When we’re over-efforting we usually use too much muscle, and both function and musical expression can get squeezed. We can use breathing as a barometer. Breathing is a fundamental function, but it often gets interrupted when you’re nervous or using more effort than you need. This can affect freedom of movement, timing and musical expression. … More Are you holding your breath?
I’m a little in denial about the end of summer. The weather has been glorious, I do love not having to take a cardigan with me. But time moves on, and here we are edging into Autumn. With the school year, September always feels like a new beginning. And of course, it’s also Rosh Hashanah, … More A Feldenkrais reset
How do we balance ourselves, not only in the way we stand over our feet, but in broader life too? How do we balance rest and action, consolidation and moving forwards? And how can you change those things when your current habits don’t serve you well? Firstly it’s about noticing if something is uncomfortable, or needs … More Finding your balance
One of my one-to-one clients, a musician and martial artist, told me recently he thought Feldenkrais was the “key” to many different activities and that its real benefit was in teaching you adaptability. Feldenkrais himself said that health was the ability to move in any direction without preparation or hesitation. He meant this both physically and mentally. … More How balanced are you?
I recently taught a workshop for young musicians and saw something fascinating. At the end of the session I asked them to walk onto the stage again. It was amazing, just after teaching them a few choice short lessons, they told me they felt more confident. And I could see a big change in their … More Do you leave part of yourself backstage?
This week I’ve heard several people say the same thing: “I just woke up feeling stiff.” Maybe that’s true for you. Perhaps you’ve got a painful back. Maybe you’re feeling anxious about something? For the musicians amongst you, perhaps an upcoming performance. Maybe you’ve just got too many decisions to make. Whatever it is, our … More What’s bothering you this week?
When musicians think about improving their playing, the pelvis isn’t usually the first place they look. We tend to focus on more direct connections to either instrument or voice. For many of us, the pelvis is simply somewhere to sit, or a place we only notice if it becomes uncomfortable. Yet it’s quietly involved in … More The secret life of the pelvis
When you’re looking to improve your movement, it’s really important not to miss out the Pelvis. It’s such an important part of us – attached to all the biggest muscles, and at the bottom of the spine. It’s really your motor centre. In many of the lessons I teach, I talk a lot about the … More The secret life of the pelvic floor
This week, someone said something in a lesson that stayed with me. “I felt movement where I’ve never felt it before… and it felt exciting.” I realised afterwards that this sentence could have come from almost any lesson I taught this weekend. The details were different, but the experience was remarkably similar: people discovering possibilities … More A Chance to Choose
I’ve been noticing how differently people move in warm weather. Warmth often allows muscles to soften. There can be a sense of languidness (a word that always makes me think of the slow movement of Summer from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons). But we don’t always relax. Sometimes we tighten somewhere else instead. If breathing feels a little harder in … More Is core strength enough?
