About
About the Esalen Training – MP3 Audio and PDF Transcript
In 1972 Moshe Feldenkrais, DSc was invited to the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, to teach his work to a group of psychologists and Alexander Technique teachers. The course focused on what was to become known as Awareness Through Movement®. Over 5 weeks, Dr Feldenkrais taught dozens of lessons, intermingled with discussions and talks.
The original audio recordings were thought lost due to a fire in the Esalen Archives. Thankfully, copies of the recordings were found in materials donated to the International Feldenkrais Federation (IFF) by the Feldenkrais Institute. The IFF’s Distribution Center is pleased to make them available.
These 47 audio files are a remarkable document of Dr Feldenkrais’ teaching in his prime. They are clear, concise, and powerful. The sound quality is generally excellent, a boon from so old a recording. While individual lessons are available for purchase they are best experienced in the context of the whole workshop. This was the first “immersive” training Dr Feldenkrais taught, teaching two lessons per day. Lessons vary widely from simple and elegant to complex and challenging. They are both a rewarding introduction to the Feldenkrais Method® created by Moshe Feldenkrais, as well as a rich resource for practitioners seeking to enhance their understanding of Awareness Through Movement.
Also of interest, is a workshop within the workshop, where Moshe teaches a series that demonstrates Teaching ATM to the Public. During Moshe’s training at Esalen, he was asked which lessons he would teach to the public. Moshe responded by teaching 10 lessons as if he were instructing an introductory public class series. Skillfully balancing novel concepts with embodiment, he gave the trainees, and now us, a potent series to explore, study, and teach. These are lessons 19 – 28 and are included in the full training, or as a stand-alone set.
About the Stransky Notes
Previously, most of the Esalen lessons were available through notes prepared by Judith Stransky, who participated in the workshop. The Esalen Workshop was Moshe’s first significant teaching visit to the U.S. Workshop participants included many of the leading people in the humanistic psychology movement. The Stransky Notes were a valuable teaching tool before the recordings came to light. Now both the audio recordings and verbatim lesson transcripts are available to continue the legacy of Moshe Feldenkrais.
Table of Contents
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Esalen Workshop Recordings 1972
01 – Introduction and General Remarks.
02 – Scanning and General Remarks.
03 – Lying on the Stomach and Lifting Head.
04 – Tilting Cross Legs.
05 – Four Cardinal Points of Support of Body.
06 – Theme and Variations of Right Hip Joint.
07 – Intro to Dial Movement of the Pelvis.
08 – First of Spine Chain Series.
09 – Actual & Mental Right Hip Symphony.
10 – Tilting Legs Right and Left Lying on Stomach and Searching Middle.
11 – Wringing the Shoulder Girdle.
12 – Restoring Life to Hamstrings.
13 – Re-education of the Eyes.
14 – Differentiation of Head Movement.
15 – Abdomen and Chest in Breathing.
16 – Foot Hip Discrimination.
17 – Walking Backward.
18 – Head Through the Gate.
19 – Mobilization of the Right Side Only.
20 – Furthering the Learning of the First Lesson.
21 – Flexors Mostly.
22 – Jelly Pudding.
23 – Left Shoulder Differentiation & Reintegration into the Self Image.
24 – Raising the Entire Self to Function with a Live Shoulder.
25 – Exploring the Extensors of the Back.
26 – Foot Above the Head and its Integration into the Self Image.
27 – Primitive Locomotion Coordinating the Locomotive Joints.
28 – Rhythmic Coordination.
29 – Differentiation of Toes Increasing Awareness of Toes in Action.
30 – Exploring Floor Behind the Head Making the Bridge.
31 – Looking for Yourself Cleaning the Left Side of Your Self Image.
32 – Concretizing the Self Image.
33 – Exploring the Outer Ranges of Hands Behind the Head.
34 – Elementary Eye Training.
35 – Initiation in Rolling.
36 – Getting familiar with the diagonals.
37 – Introduction to Head Stand.
38 – Elementary Attempts in Loving Oneself.
39 – Making the Unthinkable Feasible.
40 – Doing the Impossible Toad Movement.
41 – Centering for Strength in Pelvis & Intelligence in Extremities.
42 – Sensory Exploration of Lips, Tongue, Mouth.
43 – Becoming Aware of Stretch Effects in Extensors through Exercising Flexors.
44 – Pelvic Locomotion Differentiation of Gluteals.
45 – Extensors Put to Task.
46 – Imagination and Action to Complete the Back Self Image.
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