Page 172 - Total War on PTSD

explore their personal ways of moving rather than trying to imitate another person. These are not exercises like aerobics or Pilates, nor do participants stretch or hold positions as in Yoga. Each student is involved in an internal and personal process of discovery where old habits can easily be replaced with new skills, and a new sense of awareness. These explorations are keys that students can use to unlock their own best self-use in class and in life.
Throughout the lesson, the practitioner directs attention to particular things to feel or notice, such as the effort used, the path of the movement, and where the movement is initiated. Sensations are more important than the movements themselves. At the end of a lesson, students tend to feel differences such as lightness or heaviness, a sense of grounding and greater range of movement. They may report feeling more relaxed.
ATM lessons typically last 30–60 minutes. Practitioners generally teach a different lesson in every class. Dr. Feldenkrais created over a thousand lessons, varying in difficulty, complexity, position and focus. We explore all aspects of human function and all levels of movement ability. Although a lesson may have a particular theme or part of the body on which it is focused, it often has a more universal application. Thus, a lesson about tilting the legs from side to side can be useful in changing movement habits that affect several other areas of the body. Each lesson provides the students with a repertoire of movements that they can do at home. The focus of the lesson may be on a certain function but students may experience changes in other aspects. After a lesson about rotating the various joints of the legs, an 89-year-old Veteran with severe Kyphosis found himself standing significantly more upright.
Practitioners consider the current capabilities and pain levels of students and make accommodations so that movements that seem difficult become possible and easy. We remind students to avoid pain and to perform movements within comfortable ranges. Movement sequences develop from simple to complex as students evolve in their ability and awareness. Time is given to allow each student to assimilate the idea of the movement and the leisure to get used to the novelty of the movement. Learning is a
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