Feldenkrais
I have ADD, so mindfulness really doesn't happen much for me except when I'm working with rattlesnakes, but I've recently started taking "Awareness Through Movement" classes with a Feldenkrais instructor, and to my amazement, I remain fully present throughout the hour-long lessons. The basic idea is that you're going through very slow, gentle movements intended to make you more aware of HOW you're moving... When you move your leg in this way, how does the hip joint get involved, or the spine? That sort of thing. There are lots of YouTube bits about it. Thought I'd mention it because it's inexpensive (my practitioner charges $12 per lesson if you do a full 6 weeks, or $15 for drop ins), and really helps me.
@Rattles
Do you work with rattlesnakes? Rattles umm maybe you do!
I had to google Feldenkrais to refresh my meory as I know I used to use this method.
- Wiki says
The Feldenkrais Method is a type of alternative exercise therapy that proponents claim can repair impaired connections between the motor cortex and the body, so benefiting the quality of body movement and improving wellbeing The Feldenkrais Guild of North America claims that the Feldenkrais method allows people to "rediscover [their] innate capacity for graceful, efficient movement" and that "These improvements will often generalize to enhance functioning in other aspects of [their] life".Proponents claim that the Feldenkrais Method can benefit people with a number of medical conditions, including children with autism and people with Multiple sclerosis.
In a session, a Feldenkrais practitioner directs attention to habitual movement patterns that are thought to be inefficient or strained, and attempts to teach new patterns using gentle, slow, repeated movements. Slow repetition is believed to be necessary to impart a new habit and allow it to begin to feel normal. These movements may be passive (performed by the practitioner on the recipient's body) or active (performed by the recipient). The recipient is fully clothed.
I am glad that it is working for you, thank-you for posting this I think I will start my excercises up again :)
@MistyMagic Hi Misty! Yep I work with rattlesnakes. It's not my "day job" but I put in more hours with them than I do at my day job!
@Rattles
oohhh you cant say that then not explain more? What do you do with them? Now I am intrigued!
@MistyMagic I patrol roads to help them cross safely, and when someone wants one moved from their property, I'll go out and eucate the landowner and move the snake if necessary. Also, I do a lot of public outreach with them, and I volunteer with a group of them that lives in a communal den at a university. Sometimes I write articles about them. If you google Narratively and rattlesnakes, you'll come up with one I did last year that kind of explains my road rescue stuff. I love the little rascals! :-)
@Rattles
O M G!!
That is absolutely fantastic! Thank-you for sharing!! You need to write about this here, I thought rattlesnakes were all desert and rattle stick tails making that noise like that one does in Westword the original movie with Yul Brunner in the desert?
Well done you, I am amazed, but why do they end up in the road?
Q Why did the rattlesnake cross the road?
@MistyMagic They mostly cross the road because we built roads interrupting their habitat. So they have to cross to get to water, or following a rodent, or males following a female. I wish they didn't have to cross at all.
@MistyMagic