ATM Basic Series – 7. Perfecting Your Self-Image (ATM Book Lesson 8)

Source

• Feldenkrais, Moshé – Awareness Through Movement Basic Series
  

Synopsis

• Equivalent to chapter 8 of the ATM book
• Sitting, hold one foot with both hands. Progressively roll over thigh to lie on back. Includes attention to reversibility of action and spatial location

Lesson Outline

• Sit with soles close. Put right hand under right heel, all fingers together, and the left hand holds the toes
  • Lift the foot upwards and towards yourself
• Rest sitting
• Resume in the same position, lift the leg, then move it right and left
  • Again lift the foot to compare ease with earlier
• Rest on back
• Stand knees, hold right heel and toes again 
  • Lift right foot and head up
• Sit, resume holding the right foot
  • Lean rightwards, lean the right knee on floor, move the left foot outwards, or behind
    • Lower face towards foot or shin as if to kiss
      • • • • • Explore up and down leg with mouth
                • With mouth by knee, roll onto side or back, return by bringing mouth to knee and to sit
• Sit, resume holding right foot, and lift it. Compare with earlier
• Rest
• Stand the feet, hold the right foot in the same way
  • Roll to the right, and return
  • Then roll onto the back and return
• Lie on the back, hold the right foot, move mouth to knee and come to sitting
  • Instantly return onto the back. 
    • Is the lying position exactly the same starting position? Repeat until you can roll up and down in order to come to exactly the same position
• Lie on the back, lift the foot with the hands and bring it towards the top of the head
  • Lift the left leg and swing it to sit up
• Sit as before, lift right foot. Compare with earlier
• Stand, walk and sense
• Sit as before. Think of holding the right foot. Think how you would hold the left foot. Do it. Switch between the feet several times
  • Lift the left foot. 
    • Lift the right foot and compare feeling
• Lie, stand feet, hold right foot again and head
  • Change sides, do the same. Compare feeling
• Rest
• Roll head right and left

Focus of the teaching

• In addition to the movements, what theme or ideas did the teacher focus on
  • Includes attention to spatial location – i.e. rolling down to the exact same orientation on the mat from where one rolled up (BP)

Related ATMs

• ATM Book 08. Perfecting the Self-Image
• AY034 Foot on the head
• AY081 Washing the face with the feet
• AY231 Bringing the knee to the face in an arc
• AY389 Ankle on knee and bending
• AY492 Sole to ear
• Franz Wurm, Der aufrechte Gang – Series 1 – Der aufrechte Gang – 11. Hüftgelenke
• IDF15 Foot on the Head (Preparation)
• LT29 Foot to head
• New York Quest – DAY3 – AM2 – Rolling from sitting to lying on the back continued, including taking the legs over the shoulders
• Rotterdam 1976 – Tape 8 – Foot to head, roll to sit
• Rotterdam 1976 – Tape 9 – Foot to head, roll to sit continues
• SB5 Perfecting the self-image: Bringing the Foot to the Head and Rolling to Sitting
• SF1 – Week 2 – 24 June 1975, AM: Sitting, soles of the feet together, lifting the leg with the foot held by the opposite hand
• SF1 – Week 2 – 24 June 1975, PM: Sitting, putting the foot on top of the head
• SF1 – Week 2 – 25 June 1975: Lifting the foot to touch the head
• SF1 – Week 4 – 8 July 1975: Rolling, holding one foot with the opposite hand
• SF2 – Week 02 – 21 June 1976, pm: Sliding Foot Through the Gap continued
• SF2 – Week 04 – 6 July 1976: Sliding Foot Through the Gap, Fingers and Toes Relating (continued from Week 2)
• SFEC Notes – 01. Tilting pelvis sitting
• SFEC Notes – 05. Foot to head (July 1)
• SFEC Public Workshop – Vol. 2 – 2. Flexible back
• SFEC Public Workshop – Vol. 2 – 3. Easy rolling
• SFEC Public Workshop – Vol. 2 – 6. More flexible than a child
• Vancouver – Hotel Vancouver – 7. Perfecting the self image
• Washington Quest – DAY3 – ATM #8 In Sitting: Mouth to leg, Holding the foot, rolling in a complete circle

Resources

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