Source
- Alexander Yanai Vol. 2 #96
- Reel 7, Track 4, Lesson 3
Synopsis
- This is a Sphinx lesson done prone resting on elbows and forearms, sinking the thoracic between the shoulders, causing the scapulas to slide along the ribs. There are several movements done explicitly to help increase the ability of the student to move their shoulder blades.
- A prone lesson in sphinx position, sinking the thoracic spine between the shoulders that promotes improved breathing, reduced rigidity in the thoracic spine, and enhanced coordination between spine, ribs, and shoulder girdle. The lesson uses i. the constraint of the sphinx position, ii. the non-habitual, prone, supported position, iii. proximal movement (of the shoulder joins), iv. weight-bearing action by the shoulders, v.slow movement, vi.speed variation, and vii. motor imagery to create change. Change is rapid due to a variety of pedagogical strategies, such as the non-habitual position (prone), the constraint of the sphinx position (pelvis movement neutralised), non-habitual neuro-muscular activation (proximal movement, the spine moving between the shoulder blades), slowness, speed, and imagery. At the end, expect a change to sensation of posture, freedom of the neck and breathing, and shoulder range of movement. (BenP)
Lesson Outline
- Begin in Sphinx position, legs apart, and sink spine between shoulders.
- Rest forehead on left hand, slide right arm above until elbow is just bent. Lift only the elbow so slowly.
- Continue and lift elbow and later wrist and later finger too. Same on other side
- Slide right arm long again overhead, this time make a fist with thumb up, lift whole arm and hand together, then do it in imagination. Imagine raising arm so high and then so fast and hard slamming it to the floor.
- Same on other side. Note how scapulas slide easier, how sink further or easier.
- In Sphinx position, keep head and left shoulder immobile, and bring on the right shoulder forward and back, sliding the scapula, then go faster and smaller. And same on the other side.
- Lean on hands out in front of you, elbows straight, turn head to left, right ear toward the floor, and sink spine between shoulders.
- Lie completely still and feel in every part of your body the changes made.
Focus of Moshe’s Teaching
- Moshe discusses how quickly and easily something can be made better, and how there is no limit to the improvements we can make “where intelligence is involved.”
- He notes how such drastic changes in such a short time illuminate the lack of mobility or organization in the chest and shoulders.
Related ATMs
Sphinx:
- Amherst 1 – Week 6 – 07/17/80 AM Rotation of head and teleceptors
- Amherst 1 – Week 6 – 07/17/80 PM Mobility of head – body tonus, part 1 and 2
- Amherst 1 – Week 6 – 07/18/80 AM1 Mobility of head – body tonus (part 3)
- Amherst 1 – Week 7 – 07/21/80 PM1 Head sinking between shoulders
- Amherst 2 – Week 7 – 07/21/81 PM1 Demonstration and Discussion—Crawling like a Baby / Baby Crawls on Back (Includes Baby Learning to Lift its Head)
- AY050 Lowering the head
- MM08 The Seventh Cervical
Lifting the elbow before the hand from the floor:
Sinking spine between shoulder blades:
- Amherst 1 – Week 7 – 07/21/80 PM1 Head sinking between shoulders
- Amherst 2 – Week 2 – 06/16/81 PM2 Rolling Head on All Fours / Rock Head on Floor
- MM08 The Seventh Cervical
- SF2 – Week 10 – 19 August 1976: Rocking on the Top of the Head
- SF3 – Day 26 – 27 July 1977: Prone, tilting pelvis, relationship of breath and movement to back and ribs. Continues into kneeling on all fours.
- SF3 – Day 27/C – 28 July 1977: Prone, supporting on elbows. Working towards swinging head in circles and noticing relationship to spine, chest, pelvis, feet.
Resources
Share Your Insights (ideas, principles, strategies, experiences, …)
- Add your thoughts about the lesson here.
- Please sign your comments.
- Differing viewpoints are welcome and desired!
- Quotation: Point 4b. “… there isn’t any limit to the extent to which it can improve. It is only static things that are permanent. With a quality like intelligence, (or) where intelligence is involved, there isn’t any limit. The person can do it so it improves. Then, literally throughout life, he or she will never find “a best way,” that cannot be improved upon. Then, when he or she stops improving, it is a sign that it has become a routine and he no longer sees (or is aware of) what he is doing. He is acting mechanically and that is why it is not improving; otherwise, there isn’t any limit to development. As a person does better, the ability to feel becomes greater and the clarity, depth, and breadth of thought is increased. The complexity is also increased, so that he or she can always do better, much better.” (Ben P)
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Examples of when MF uses imagery: Point 3: “Do a slow movement (as if) in something thick and sticky… slowly, slowly… only the elbow… also lower (the elbow). If you put the arm on something (thick and sticky), it won’t sink quickly. You have to wait until it comes down. You have to wait until its weight counters the resistance of the honey to the sinking arm. (Lift) only the elbow, and not the hand. You have to turn the shoulder blade in a special way when you move only the elbow. It prepares the arm for the correct movement of lifting. The more you can imagine thick honey and the more the honey is sticky, the more you truly have to move slowly… slowly…. ” etcetera (Ben P)
Point 5a: “lift the fist above the head and give a big blow to the table so the whole town will shake and (Moshe) will pay the money.” (Ben P)
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