Alki Moves, rolling along

After months of playing with new logo ideas...

It's growing on me.

Awaken your senses,
bring your curiosity to the forefront.

Become aware of what you're doing, How do I do that?

Become renewed by the resiliency you've developed in your playful discovery.

What's your dream?

Erik

Alki Feldenkrais

http://www.alkimoves.com/

The sweet life

"Without learning to know ourselves as intimately as we possibly can, we limit our choices. Life is not very sweet without the freedom of choice.”

~Moshe Feldenkrais

With Valentine's Day coming up tomorrow we celebrate the sweethearts in our lives.
It also has me thinking of how do I (we) celebrate the inner sweetheart?
Taking care of the one we know best.

The curation of ourselves is a multi-faceted event that touches on the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of who we are.

A great tool on this trip through life I've found is the Feldenkrais Method.
 
The simple, slow movements, and the fostering of attention to the movements has helped me grow as a human being more than anything else alone.

So how intimately do you know yourself?

Give yourself the Valentine's Day gift that keeps giving.

Erik LaSeur GCFP
Alki Feldenkrais

http://www.alkimoves.com/

Alki Moves makin the 'Blog' (WSB)

2011 has gotten off to an accelerated start:

the West Seattle community Feldenkrais clinic is roaring ahead into it's 6th month at the West Seattle Senior Center .

This is Seattle's only low-cost Feldenkrais clinic and a great (cheap) way to experience this method.

Group classes at Crysalis Center in Downtown Seattle are taking off, where I also now offer individual Functional Integration lessons too.

Along with my regular networking gigs at BNI and the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and other speaking engagements, I've increased my visibility in West Seattle by becoming an advertiser on the West Seattle Blog.

Now at least 10,000 a day get to see the word 'Feldenkrais' when they read 'the blog'.

It may take awhile, but the tide is turning

what's your dream?

Erik LaSeur GCFP

http://www.alkimoves.com/

West Seattle community Feldenkrais clinic: Roll on the floor, learn something new

West Seattle community Feldenkrais clinic: Roll on the floor, learn something new: "It amazes me sometimes the things I can learn just by lying on the floor, and playing with little movements.After much time away from playi..."

Hackin away

I've been on an artisty bend lately, singing, dancing, hacking up black bamboo...

The bamboo part came in because I'm massively ramping up my local marketing efforts, and one of the missing ingredients is a visible sign outside my studio.

I have an A-board on the porch, but that's it.

Many have commented on why I don't have a big flashing sign or something.

This is a neighborhood. I do wish to respect my neighbors.

I wanted a tasteful sign that went with the house and the surroundings.

Bamboo.

I have lots of it growing at Alki Feldenkrais.

Erik

http://www.alkimoves.com/

improve your movement

improve your life

West Seattle community Feldenkrais clinic: Get up! Stand up!

West Seattle community Feldenkrais clinic: Get up! Stand up!:
This Tuesday January 4th, 2011 we'll have the first West Seattle community Feldenkrais clinic of the new year.


This week we'll start out at 12:30 with the classic lesson that got Moshé started on this fascinating work.
What is Good Posture?
"Any posture is acceptable in itself as long as it does not conflict with the law of nature,which is that the skeletal structure should counteract te pull of gravity, leaving the muscles free for movement."

Moshé Feldenkrais 'Awareness through Movement' pg 68

This statement is at the beginning of the first lesson in this book. It's all about going from sitting to standing, and how to do it without undue pressure upon the knees.

This was necessary for Moshé to learn because he had two really messed up knees.

Personally, I've done this lesson and pieces of it at least 100 times.

There is a lot to learn here.

As we get older, or are injured, or weak, this lesson becomes more important because our ability to use our muscles (old bad habits) to carry out this action are compromised.

If you're looking for a new, vibrant way to get up for 2011, come to the West Seattle Senior Center this Tuesday for a unique outlook on what good posture is.

Erik LaSeur

improve your movement
improve your life

http://www.alkimoves.com/

Make it light, simple, and without force

As I welcome in the new year I like to have a guiding principle to keep me on track with my work and life.

I'll borrow from Moshé Feldenkrais:

"Make it light, simple, and without force."

The greatest learning comes from those words, whether it's how to move more elegantly, or how to focus on running the shop.

As a Norswegian I was brought up to do it the hard complex way, and bang the shit outta it to make it work.

My Feldenkrais training had me learning new ways, the simple ways that we all are capable of.

As I strategize for the coming year, how can I do it with lightness?

Laying the plans for success by being gentle with myself.

How can I keep it simple?

Our work as Feldenkrais teachers really is simple, one of creating connections within and without.

And working without forcing...

Be like water...

..

.

May your new year be one of lightness, simplicity, and gentleness.

Erik

http://www.alkimoves.com/

Core Story

December 31 – Core Story
What central story is at the core of you, and how do you share it with the world?
(Bonus: Consider your reflections from this month. Look through them to discover a thread you may not have noticed until today.)
(Author: Molly O’Neill)

I feel my purpose for writing these pages, for what I call a profession, and the steps I take in my daily life all relate to service.
To serve others.
To guide and support them to do what makes their heart tick, their passions and dreams fulfilled.

Every day I'm finding new ways of sharing myself with the world around me.
Whether it's public speaking at a networking breakfast, giving a demonstration to a management team, teaching a group of construction workers, or writing words on a blog.

The thread I see relates to work and life and how one informs the other.

A pattern is a pattern...

Happy New Year!

Erik

http://www.alkimoves.com/

Gift

This is Day 30 of the #reverb10 writing project:
http://www.reverb10.com/the-prompts/

December 30 – Gift
Prompt: Gift. This month, gifts and gift-giving can seem inescapable.
What’s the most memorable gift, tangible or emotional, you received this year?
Author: Holly Root

The best gifts I receive are those intangible "thank you's" that occasionally get tossed my way by clients.
To know that I've helped someone live a more fulfilling existence, if not for a moment, gives greater meaning to life.
I look forward to giving of much more of myself and talents in the coming year.
To keep the circulation flowing...

Erik

http://www.alkimoves.com/

Defining Moment

This is Day 29 of the #reverb10 writing project:
http://www.reverb10.com/the-prompts/

December 29 – Defining Moment
Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year.
Author: Kathryn Fitzmaurice

This past spring/summer I started doing street fairs as a way of marketing my Feldenkrais business.
In all I participated in 5 different fairs from May through August.
The last one I worked at, the 2010 Peace Concert at Gas Works Park was by far the busiest.
We were popular during the whole day.
People weren't quite sure what it was we were doing, but they wanted it.

These moments of working out in the street with the public, educating them on what we had to offer, really sped up the process for me.
The process of stepping out and taking risks.

One street fair at a time.

Now I'm approaching new projects with much more confidence and planning expertise, having gone down the road a few times.

I'm looking forward to many more defining moments in 2011 and beyond.

What support do you need to step out?

Erik

http://www.alkimoves.com/

Achieve

This is day 28 of the #reverb10 writing project:
http://www.reverb10.com/the-prompts/



December 28 – Achieve


What’s the thing you most want to achieve next year? How do you imagine you’ll feel when you get it? Free? Happy? Complete? Blissful? Write that feeling down. Then, brainstorm 10 things you can do, or 10 new thoughts you can think, in order to experience that feeling today.

Author: Tara Sophia Mohr

Today I wrote down a rough draft of my 2011 goals.
The most tangible goal that I most want to achieve is a lofty one (without revealing numbers) for seeing clients this coming year.
I'll feel freer, happier, more complete, and even blissful at achieving this goal.

I can feel these feelings at any time, any encounter with another is a chance to experience them now.

The importance of goal-setting I've learned is to look for the long-term and celebrate every day whatever steps I've taken on my journey.

This path has no room for self-loathing and obsessing on what went wrong.

Turn the page.

Take another step...

Let's see what I can do...

Erik

http://www.alkimoves.com/

Ordinary joy

December 27 – Ordinary Joy

Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year?
Author: Brené Brown

Even though I live 2 blocks from the beach, I enjoy my daily walks up the steeps hills to our business center in West Seattle (The Junction).

It's the shortest route between Alki beach and the Alaska Junction.

About 2 miles, very steep the first 3/4's of a mile.

As I've been pushing myself to go up the hills with more ease and lightness, an exciting anticipation has been growing in me with regards to my walks.

The joy of running up hills.../**\...

The adrenalin rush that sweeps me to crest some of the steepest hills West Seattle has to offer.

Daily ordinary joy.

erik

improve your movement

improve your life

www.alkimoves.com

Soul Food

This is day 26 of the #reverb10 writing project:
http://www.reverb10.com/the-prompts/

December 26 – Soul Food
What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul?

Just trying to think of all the food I ate this year is mind-boggling.
Did one dish stand out?
...
I did have some great Gouda soup earlier this month...very tasty, and I remember telling others about it.
...
My wife is always cooking great meals, the kids mostly pass on them, but I love having someone prepare food for me and love all the meals...
...
hmmm....
...
I don't know what the dish was called, and it was more a dessert than a main dish.
It contained lots of pineapple, and I was the only one who ate it.

But this was probably the best feeling food I had all year...
So, whatever it was called...pineapple-laden dessert....
I love you!

Erik

http://www.alkimoves.com/

Photo

This is Day 25 of the #reverb10 writing project:
http://www.reverb10.com/the-prompts/

December 25 – Photo – a present to yourself
Sift through all the photos of you from the past year. Choose one that best captures you; either who you are, or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words. Share the image, who shot it, where, and what it best reveals about you.

I didn't have a lot of pictures taken of me this year other than my wedding pics from this past February.

I chose the picture above because it shows me on my first day as a new father.
My 4 step-kids in the picture too, along with my two best friends and Mary's best friend.

The picture was shot by a friend of my wife's that did our wedding shoot for us.

This picture was taken on Valentine's Day, the day we were married, on the Alki Beach boardwalk outside the venue where we were married.

The picture also symbolizes my feelings of community, enlarging my sphere of influence, whether it's friends, family, etc.

erik

http://www.alkimoves.com/

Everything's OK

This is day 24 of the #reverb10 writing project:
http://www.reverb10.com/the-prompts/

December 24 Prompt –

Everything’s OK
What was the best moment that could serve as proof that everything is going to be alright?
And how will you incorporate that discovery into the year ahead?

The everything alright feeling has to do with how my work and business is progressing.
Are people finding value?

I've had a few moments this year where I've felt that clients have found great value in my work, coming for multiple lessons, referring others to my work.

I could see one of those moments as just yesterday when I taught my newest ATM class at my new gig in Downtown Seattle. The class is relatively new, since November, and given that most people have never heard of what I do, let alone can pronounce it....
I'm very thankful for the one student that has come to every one of the classes.
I get to teach a unique lesson each week to someone that's been around the Feldenkrais Method since my own trainer was going through his training with Moshe Feldenkrais.

When a long-time student of this method comes to see me every week I must be doing something good?

Merry Christmas,

Erik

http://www.alkimoves.com/

New Name

This is day 23 of the #reverb10 writing project:
http://www.reverb10.com/the-prompts/

My friends call me erik, you can call me....

December 23 – New Name
Let’s meet again, for the first time. If you could introduce yourself to strangers by another name for just one day, what would it be and why? (Author: Becca Wilcott)

I think I'd go around telling people my name was Dennis.
When I was going through my Feldenkrais training back in 2002, a guest trainer that was teaching our group that year kept calling me Dennis.
At first it was a little annoying, but after awhile I found it kind of endearing....let's just go with it...my name is Dennis.
I figured she was calling me Dennis because I was kind of a trouble-maker in class aka Dennis the Menace.

I went with the name and actually named the skeleton, I built, Dennis.

So, I'll go around and tell people my name is Dennis.
It could be fun.
It could be confusing...for me.

What's your new name?

Mine will be Dennis, for a day.


erik, no really!

http://www.alkimoves.com/

Travel

This is day 22 of the #reverb10 writing project:
http://www.reverb10.com/the-prompts/

December 22 – Travel

How did you travel in 2010?
How and/or where would you like to travel next year?
Author: Tara Hunt


Being the daredevils that we are, we chose to take an over 20 year old RV on a road trip down to Arizona.
Luckily the only mechanical problems we had were two blown front tires, on the first day!
We did get to see Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon.
I also visited Chicago for the first time ever this past summer for the Feldenkrais annual Conference.

Almost every day I travel by foot around West Seattle, usually up the steep hills from the beach to the business center of West Seattle (The Junction).

This next summer I'm planning on going to Massachusetts for the first time for the FGNA annual Conference.

I'd also like to take my bride to Maui....

erik

http://www.alkimoves.com/


Future Self

Day 21 of the #reverb10 writing project:
http://www.reverb10.com/the-prompts/

December 21 – Future Self.

Imagine yourself five years from now.
What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead?
Bonus: Write a note to yourself 10 years ago. What would you tell your younger self?
Author: Jenny Blake



Take chances.
Be bold.

These were the first things that came to mind for what my future self could tell me now.

I'm learning that a presence must be cultivated in order for good work to be spread.
Good work alone doesn't promise financial success.

I've spent this past year learning how to be visible, reaching out to the business community, and letting them know I'm open for business.

As I become more comfortable in the spotlight I'm learning more effective means of getting my message across.
A message that most people have never heard of.

As I turn 50 in the next year I see it's time to go much larger and take much larger risks.
Risks of being open to a larger audience, putting myself out as an expert.

As they say, "they can't eat you".

Going back 10 years to 2000....wow.

The advice would be to stay in my beliefs, enjoy Yvonne while I can for the next 4 years until she loses her battle, and embrace that weird new thing called Feldenkrais.

Erik

http://www.alkimoves.com/

5 simple rules for Happiness

Yesterday a friend of mine posted this in the local hyper-local news blog.

It was a poem about dealing with what life throws at you.

The moral being that it's not what is being thrown at you, but your reaction to it.

At the end she had these 5 simple rules for cultivating happiness in your life:

1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

Wishing you and yours a happy winter solstice!

Erik

http://www.alkimoves.com/

West Seattle community Feldenkrais clinic: De-stress your winter holiday

Cinnamon resting

West Seattle community Feldenkrais clinic: De-stress your winter holiday:  Are the holidays treating you well? Do you need a short break from it all?
This Tuesday December 20th, at the West Seattle Senior Center..."