Page 207 - Total War on PTSD

into a person’s awareness. Many people hold their pelvis rigid so it is unable to support the spine and head. We help people to breath more easily and fully.
Both group and individual lessons are often done lying down. This is to reduce the load on the nervous system and puts us in a different relationship with gravity. By doing lessons in a non-habitual orientation to gravity, we have a chance to address aspects of ourselves that are too locked into postural habits. This allows us to explore new options safely.
These explorations build sensory-motor patterns, introduce variety into behavior and promote dynamic stability. You can move from experiencing disability to experiencing ability.
Two Ways of Doing The Feldenkrais Method Awareness Through Movement
In Awareness Through Movement or ATM group classes, practitioners verbally guide students through movement sequences that help them learn to move their bodies more intelligently. Practitioners don’t demonstrate the movement; they encourage students to 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
207 of 1085