Stand on your Own Two Feet

Hi Feldenkrais Students:
Learn how to Stand on your Own Two Feet, with less effort and more pleasure on Sunday, July 11 from 12 noon – 3:30 p.m.

Over the years of teaching the Feldenkrais Method, I have come across hundreds of different physical interpretations of what the command, “STAND UP STRAIGHT!”, looks like. People have heard this statement from well meaning folks such as teachers, parents, coaches, nuns…..the list goes on and on. Unfortunately no one ever taught us how to “stand up straight”. This is why I want to teach this workshop. I want you all to discover that a desirable way of standing is not straight and doesn’t require hard work! Standing can feel effortless when one allows all of the natural curves of the spine and shoulder girdle to hang like a dress on a hanger. This way of standing helps us to balance easily while walking upright on two feet.

I have met many people that have tried with great determination and will to stand straight. Some of the strategies they used to do this were to hold the shoulders back, contract the abdomen, tuck the pelvis and squeeze the buttock. Some of the results they found from doing this unnecessary work that altered the natural curves in their spine led them to experience fear of falling; difficulty with balancing; labored walking; stiff muscles; back pain and joint injuries.

During this workshop you will probably become perplexed when you find a more desirable way to stand because it will become easier and more comfortable to stand on your own two feet! To sign up for the workshop call the Alonzo King’s LINES Dance Center at 415.863.3040 x221 or sign up online at: www.linesballet.org/dancecenter . The dance center is located at 26 Seventh Street at Market Street in San Francisco, CA.

Happy 4th of July!
Donna

Sign up for July Workshop & Substitute Teachers

Hi Feldenkrais Students:
Sign up today for the Stand on your Own Two Feet workshop, since space is limited.  Call the dance center at 415.863.3040 x221.  I look forward to seeing you there.  For more details about the workshop look at last month’s post, below. 

The following Feldenkrais Teachers will be subbing for me in June:
11:45 a.m. on Saturday, June 19 @ Alonzo King LINES Dance Center:  Leigh Sealy
11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 23 @ Club One Fillmore Center:  Greg Lewis
11:45 a.m. on Saturday, June 26 @ Alonzo King LINES Dance Center:  Pat Hendricks

Enjoy learning and exploring with these wonderful teachers! 
Donna

A Feldenkrais Workshop: Stand on your Own Two Feet

Sunday, July 11, 2010
12:00 noon – 3:30 p.m.
$60.00 (early registration)

“Thus, if we eliminate from standing all that is extraneous to it, such as standing manly, femininely, authoritatively, nicely, efficiently, arrogantly, proudly, or meekly and all other cross motivations that we cultivate in childhood and adolescence with such wholehearted conviction of doing right, there remains standing as dictated by the structure of the body and its nervous mechanisms. A stance that is rare, but of which we are all capable.” ~ Moshe Feldenkrais, The Potent Self

As Moshe Feldenkrais states above, every stance has a character. To get through life we need to have “character”. Learning how you physically create your “character” will allow you to choose a stance that is most appropriate for whatever situation you are in. For example, during an argument it is beneficial to be capable of standing differently than when brushing your teeth or standing in line.

In this workshop, through the exploration of Feldenkrais®, Awareness Through Movement® lessons, we will study “neutral” standing. Neutral is defined as being able to move in any direction at any time without having to reorganize yourself. This way of standing will allow quicker responses; better balance; and better alignment. These changes will also help to prevent joint injuries from developing in your legs.

Being able to experience “neutral” standing will create choice in your life. Learn to become aware of your “character stance” compared to a “neutral stance” so you can choose to stand the way you want.

Donna Bervinchak will teach this workshop at the Alonzo King LINES Dance Center at 26 Seventh St. / Market St. in San Francisco. To sign up for the workshop call the dance center at 415.863.3040 x221. Space is limited so pre-registration is required.

A Feldenkrais student’s story

Hi Everyone!
One of my Feldenkrais students, Hafsa,  was interviewed recently by the Fitness Director at Club One and she eloquently spoke about her experience with the Feldenkrais Method.  I am happy to say that she gave me permission to share her thoughts with all of you.  Hafsa is a very willing and open student.  I had fun teaching her through Functional Integration sessions and during classes.  Below are Hafsa’s words.  I highlighted my favorite parts.  Enjoy!  (At the end of her interview are details about my next workshop.  Press “read more” to get the full description.)
Donna 

Why Feldenkrais – what are sessions like?  What have been the benefits to you?
“I’d been trying all sorts of ideas for years to fix my unstable low back and neck sprain, but I wasn’t getting to the heart of the matter.  I think I always knew that what I needed was someone to force me to be patient and listen to my body to help me find different options for movement and stability.  One day I eavesdropped on one of Donna’s Feldenkrais classes and found exactly the kind of disciplined self-kindness and self-awareness discovery I was looking for.  After I took my first class, Donna could tell immediately that I had a major movement problem and advised me to schedule a private session with her.  When something is not clicking for you in your movements, when you know your’re not using the right muscles or the right bones, Feldenkrais helps you find it.  It helps you find the way you used to move freely as a baby and helps translate what your body is trying to tell you.  What surprised me the most is that Feldenkrais makes you face yourself with a lot of courage so you can learn how much your emotions and self-image play a role in how you move.  My favorite part is how much I’m learning about how our bones are designed to counter-rotate and balance the body, helping me find different options for movement.  There is no hiding in Feldenkrais.  The tiniest movement of a rib or your jaw or the slightest shift of breath can make all the difference between making progress and having a major insight into your whole self.

How does the freedom of movement that you have achieved through Feldenkrais make you feel? “Feldenkrais makes me feel in awe of the human body, of my body and how it has sustained me through all the years of unhelpful holding patterns.  I feel like I can literally feel more of my body and how the different parts work in conjunction with each other.  Mostly, though, because I discovered all this knowledge about my body and myself with such subtle and patient technique it makes me want to apply subtlety and patience to the rest of my life, too.  It’s become so obvious to me that when you stop and take the time to really pay attention you can find the most efficient, healthy, and rewarding solution to probably everything.”

If you had to summarize your movement story, what would it be?
“i had it inside me all along.” ~Hafsa M.

My next Feldenkrais Workshop:  Stand On Your Own Two Feet,  Sunday, July 11, 2010

Read more »

Introduction: Anna Halprin Film

Hi Feldenkrais Students,
Following is a description of a documentary that is opening at the Roxie, on Friday, April 2, that I highly recommend for all to see.  Anna Halprin is a great teacher of dance and how to heal and grow through artistic expression.   When I met Anna a few years back I was in awe of her on many levels but mostly I was touched by the love she exuded for others and for the planet we live on.  I hope to see you there!
Donna

Zas Film & Argot Pictures Present

BREATH MADE VISIBLE
a film by Ruedi Gerber

Opens April 2nd in the Bay Area at:

SMITH RAFAEL CENTER
San Rafael, CA
www.cafilm.org
Q&A with Anna Halprin & Ruedi Gerber on Sunday,
April 4th 4:15pm show

BREATH MADE VISIBLE is the first feature length film about the life and career of Anna Halprin, the American dance pioneer who has helped redefine our notion of modern art with her belief in dance’s power to to teach, heal, and transform at all ages of life.

This cinematic portrait blends recent interviews with counterparts such as the late Merce Cunningham, archival footage including her establishment of the first multiracial dance company in the U.S, and excerpts of current performances such as “Parades and Changes” at the Georges Pompidou Center in Paris, to weave a stunning, inspiring account of one of the most important cultural icons in modern dance.

Click here to watch the trailer!

“Engaging.Illustrative.The quintessential Left Coast choreographer Anna Halprin
has helped push the boundaries of modern dance.”
Variety

“An engaging subject”
San Francisco Chronicle

“An intelligent, beautifully shot, smartly edited film [...]. Gerber’s film reveals not only the important artistic influences Halprin had on such distinguished artists as Merce Cunningham, Trisha Brown, and Yvonne Rainer, but also what a groundbreaking force Halprin was in political and other cultural arenas.”
Backstage

Interview with Anna Halprin
San Francisco Examiner

Become a Fan of Breath Made Visible on Facebook

www.breathmadevisible.com

www.argotpictures.com

Pre-register Today

Hi Everyone!
I highly recommend for you to pre-register for the “Connected Arms; Changed Self-Image” Workshop, due to limited space and to ensure your spot.  Below are details and information about the workshop.  At the end of the reading I have included a sneak preview about the workshop I will be teaching in July!  To read more about it click on “read more”.  I hope to see you soon.
Donna 

Connected Arms; Changed Self-Image
Sunday, March 28, 2010
12:00 noon – 3:30 p.m.
$60.00 (early registration)

“The parts of the body that are easily defined in the awareness are those that serve man daily, while the parts that are dull or mute in his awareness play only an indirect role in his life and are almost missing from his self-image when he is in action.” ~ Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais

During this workshop you will learn to become aware of and utilize the skeletal connection of your arms to your shoulders, chest, vertebrae, and the rest of yourself.  Your self-image will transform as your body image and self-use becomes more complete.

This will be done through the exploration of Feldenkrais, Awareness Through Movement lessons.  In result you will learn to move your arms with more power and force, while using less effort.  By finding this connection within yourself you will find out how to prevent overuse injuries from occurring in your hands and upper limbs by not using them excessively. 

Discover the connection of your arms to your skeletal organization and find a fuller self-image.

Donna Bervinchak will teach this workshop at the Alonzo King LINES Dance Center at 26 Seventh Street / Market St., in San Francisco.  To sign up for this workshop call the dance center at 415.863.3040 x221.

SNEAK PREVIEW:
Read more »

Workshop: Connected Arms; Changed Self-Image, 3/28/10

“The negative aspect of learning to achieve aims is that we tend to stop learning when we have mastered sufficient skills to attain our immediate objective.” ~ Moshe Feldenkais, Awareness Through Movement

Teaching the Feldenkrais Method has been a joy for me because it has taught me to explore life.   Having competed in gymnastics growing up, I learned to be very goal orientated.  After my gymnastics career, I thought I would never find the same inspiration I had for gymnastics, in anything else in life.  At the time, I thought this was because I had no competition to reach towards. 

When I discovered the Feldenkrais Method I fell in love with the exploration of movement and the inner wisdom I gained from the lessons.  This taught me to love learning for the sake of learning.  I discovered that I am most happy when I am learning, and the aspect of training in gymnastics that I thrived upon, was the endless self-education and not the end result.  Realizing this today, allows me to turn most everything I do into an interesting and worthy experience.   This is all due to this wonderful method!

I would love to hear from all of you about how Feldenkrais has changed your outlook on your life.  Following is information about my next workshop.  I hope to hear from you. 
Donna

Connected Arms; Changed Self-Image
Sunday, March 28, 2010
$60.00 (early registration)

“The parts of the body that are easily defined in the awareness are those that serve man daily, while the parts that are dull or mute in his awareness play only an indirect role in his life and are almost missing from his self-image when he is in action.” ~ Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais

Read more »

Feldenkrais Workshop

Happy New Year Feldenkrais Students!
The deadline for early registration for the  Quiet Hands, Quiet Mind Workshop, is this Sunday, January 10!  This workshop is a great way to start off 2010.  I hope to see you there.
Donna

Quiet Hands, Quiet Mind
Sunday, January 31, 2010
12 noon – 3:00 p.m.
$60.00 (early registration)
$75.00 (registration after Jan. 10)

If the hands lead, will the mind follow? Read more »

Can Feldenkrais help……….?

Can the Feldenkais Method  help Attention Deficit Disorder, Compulsive Behaviors, Anxiety, Emotional and Mental States of Mind?

The answer is yes when one explores Feldenkrais, over time.  What most people don’t realize is that the Feldenkrais Method is largely about growing the plasticity of the brain. Moshe Feldenkrais was most interested in helping people become flexible in mind.  He is famous for saying, “What I’m after isn’t flexible bodies, but flexible brains. What I’m after is to restore each person to their human dignity. ”

Dr. Feldenkrais understood that an effective way to change the message patterns in the brain is through movement. Knowing that in order to move, the brain has to send nerve impulses to the muscles, he used movement as a vehicle to change peoples’ thought processes for the better.  By increasing one’s movement repertoire, one can experience broader behavioral responses; opened emotional avenues; increased mental clarity; lengthened attention spans; lower anxiety levels; etc.

Moshe Feldenkais used movement as a way for people to become aware of themselves physically, behaviorally, environmentally, emotionally and mentally.  He said, “I believe that the unity of mind and body is an objective reality. They are not just parts somehow related to each other, but an inseparable whole while functioning. A brain without a body could not think.”

This is why I love the Feldenkrais Method so much. When I work with people I love seeing them change not only physically, but in so many other ways.  Most of my students come to me because they want to free themselves of physical pain, the ones that stay, stay because they grow as a person in all areas of their lives.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!  I will be teaching my classes the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Saturday after!  I hope to see you there!

Donna