Fundamentals of Human Organisation

The core of the Feldenkrais Method prepares us for action in the real world. Empowering, physically active methods which promote fitness and creative movement expression are rooted in neurological and biological fundamentals.

Biological development, both in an evolutionary sense and in the way we learnt to move as children, led us from rolling, to creeping, to crawling, bringing our centre of gravity ever higher until we could run, jump, squat, kick and throw. Often as not, though we have these functions in mind, we allow our Feldenkrais teaching to remain somewhere between the embryonic phase and all the pleasant possibilities for rolling around on the ground.

But what are we preparing for? How can we teach in such a way, and give FIs in such a way, that people are truly supported in the activities of their life, and regain affinity and joy in physical capability?

In this workshop I would like to invite you to explore with me how to be courageous and creative in your teaching and speak to a different mode of action. We will work with dynamic ATMs which emphasize moving into physical competence. In FI we will explore strategies which allow us to impart this sense of physical, mental and emotional capabilty to our clients. Our method is a means to an end - let’s bring it from the floor into life!

Sign up for: "The Fundamentals of Human Organisation"

Shamballah Retreat Centre, Sintra

The venue is a high-quality retreat centre, which accommodates 13 persons in 5 bedrooms: three twin rooms, one triple with ensuite and one large four-bed room, also with ensuite. Cosy relaxing areas, a living room and a large terrace provide plenty of space to relax alone or together. Underfloor heating gaurantees our comfort, even in October. The location is ideal for long walks of exploration. Our seminar times in the mornings and evenings keep the afternoons free, so that you will be able to enjoy the afternoon sun and daylight hours in nature.

Delicious, healthy and nourishing vegetarian meals, sourced from local and organic producers, are included in the price. Breakfast is served at 9:00 a.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. Lunch is available as a takeaway package.

www.shamballahretreats.com
www.instagram.com/shamballah.retreats
See on google maps

What moves me: Kathryn Hume-Cook

I have been a passionate Feldenkrais teacher since 1999 - and over that long space of time have observed a big change in the landscape of somatic movement practices and natural movement fitness systems surounding our method. The neurobiological understanding at the core of our craft has long since hit the mainstream. We see widespread recognition as to the intertwined nature of thought, emotion, behaviour and physical embodiment.

As sedentary lifestyles become more common, people are looking for outlets for dynamic, active physical expression, where they can experience the empowerment of harnessing the capacities of their human biology and understand its impact on their state of mind and emotional well-being. People are much more aware of their capacity for choice, and for living a life congruent with their individuality.

If we think back to the Amherst Training, most of the participants were young and fit - dancers, sportspeople, artists and students of the human potential movement. Are we still appealing to these students, or do they turn to other somatic methods today? When Moshe speaks about the absence of effort in "The Elusive Obvious", he says that "the sensation of effort is absent no matter what the actual expenditure of energy is". Thus an "absence of effort" doesn’t mean we just lie on the floor being lazy, but that we organise good, powerful movement so well, that we feel no unnecessary effort. Think of how often Moshe incites us to "contract the muscles powerfully", when he asks us to specifically harness the large muscles of our centre.

I believe we can reach a broader spectrum of interested students than those we currently attract. We can dare to give more dynamic and active lessons. We can learn to convey the connection between an active, fulfilled life and moments of quiet self-observation. We can offer the enormous depth of our method whilst learning to impart its simple practicality as opposed to making it seem mysterious.

Feel free to get in touch with me via e-mail to kathryn@feldenkrais-humecook.de if you have any further questions!

www.feldenkrais-humecook.de/en
www.instagram.com/feldenkrais.kathryn.humecook

"Bring-a-friend" discount

The retreat centre is reserved exclusively for our group. Accomodation is in shared bedrooms. We will offer you a discount and assign you a room together if you sign up with your friends. Each of you must sign up individually, but if you note the names of your friends on the form, then each of you will receive the discount.

Twin room (you and one friend): less 10,-€ each (1 room still available)
Triple room (you and two friends: less 20,-€ each (1 room still available)
Four-bed room  (you and 3 friends): less 30,-€ each (1 room still available)

"Bring-a-table" discount
The retreat centre provides yoga mats and cushions. Please bring your own Feldenkrais materials such as blankets, rollers and cushions for your head. If you are able to bring your Feldenkrais table and to share its use with the group we offer a 50,-€ discount.

Cancellation policy
Cancellation before 15th June: free of charge
Cancellation between 15th June and 15th August: 50% charge
Cancellation after 15th August: 100% charge

Of course you can find someone to take your place instead! Please note that the cancellation policy applies to all reasons for cancelling, including sickness, accident or work commitmments. You may want to choose seminar insurance.

Organisational questions and support: Yara Koberle

A successful Yoga teacher, Yara also gives a regular Feldenkrais classs at the Shamballah Retreat Centre. She runs her own charming studio "Quinta das Sobrales" with attached air bnb not far from our location.

Yara is there to help you with all your questions on site, or any organisational matters you would like to clarify in advance regarding accommodation, meals, or travel to and from the centre. She is also a liscenced masseuse and happy to give you a massage to round out your stay :-) Yara has been an enormous help in setting up this workshop, providing networking and background support.

Kontakt:

ykoberle@gmail.com
www.yarakoberle.com
www.instagram.com/yara_koberle
www.instagram.com/quinta_das_sobrales

Technical Assistance: Artur Chruszcz

I have known Artur ever since he began his Feldenkrais Training in 2018, and appreciate his warm, competent and thoughtful manner. Since graduating, Artur has not only deepend his very successful practice of Feldenkrais but also developed the useful additional competency of managing everything to do with providing high quality recordings. Taking care of the technical details regarding equipment, set-up, videography, editing and digital availibility, Artur frees up a very large portion of my attention and time. He is also a super nice guy to have there with us :-)

Kontakt:

ja@arturchruszcz.pll
www.arturchruszcz.pl
www.instagram.com/arturchruszcz