Prisma short, Soesterberg/NL, May 2003

We think Prisma is a very valuable workshop format.

It allows the participant to identify and clarify through experience what are his competencies as a Feldenkrais practitioner.

“You sense, observate , move, integrate new options and then you formulate” and there, in your hands, lie your competencies!

We observed the deep satisfaction of the participants at the end of the workshop, even though throughout the process there were lots of resistance, lack of understanding the questions, doubts, criticism etc.

The process not only produces a valuable listing of “Feldenkrais-competencies” but really gets you into contact with yourself and makes you feel competent.
 
Ideas and Suggestions :
1) let the participant have access to the outcome with the suggestion do use the listing of the formulated competencies; they could experience to have one competency at a time in their backgroundattention while practising with a client . For example I have the capacity to make the picture of the movement more complete? This paying attention to a second perception might create the same“rooting” and help to be more present and confident in what we are doing.

2) for the facilitator it may be useful to “try out” the workshop in a small study– group in order to be able to:

• clarify the process
• clarify his intentions
• find very clear formulation and “feldenkrais-options”in regard to reactions of the participants and in regard to how to guide through the process

3) why not develop some questions that can be used by the facilitator to guide his own attention and perception while facilitating?

4) the structure of the workshop should integrate the emotional level. It could be highly valuable to formulate questions that help clarify this aspect ; for example:

• how does it feel to be directed in this way?
• how am I reacting when I have the impression not to understand
• what I should do?

5) what we like to improve is the dealing with resistances  of the participants.

• how to create a format that includes the upcoming resistances in the format of the workshop itself?
• which options do we have to deal with resistances?

6) we think the “appetizer-format” of the Prismaworkshop works and can be developed. It can give the opportunity of easier access to this kind of experience and so help stimulate the desire of the practitioners to get connected with the IFF academy.

It can be presented in studygroups, regional groups, assemblies and thus create interest to attend or organise a real Prisma workshop or any other academy-workshop.