Amherst 1 – Week 2 – 06/16/80 AM1 – Rolling with entire self

Source

• Amherst Year 1
• June 16, AM1; DVD 4; VHS 10
• Duration of the recording: 21 min.
• audio only

Synopsis

• Recalling and continuation of 06/13/80 AM1 Rolling back to side  on the same (right) side.

Lesson Outline

• I. Theoretical Framework (Principles of the Lesson)

  1. Learning Through Awareness
     • Learning occurs by improving awareness, not by effort or repetition
     • Reflection and recall deepen and stabilize learning
  2. The Whole Self in Action
     • Any action involves the entire organism, not isolated body parts
     • Effective action is the expression of the whole self
  3. Quality Over Achievement
     • The quality of movement is more important than range, speed, or strength
     • Avoiding the drive to “achieve” allows new organization to emerge
  4. Foreground and Background
     • Attention can shift between detail and whole
     • Healthy functioning allows easy movement of attention between them
  5. Function Rather Than Form
     • The lesson addresses functions (rolling, sensing, organizing) rather than shapes
     • Changes in form arise as a consequence of improved function
  6. Simultaneity and Coordination
     • Well-organized movement is simultaneous, not sequential
     • Coordination reduces unnecessary effort
  7. Mental Action Precedes Physical Action
     • Thinking of an action already organizes the nervous system
     • Physical movement refines what intention initiates
  8. Habit and Cultural Patterning
     • Many movement habits arise from learning, not necessity
     • Habits can be reorganized when effort and judgment are reduced
  9. Use of the Floor
     • The floor reduces gravitational demands
     • Lying down minimizes habitual postural control and standing patterns
  10. Integration Into Life
      • Improved self-organization affects standing, walking, perception, and action
      • Learning transfers beyond the lesson into daily life

  1. Opening / Orientation

  1. Take a moment to notice how you are right now.
  2. There is nothing to correct and nothing to achieve.
  3. In this lesson, we are interested in how you move, not in doing anything right.
  4. Every action involves your whole self — even when you think you are moving only one part.
  5. Move slowly, small enough to sense differences.
  6. If something feels difficult, make it easier.

  2. Preparation

  1. Lie down on the floor in a way that feels comfortable.
  2. Allow the floor to support your weight.
  3. Notice where your body touches the floor.
  4. Notice your breathing, without trying to change it.
  5. Take a few moments to arrive.

  3. Side-Lying (First Side)

  1. Slowly turn onto your side — either side is fine.
  2. Arrange your head, arms, and legs so you feel stable and comfortable.
  3. Notice the shape of your body on the floor.
  4. Sense how your head, ribs, and pelvis relate to each other.

  4. Hand and Foot

  1. Slowly move your top hand a little farther away from your top foot.
  2. Bring it back.
  3. Keep the movement small and easy.
  4. Notice what happens in your chest, back, and breathing.

  5. Elbow and Knee

  1. Let the elbow and knee move away from each other as the hand moves away from the foot.
  2. Let them return together.
  3. Keep the movement simultaneous.
  4. Avoid doing one part before the other.

  6. Shoulder and Hip

  1. Include the shoulder and hip in the movement.
  2. Let them move away from each other and back.
  3. Notice how the spine participates.
  4. Use the least possible effort.

  7. Mental Folding

  1. Continue the movement.
  2. Imagine bringing your forehead toward your knees.
  3. Do not perform the movement.
  4. Notice how the thought alone changes the organization.

  8. Expanding the Whole

  1. Allow ribs, spine, head, and pelvis to participate as needed.
  2. Do not force anything.
  3. Let the movement become larger or smaller naturally.
  4. Maintain ease and continuity.

  9. Rolling Toward the Back

  1. Slowly allow the movement to turn you toward lying on your back.
  2. Take your time.
  3. When you arrive, pause.

  10. Rest and Observation

  1. Notice how you lie now.
  2. Sense differences between right and left sides.
  3. Do not adjust or correct.
  4. Notice the length of each side and your breathing.

  11. Side-Lying (Second Side)

  1. Slowly turn onto your other side.
  2. Arrange yourself comfortably.
  3. Repeat: hand and foot, elbow and knee, shoulder and hip.
  4. Move slowly and easily.
  5. Include the same mental folding image.

  12. Rolling and Integration

  1. Gradually roll from side to side.
  2. Do not aim for perfection.
  3. Allow familiar habits to appear without judgment.
  4. Notice what feels different.

  13. Transition to Standing

  1. When ready, slowly come up to standing.
  2. Pause once upright.
  3. Notice how you feel.

  14. Walking and Sensing

  1. Walk around the room.
  2. Notice breathing, balance, and orientation.
  3. Turn right and left.
  4. Let your eyes move freely.
  5. Sense how much of you is involved.

  15. Closing

  1. Good action is the action of the whole person.
  2. There is nothing to repeat and nothing to fix.
  3. Simply notice what is available to you now.
  4. Thank yourself for the time and attention.

Focus of the teaching

• In addition to the movements, what theme or ideas did the teacher focus on

Related ATMs

• Tag Imagining
• Tag unilateral
• Tag Rolling
• Tag Atlas-and-axis
• Tag Lecture
• Tag Center-of-gravity

 

Forehead to knee:

• Amherst 1 – Week 7 – 07/21/80 PM2 Head and knee under the gap
• AY027 – Elbows and knees touching
• AY489 Legs and lifting back
• AY548 On right side, head and knee under the frame of left arm
• New York Quest – DAY3 – AM2 – Rolling from sitting to lying on the back continued, including taking the legs over the shoulders
• SB1 Use of the Self in Turning & Rolling/The eyes organize the body: rolling from side to side
• SB4 Lateral Bending on Stomach/Head through gap on the stomach
• Toronto 1980 – DAY5-4 – Prone, head through the gate, rolling to sit

Kanō Jigorō:

• Amherst 1 – Week 5 – 07/07/80 – 07/09/80 Rolling the Pelvis (Part 1 – 5)
• Amherst 1 – Week 6 – 07/17/80 AM Rotation of head and teleceptors
• SF2 – Week 09 – 09 August 1976: Rolling Like a Baby
• Toronto 1980 – DAY2-2 – Lecture: Koizumi

Resources

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