Feldenkraisnow

IV. The second part of the DVD documents 8 FIs showing new possibilities of using an

xxxAir Table in Functional Integration

A few statements recorded well before the DVD project and later reprinted in the brochure answered the question:

How do you experience the difference between the regular table and the "air table" as an alternative?

a) Observations by colleagues:

...a new experience: All my perceptions were much more acute... the whole internal image very, very different... you can notice much, much finer things... a great sense of unity and much more inner space. (Christine)

...much greater clarity of the trajectory through the whole body., amazing that so small an effort can be translated into a much larger effect! (Amy)

...because of this support you go deeper and deeper with your breathing. (Joan)

b) Quotes from some of my clients and pupils :

...I feel there is actually more power... much greater freedom for me to move in any direction ...and freedom to experiment... to learn more - and therefore more to take home. (Diana)

...tensions were dissolving, ebbing away... ripples of movement right to the top of the head… I felt at peace. (Anke)

On those bubbles I let go of all this tension - and probably all that anger. Immediately! Totally! ...All fear goes...I feel grounded - utterly safe. ... also a sort of awareness that pain go away... just amazing! (Grace)

Photos and excerpts from Part II FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION ON AIR

1) Air table for kneeling : Mobilising the pelvis (Ann ‘s additional request : Filling a hole in the left side of her self image and awakening sensation in her numb sacrum)

Air table for lying on the back: Demonstration of the range of possibilities

(Josiah’s request to explore a full a range of experiences made possible by the air table, made this session the most interesting from his point of view. )

The DVD finishes with a precious demonstration of how important it is to inflate the balls not too much and not too little. In Child’s Play: Getting the Pressure right, little William straddles three differently inflated yellow balls. The unselfconscious and quite spontaneous response of his body to each ball shows this very clearly. There are other equally graphic demonstrations in this section.

Many years later I came across the term “tensegrity”, a concept which contributes a great deal to understanding why working with appropriately inflated balls in Feldenkrais can be extremely effective.

The most encouraging professional comment on the air table came from American Feldenkrais trainer and martial artist Jeff Haller. After viewing the SUPPORTED BY AIR video he wrote in an e-mail:

I want to tell you I am impressed and believe you have done original work. Moshe used to say that the best medium for giving FI would create the feeling of uniform contact and support for the whole self. You come close to it with the air beds ...