Source
- Esalen Workshop ATM Notes, 1972 Lesson #19
Synopsis
- A one sided lesson. Lie both arms above head, sense the comfort of lying them. Move one or the other arm towards the head to determine which lies further from the midline. Stand the opposite foot, roll the body left and right, allowing the long right arm to rest more fully on the floor. Lift the right leg. Lift the right arm. Lift both right limbs. Explore the synchronicity of the lifting.
- MF teaches a continuation, on the same side of the body, in the next lesson
Lesson Outline
- Supine. Sense the whole body
Sense the five cardinal lines of the body
Realise that the contact of the back of the head on the floor can be sensed objectively and subjectively.
Lie the arms above the head
Do the elbows touch the floor?
Where would the extended mid-line of the body run between the two hands?
Move the right arm several times towards the head, so the upper arm touches the ear
Do the same with the left arm. Compare which arm made the bigger movement. Does this help you understand where the arms lie relative to the midline?
Repeat with the right arm. Sense if only the arm moves, or other body parts
Sense if the lumbar arch is higher for the side where the arm is less able to lie on the floor
Raise the lumbar arch. Sense if the arms lie less uncomfortably.
Walk. Sense
Supine, lie the right arm above the head
Lift the arm as if to permit a sheet of paper to be withdrawn from under the hand
Do you notice the need to lengthen the arm slightly?
Lie the hand, lift the elbow, it will rotate slightly towards the body
Stand the left foot, turn the knee and body a bit to roll the body a tiny amount left, then right, till the right arm lies better on the floor
Stay with the arm lying as best it can, and pay attention to the sensation of the arm lying on all its length
Again, roll the body left and right a bit to enable to arm to lie more completely
Lie both arms above the head, note the difference left and right arm
Stand. Sense. Walk.
Standing,
Raise the left arm above the head. Note how the head, shoulder, etc move to allow the arm to lift. Is the elbow bent or straight? Is the lifting an effort?
Raise the right arm above the head.
Supine, legs long. Lie the right arm above the head
Lift the right leg, as if to release a sheet of paper from under the heel
Does lifting the leg have an effect on the arm, shoulder blade, shoulder?
Does the body turn in the direction of the lifted leg?
Can you sense this as it is, or is it the lowering back to the floor that you sense (objective sensation, rather than subjective)?
Lift arm and leg at the same time, a tiny amount
You can bend the left knee if this makes it easier
How simultaneous is the lifting?
Make it simultaneous
Lift arm and leg at the point you begin to breathe out
And at the point you begin to breathe in
Decide for yourself which breath feels more correct
Walk around
Supine, lie the right arm above the head
Upon the exhale lift just the arm, or just the leg, or both
Continue with an inhale, and also with an exhale. Make the lift simultaneous
Walk around. Sense the right side. Do not do unguarded movements that may cause injury due to the new found condition
Focus of the teaching
- In addition to the movements, what theme or ideas did the teacher focus on
- Being the first “Introductory lesson” taught in response to a request of the participants, MF outlines many principles of teaching and doing ATM, such as comfort, speed, starting from zero, etc
- MF pays attention to how repeated movements create change in the tonus of the muscles, the speed with which change happens, and the way change may last.
Related ATMs
- Fundamental properties lessons
- Mimimal lifting lessons – AY29
Resources
- Add links to external resources that would be of interest to the reader
Share Your Insights (ideas, principles, strategies, experiences, …)
- Add your thoughts about the lesson here.
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- Differing viewpoints are welcome and desired!
- The Stransky Notes equivalen lesson (#18) is titled “Fundamenal Properties” (BenP.)
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