FAQs Archive - Page 7 of 21 - SmartBody SmartMind

Q: 1. I feel a lot of energy at the top of my head. Do you have suggestions on how to incorporate working with the top of the head in this or other lessons?

Any time you feel something intense happening during ANY of these lessons, we encourage you to stop the lesson and be with what you are noticing. See if it wants to express in some way. Does it have a colour, or an image? Is there a sound that would express what you are feeling? Can you pendulate between the intense area and a less intense area? Does the sensation change as you engage with it in different ways? We definitely want to explore these experiences slowly and with curiosity. One thing to try specifically, in regards to the top of the head, is to approach the area like we did with the diaphragms. There are three more diaphragms in the head: the bottom of the skull, the tentorium, which divides the brain in half laterally, and the top of the skull. You can play with breathing gently into these areas and creating more space, just like you did with the other diaphragms.

Q: 6. Why are my right and left sides so different?

It depends what you mean. If you mean “why do my right and left sides feel so different after this exercise?”, it is likely because you only did the Bell Hand with one hand, and that exercise can create profound shifts on the entire side that we work with. If you mean “why are my right and left sides so different all the time?”, I can only tell you that, while I can’t explain exactly why this happens, it is a very common experience. Trauma survivors simply hold things differently on different sides of the body.

Q: 5. This was very hard for me, and when I got up, I could hardly walk. My lower back and legs were aching and I could see myself as a full skeleton, walking round. What’s happening!?

There are a couple of possibilities. There is a chance you simply did too much movement. With all Feldenkrais lessons, it’s very important to remember it’s not about how many movements you make, or how big the movements are, it’s about paying attention to HOW you move. What is the mind doing? How does the body feel? How do you find support from the ground? One could effectively practice Feldenkrais with no movement at all by simply imagining the movement and sensing how you would do it. Exploring other imaginary options can be just as good. As we increase awareness of what we do, only then can we discover ways to change it, and make it more efficient. As we build awareness of how we can explore other options, this will often ripple out into other areas of our physiology, and when we have been living with unresolved trauma, these seemingly simple explorations can lead to dramatic results. This is because so often our habitual movement patterns have been built around our survival physiology to keep it packaged up! So, if you are exploring these lessons, and you are remembering to apply the principles of curiosity, slowness, and not straining, and then are experiencing strange symptoms, sensations, and other unusual effects, this is why! You are breaking up the established movement patterns that have been keeping your unresolved trauma packaged up.

Q: 4. This lesson brought spontaneous laughter! I’ve had this happen before. What brings this on?

Sympathetic energy can be released and expressed in so many ways! Sometimes it may come as fear or anger, but it can also come as laughter and excitement! This could have been that. Some old sympathetic charge finding its way joyfully out, or maybe there was simply a great relief and happiness in the body from being paid attention to in this way. Finally, it’s also possible that the laughter was a form of protection; that there is also some fear and/or anger there, but it expressed as laughter, because the other ways it could have moved would have been too uncomfortable.

Q: 3. I don’t really like lying on my back or crossing my legs like this. Is there a way I can still do this lesson?

I guess I would start by asking you to explore what you mean by “I don’t like it.” If this is purely a physical constraint, like it’s difficult on your hips to cross your legs in this way, you could try crossing them more, so that your ankle is resting on your thigh, and see if that is easier (though with tight hips, that would usually be harder!), or you could practice the same movements with your feet both standing, such that both legs are parallel. If none of this works for you, you can of course leave it and just not do this one, or try it again later. If it is not a purely physical constraint though, if what you mean is that you feel uneasy, or uncomfortable emotionally in some way from this posture, then I think there will be a lot of value in continuing to explore this lesson in a titrated way, and to make room for exploration and expression of the emotional experience you are having.

Q: 2. I often feel relaxed after these lessons, but it doesn’t take long before I’m tense again. Why doesn’t this experience stay with me longer? Is it possible for something to really change?

Yes, it’s definitely possible. It sounds like you are running into the same phenomenon Irene experienced when she was doing Feldenkrais work with clients prior to taking the SE training. She would work with them and they would get good results, but then everything would just go back to how it was. This is what led her to discover and train in SE. It is the old trauma patterns that keep us going back to the old tensions. We need to release some of those old survival energies before the Feldenkrais work can be effective, so it sounds like leaving the Feldenkrais lessons for now, and continuing to explore the other lessons repeatedly, will be important. It also may be helpful to get some assistance via one-on-one work with a good Somatic Experiencing/Somatic Practice worker.

Q: 1. I struggled with some of the earlier Feldenkrais lessons, so was a bit hesitant doing this one. But I loved it! How is it my experience can be so different!?

There are a few possibilities. One, it may be that by practicing and struggling you have simply increased your capacity for this kind of approach. Or, maybe you have released some of the old survival energies that were making the earlier explorations difficult. Or, it could be that for whatever reason, these particular movements are easier for you than others. Or, a combination of all of the above!

Q: 1. Can you say more about what is meant by 'skillful, subtle' touch, and 'transmitting from the fingers to the tissue’?

This is primarily about two things: attention and intention. ‘Skillful and subtle’ means really turning on your attention in a deep way -- like putting all your focus into your fingers to really feel what they feel; the texture of clothing, or little hairs, the feel of the skin (the pliability, roughness or smoothness), and even the muscles, fascia, and bone under the skin. With practice, we can feel all these things and more through our fingers. ‘Transmitting from the fingers to the tissues’ is about intention. Holding the intention to send ourselves care, gentleness, and healing through our fingers.

Q: 3. I was able to touch all of my fingers together to my thumb with my right hand, but not my left. Is this typical? Does it mean anything? Will the ability develop? (I have spinal cord damage at the neck, and don't know if that might be contributing.)

There may be a physical limitation that is restricting the movement, and that’s okay. It’s possible that’s just how it is, but almost all physical limitations can be greatly improved with this work. Moshe Feldenkrais developed this method because he had two busted knees, and had to figure out how to walk again! People have also used this work to go from being almost blind to seeing clearly. Many things can change, just keep practicing and applying the principles of curiosity, ease, and slowness.

Q: 2. I'm wondering if I should have followed my impulses to lightly growl and voo and ahh, or just paid attention to my fingers?

YES! It’s always good to follow those impulses when they arise. You can always press pause, and then come back to the lesson after expressing what wants to be expressed.

1. I feel a lot of energy at the top of my head. Do you have suggestions on how to incorporate working with the top of the head in this or other lessons?

1. I feel a lot of energy at the top of my head. Do you have suggestions on how to incorporate working with the top of the head in this or other lessons?Irene Lyon2019-11-13T11:57:00-08:00

6. Why are my right and left sides so different?

6. Why are my right and left sides so different?Irene Lyon2019-11-13T11:56:27-08:00

5. This was very hard for me, and when I got up, I could hardly walk. My lower back and legs were aching and I could see myself as a full skeleton, walking round. What’s happening!?

5. This was very hard for me, and when I got up, I could hardly walk. My lower back and legs were aching and I could see myself as a full skeleton, walking round. What’s happening!?Irene Lyon2019-11-13T11:55:06-08:00

4. This lesson brought spontaneous laughter! I’ve had this happen before. What brings this on?

4. This lesson brought spontaneous laughter! I’ve had this happen before. What brings this on?Irene Lyon2019-11-11T19:09:51-08:00

3. I don’t really like lying on my back or crossing my legs like this. Is there a way I can still do this lesson?

3. I don’t really like lying on my back or crossing my legs like this. Is there a way I can still do this lesson?Irene Lyon2019-11-11T19:09:06-08:00

2. I often feel relaxed after these lessons, but it doesn’t take long before I’m tense again. Why doesn’t this experience stay with me longer? Is it possible for something to really change?

2. I often feel relaxed after these lessons, but it doesn’t take long before I’m tense again. Why doesn’t this experience stay with me longer? Is it possible for something to really change?Irene Lyon2019-11-11T19:08:05-08:00

1. I struggled with some of the earlier Feldenkrais lessons, so was a bit hesitant doing this one. But I loved it! How is it my experience can be so different!?

1. I struggled with some of the earlier Feldenkrais lessons, so was a bit hesitant doing this one. But I loved it! How is it my experience can be so different!?Irene Lyon2019-11-11T19:06:57-08:00

1. Can you say more about what is meant by ‘skillful, subtle’ touch, and ‘transmitting from the fingers to the tissue’?

1. Can you say more about what is meant by ‘skillful, subtle’ touch, and ‘transmitting from the fingers to the tissue’?Irene Lyon2019-11-11T19:06:05-08:00

3. I was able to touch all of my fingers together to my thumb with my right hand, but not my left. Is this typical? Does it mean anything? Will the ability develop? (I have spinal cord damage at the neck, and don’t know if that might be contributing.)

3. I was able to touch all of my fingers together to my thumb with my right hand, but not my left. Is this typical? Does it mean anything? Will the ability develop? (I have spinal cord damage at the neck, and don’t know if that might be contributing.)Irene Lyon2019-11-11T19:32:52-08:00

2. I’m wondering if I should have followed my impulses to lightly growl and voo and ahh, or just paid attention to my fingers?

2. I’m wondering if I should have followed my impulses to lightly growl and voo and ahh, or just paid attention to my fingers?Irene Lyon2019-11-11T19:31:52-08:00