AY033 Hands interlaced

Source

Alexander Yanai Vol 1
Reel 3, Track 2, Lesson 4 (according to Eva Laser https://www.somatik.se)
Reel 3, Track 2, Lesson 4, Side A (IFF)

Synopsis

Builds towards “bringing the foot to the face or onto the head”. In general, the lesson helps lengthen the extensors. In particular, it improves hip flexion and rotation, by lifting the leg or foot towards the head in lying or sitting.
This short video is a visual reminder of AY 33. Someone else might interpret the movement you see with the words in a different manner. The words written sometimes are verbatim, sometimes close to verbatim and sometimes my interpretation of the words that are written by Moshé Feldenkrais. — Ute Müller

Lesson Outline

Lie on your back – body scan
Feet standing; Right ankle on the left knee; Grasp right foot with left hand all fingers together.
Right hand behind head with elbow forward; lift head/hand and right foot/leg toward each other at the same time.
Do not try to touch, explore several paths…about 20 times.
Rest
Same thing as before; change sides.
Make delicate movements…synchronize the movement.
Rest
Feet standing; Interlace fingers behind head – lift head and right leg and draw circles in the air with foot.
Same position, same leg, reverse circling (about 20 times).
Change interlacing of the fingers.
Now lift left leg; do about 20 circles with left foot.
Reverse circling of left foot with hands interlaced non-habitually.
Rest
Feet standing; Interlace fingers behind head, lift head and right knee with the help of left leg.
Rest
Change interlacing of fingers and repeat same with left ankle on top of right knee.
Rest
Sit up and grasp right leg with right hand from outside below right knee and left hand on bottom of right foot.
Bring lower leg towards the chest (about 20 times).
Foot can touch opposite knee when lowering.
Rest
Now same thing with left leg (left hand below left knee and right hand on bottom right foot)
How do you use yourself?
Rest
Bring both feet standing – feet wide apart, knees leaning in and touching.
Once lower the left knee to the right and then right knee to the left about 10 times each.
Leave legs standing with knees together-interlace fingers and lift head toward knees.
With arms long and parallel, move arms forward and imagine someone is pulling you to get up.
Rest
Feet standing; interlace fingers behind head.
Lift head and right knee do 10 circles and then do same with left leg.
Rest
Feet standing; knees apart now; interlace fingers behind head
With elbows pointing forward, bring left knee and left elbow towards each other.
Repeat with right hand and right knee as you exhale.
Rest
Feet standing – fingers interlaced behind head, elbows forward; right ankle on the left knee;
Lift both legs, head, and right elbow towards right knee helping with left leg.
Now same with other side.
Rest
Right ankle on left knee—hold arch of the right foot with left palm.
Rest
Sit up and hold right knee with right hand and right foot with left hand as earlier.
Try to touch the leg somewhere with your face
Rest
Come up to standing and walk around.

Focus of Moshe’s Teaching

Indicate focus or key principles that are made explicit in the teaching

Related ATMs

Continuation in AY034 Foot on the head

Knees inward:

Resources

Sharon Starika recording: https://sharonstarika.com/workshop-audio/Hands_interlacedW_33_1.mp3

Share Your Insights (ideas, principles, strategies, experiences, …)

Add your thoughts about the lesson here. Please sign your comments.
Towards the end of the lesson, the knees are close, the feet separated, in supine. Then one lifts one’s head, and imagines being pushed form behind and coming to sit. Also, one straightens the arms over the knees, and imagines being pulled to sit. I imagine this to be like M-sitting, which young children are seen doing. A question is, when one comes towards sitting, is whether lumbar flexion (as in the lesson) or exension is more functional. In so far as the movement is imagined, not done, this may be taking the teaching of this point further than MF envisaged at the time. (BenP)
A longer lesson synopsis: The lesson begins, in supine, with lifting the leg toward the head while holding the foot and knee, or the foot and the head. It continues, supine, circling the straight, lifted leg, the hands lifting the head. Next, cross the ankle on the opposite knee and lift both legs as one. Now sitting, do what are effectively the same movements in a different position, bringing the leg to the chest with various hand/head variations. Now, a new theme appears: supine, knees together, lean one knee inwards, enlarging inner rotation of the hip. A divergent action within this theme: an imagined movement sequence, where the knees are leant inwards, head lifted, imagine sitting up. Also with the arms reaching forwards, over the knees. This works to clarify the student’s internal image of how effort, support and action relate.
The lesson closes by redoing all the opening movements, but taking them a step further with mouth-to-knee or even, for some, foot on head. Thus, the students notice the changes. (BenP)
A precursor of AY34, Foot on the head. Possibly a misnamed lesson (“hands interlaced”), as it is to do with bringing the knee in outward rotation towards the face. It was suggested by colleagues that MF may have recorded over a lesson called ‘Hands Interlaced’ and didn’t change the name on the recording. (BenP)
Sensing mid-back pressing into floor; rounding back; opening hips—outward rotation. (R. Renz)

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