldenkrais, the founder of The Method. There are hundreds of ATM lessons that each address unique functionalmovements,demonstratinghow thewholebodyneeds to participate as a unit. Each lesson is structured to include thinking, sensing, awareness, movement, and imagination. ATM lessons can often produce surprising and pleasing results. Making a seemingly impossibleactioneasy,Feldenkrais lessonsallowus toquestion ourassumed limitations.Thoughour rangeofmotionmaybemechanically limited,thereareno limitstothequalityofmovement.These lessonsre-ignite earlychildhood impulsestomove,explore,and learn,andcanbeactuallyfun!
TheFeldenkraisMethodworkswitheachpersonfrompediatricstogeriatrics and everyone in between. This process is for people of any ability or level of mobility, helping them explore how they move, increasing flexibility, promoting relaxation, decreasing tension, and improving dynamic posture with overall positive effects on well-being and increased vitality. If you are experiencing pain and stiffness with movement, or you would just like to walk more efficiently, ATM may be for you.
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Think you might like to try one? Call Synergy Healthcare in Spokane Valley at 509-413-1630 to find out our current schedule of ATM lessons.
synergyspokane.com
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