Walking Workshop

Event Details:
When: June 25, 2017 2:00 pm – June 25, 2017 4:00 pm
Location: The Maltex Building 431 Pine St Suite 312, Burlington, VT 05401

Cost To Attend:
Nonmembers –
VBSR Members –

Registration is closed
Walking: it’s easy isn’t?
 
Actually no! It’s downright amazing. What other mammalian species does two legged walking it as well as humans?
 
Of course, other mammals are running within hours of birth. Humans can’t even roll over!
 
We’ve apparently chosen the ability to walk upright over stability. Heck I’ve even read that one of the reasons that we “use” so little of our brain is that much it of spends a lot of time maintaining balance!
 
And how did we learn? Well it started by learning to roll over, moved on to lifting that big head we have, finding an ability to sit, crawl and then, probably more from imitation, than a biological propensity, we teach our selves to stand, and then walk with support, then walk, then turn, then run.
 
Most mothers can tell you the first time they saw that they saw their child walking, but that was first steps. But few keep track of other important markers.  It is those first steps that mark the beginning of walking, and we keep on doing it, much of the time without much thought. Until…
An injury
Having to walk with a burden
Wearing out
 
What’s your reason to pay closer attention? If you know just arrange to come. Otherwise, read on:
June 25th, Sunday 2-4PM
Call me with questions as to whether this is right for you at 655-0950. Register at WellnessCollectivevt.com or at 802-540-0186
 
 
When this happens, what do we tend to do? Apply our self-taught (at the age of 11-18 months) methods to continue to do as much as possible what we did before. The result? Often new and sometimes highly inefficient solutions work into our lives.
 
An example:
I spent years spraining one ankle then the other. Generally not doing anything dramatic, just a small fall, turning the ankle. It was looking like a bad last couple of decades in my life when I was 30! Finding simple ways to involve my knees and shoulders better has improved this so much.  (Fingers crossed, knock on wood…!)
 
Why Feldenkrais?
 
The Feldenkrais Method is focused on teaching each of us to use our complete bodies  (that includes the mind!) to it’s greatest potential with the greatest of ease. It’s not about increasing strength, or range of motion, although if that happens with ease that’s great.
 
Every time I talk to people about holding this kind of basic workshop, I get someone who says “Why teach this?” so let me address here what my aim is:
 
Have students understand in new ways
how the body works in walking.
 
I do this by reintroducing the parts of the body involved individually, and have each student work out how they use their body. Then I suggest alternatives. Not all alternatives will appeal to each student, but the important thing is having choices. Choices that you might use all  for all walking, or just on slippery surfaces. Choices that bring awareness to how different parts could make it easier for new actions.
 
A 2 hour workshop isn’t a quick fix, it is an introduction. For me, a recent full  two day training wasn’t a quick fix, it just highlighted areas for more learning. None the less, the two hours of playing curious, non-judgmental attention to the parts of you that walk could be just the introduction that  you need to find different solutions to the fun and challenge that being a great biped!
 
June 25th, Sunday 2-4PM
Call me with questions as to whether this is right for you at 655-0950.
Register at WellnessCollectivevt.com or at 802-540-0186
 
Looking forward to seeing you!
 
Gillian
 
P.S. For those of you who always just skip to the end: The Walking Workshop is to help everyone who attends find new ways to improve walking. Feldenkrais Method of Movement is non-strenuous, non-judgmental, and is designed to be fun and mentally provoking.
 
Walking Workshop June 25th, 2-4PM
Call me with questions as to whether this is right for you at 655-0950.
Register at WellnessCollectivevt.com or at 802-540-0186