the F word

Invariably the conversation comes to the question of "what do you do for a living?"

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How many ways can I describe what I do without uttering the official title?

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Something about the mere utterance of the 'F' word sends normal brains into tailspins, trying to place it into a familiar box, to make some sense of it.

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Among alternative titles, following are some of my favorites:

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human advocate

wellness teacher

pest control consultant

gardener

self image consultant

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Even as the name dance goes on, I'm still officially a feldenkrais teacher.

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I did just recently give an entire lesson without ever uttering anything about what my professional title was. She was too busy having fun (and smiling a lot) learning how to make her legs light so she could lift them with less effort.

She just knew me as someone that was willing to engage in the play field of learning with her, to hopefully find an easier way to do something. Something that was mostly impossible for her.

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She did have the Jan09 copy of the AARP magazine where I pointed her to an article which mentioned feldenkrais as very effective with chronic pain patients.

I said "in case you're wondering what it is that this was."

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In case you're wondering about the 'F' word:

http://www.feldenkrais.com/

Erik LaSeur

Guild Certified Feldenkrais Teacher®

http://www.alkimoves.com/


Awareness Through Movement® lessons (group) at:

West Seattle Wellness in the Alaska junction.

Every Tuesday:

12:15pm

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Got Chronic Pain?

The Feldenkrais Method® is known for helping people with mobility issues, neurological problems, recovering from trauma, and even helping world class athletes perform at higher levels, etc.

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But one of the largest groups of people it can help, are those that suffer from chronic pain.

When learning to pay attention to the littlest movements, to how we do them, what parts of us participate, and what parts don’t, we in the process learn bit by bit to move and be as whole persons.

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Chronic muscular pain usually exists because part of us has taken on more of a burden of the work than other parts. When we can enlist these forgotten parts back into our every movement, whether it’s just the simple act of pursing our lips or of much larger movements, the work will be spread out more and the stress and strain (and pain) that’s been put on one area will lessen.

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Awareness through Movement® (ATM) classes are group classes where the teacher gives verbal instructions and the student(s) interpret them in their own way. Unlike exercise classes where you’re expected to do the movement to its full extent and like everyone else, in ATM it’s not about how far or fast but rather it’s about paying attention to how you do it.

The actual movement is really inconsequential as you can learn just as much or more by not even moving but rather getting a sense of what would be involved to initiate the movement.

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Feldenkrais® has been called the anti-exercise for this reason as it has nothing to do with ‘working out’ or getting ‘stretched out’. It’s an educational approach to the intelligent use of our bodies, to the maturation process.

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Also, one of the best things I like about the classes is that there is no strict decorum of how you enter the classroom or lesson. We all have our own unique ways of being in this world and each of us needs to honor that by not being pigeon-holed into the same routine as everyone else. It gives each of us another chance to view our own individuality. If one must come late or leave early, no reason must be given to the instructor. The ultimate learner is the student and learning to take care of oneself is the ultimate lesson.

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These are adult learning classes, so humor and play are highly encouraged. These are helpful in the learning process.

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For more on the Feldenkrais Method®:
http://www.feldenkrais.com/

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Erik LaSeur
Guild Certified Feldenkrais Teacher®
http://www.alkimoves.com/

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...Coming Tuesday, January 6, 2009!

Awareness Through Movement® lessons (group) at:
West Seattle Wellness in the Alaska junction.

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Every Tuesday:

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9:00am

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11:30am
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1:45pm

After the thaw, sun and wind.

After about 2 weeks of snow, ice and slush, it's finally in the past.

Now we have strong winds, top reported gust I saw at the Beach Drive weather station was 56mph!

My empty garbage can was blown across Admiral Way, empty of it's 3 weeks worth of trash.

With the new year comes the symbolic gesture of setting goals.

For myself, I've found that the 'attained' goal usually arrives not out of striving for the end goal, but rather honoring the path I'm on and meeting with what ever presents itself...the rain, thunder, snow, ice, wind, and even the sun.

The process of an Awareness through Movement lesson is one of paying attention to how you do something. The simple command 'lift your arm' for some can be one of a compulsive need to compete, raise their arm quicker, higher, longer.

Moshé called these 'stupid movements' only because the movement itself wasn't really that important, but rather the attention given to the movement. So even though there are over 1000 Awareness through Movement lessons floating around for different movement/sensing sequences, they all can teach the same idea of paying attention.

Have a happy new year.

For more on the Feldenkrais Method® you can go to:

http://www.feldenkrais.com/

Erik LaSeur

Guild Certified Feldenkrais Teacher®

http://www.alkimoves.com/
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Coming Tuesday, January 6, 2009!
Awareness Through Movement® lessons (group) at:

West Seattle Wellness in the Alaska junction.

Every Tuesday

9:00am

11:30am

1:45pm

happy solstice!

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hmmm...it's 4:04am...

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It's winter solstice time!

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Break out the volleyball net 'B' and meet ya down across from Dukes.

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I've been up all morning excited by the latest snowfall. Went out and cleared the walks and a path to the car.

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Whatever holiday tradition you follow, I wish you and yours the best!

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For more on the Feldenkrais Method® you can go to:
http://www.feldenkrais.com/

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Erik LaSeur
Guild Certified Feldenkrais Teacher®
http://www.alkimoves.com/

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Coming January 6, 2009!

Awareness Through Movement® lessons (group) at West Seattle Wellness in the Alaska junction.

If you know what you're doing, it's correct.

We're all brought up to think of the duality of life. Some things are right, some are wrong.

When it comes to movement we often think of doing it right or wrong and inevitably the student will ask "what is the right way to do this (or move)?"

Moshé's answer to this question would be "if you know what you're doing, then you're correct."

This answer sets the Feldenkrais method apart from how all other methods and techniques look at health and how they go about attaining it.

Setting aside our preconceived notions of what good posture or movement should look like, and relying upon the student's ability to become aware of how they do something, whether static or dynamic. This is the simplicity of the Method.

This is also why the Method isn't classified as 'therapy.' We don't work to some ideal of what proper movement or posture should be or look like. Since we're all constructed a little bit different and all have unique experiences while growing up, we all will have our own way of being in the world...

...and the answers for each won't be the same.

For more on the Feldenkrais Method® you can go to:

http://www.feldenkrais.com/

Erik LaSeur

Guild Certified Feldenkrais Teacher®

http://www.alkimoves.com/

Coming January 09! Awareness Through Movement® lessons (group) at West Seattle Wellness in the Alaska junction.

count the colors

My new neighbor unveiled it's paint job today....yikes!

I count 7 colors and woodtone...lol.




I guess the pressure is on. How manycolors can I paint this house?






For more on the Feldenkrais Method® you can go to:
http://www.feldenkrais.com/


Erik LaSeur
Guild Certified Feldenkrais Teacher®
http://www.alkimoves.com/


Coming January 09!
Awareness Through Movement lessons (group) at West Seattle Wellness in the Alaska junction.

Fall colors - red

I took these pictures about a month ago on a walk around the neighborhood.

The fall leaves were at their full-on red glory...

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This was my favorite tree on the street.

The brightness of the leaves helped me see it from 3 blocks away with ease.

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Some mid-sized berry like things down at the beach.

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The combo of pink and green looked delicious!

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One of the christmas cactus flowers in my living room, a few days ago:

For more on the Feldenkrais Method® you can go to:
http://www.feldenkrais.com/

Erik LaSeur

Guild Certified Feldenkrais Teacher®
http://www.alkimoves.com/

Coming January 09!

Awareness Through Movement lessons (group) at West Seattle Wellness in the Alaska junction.