Wednesday, August 3, 2011

The West Seattle Community Feldenkrais Project


The West Seattle Community Feldenkrais Project is now moving to Alki!

To better suit schedules of the West Seattle population, the affordable alternative to West Seattle wellness will now hold the community Feldenkrais Project on Sundays at the AlkiMoves studio.

Sunday August 14th 11:00am - 3:00pm

This will be a sliding scale from $15 - $40 per half hour session with a Guild certified Feldenkrais Practitioner.
A significant discount over regular $100/session rates.

For more information contact:
Erik LaSeur
206-406-8154


play...rest...renew...

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Roll on the floor, learn something new


It amazes me sometimes the things I can learn just by lying on the floor, and playing with little movements.
After much time away from playing any kind of music, I've gotten bitten by the performance bug again. 
I recently saw the band I used to gig with playing at a local bar..."Erik where's your sax?" was the lead singer's cry out.

So I've pulled out my horn and am re-learning some old songs and learning some new ones.
Encountering some of the challenging spots I have in the past, my approach to change has changed much.
Lying on the floor and learning how I can do some challenging movements, by having a sense of lightness, keeping it simple, and not using force...this has helped me to learn how to play challenging passages on my saxophone.

Whether the challenge is one of keeping your balance, getting out of a chair easily, or learning to deal with frustration, Feldenkrais may offer an answer.

This Tuesday, February 1st we'll be having the next installment of the West Seattle community Feldenkrais clinic at the West Seattle Senior Center.

See you there!

Erik

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Get up! Stand up!

This Tuesday January 4th, 2011 we'll have the first West Seattle community Feldenkrais clinic of the new year.
This week we'll start out at 12:30 with the classic lesson that got Moshé started on this fascinating work.

What is Good Posture?

"Any posture is acceptable in itself as long as it does not conflict with the law of nature,which is that the skeletal structure should counteract te pull of gravity, leaving the muscles free for movement."
Moshé Feldenkrais 'Awareness through Movement' pg 68

This statement is at the beginning of the first lesson in this book. It's all about going from sitting to standing, and how to do it without undue pressure upon the knees.
This was necessary for Moshé to learn because he had two really messed up knees.

Personally, I've done this lesson and pieces of it at least 100 times.
There is a lot to learn here.

As we get older, or are injured, or weak, this lesson becomes more important because our ability to use our muscles (old bad habits) to carry out this action are compromised.

If you're looking for a new, vibrant way to get up for 2011, come to the West Seattle Senior Center this Tuesday for a unique outlook on what good posture is.

Erik LaSeur

Monday, December 20, 2010

De-stress your winter holiday

Cinnamon resting

Are the holidays treating you well?

Do you need a short break from it all?

This Tuesday December 20th, at the West Seattle Senior Center, we'll be hosting the final community Feldenkrais clinic of 2010.

Feldenkrais is a great way to slow down for the moment, and give your nervous system a chance to rest.
The type of rest shown by Cinnamon in the picture above.

We don't just teach people how to move more easily, with less pain.
But it's also about learning to move more intelligently...with awareness.
It's also about being more efficient with our resources...rest when you need to rest, use as little effort as possible to effect a greater change.

The West Seattle community Feldenkrais clinic is held at the West Seattle Senior Center in the California room (between West Seattle Coin and the Thrift store) on the corner of California/Oregon streets.

We still have room for the group class from 12:30 - 1:15

And the following openings for the individual sessions:

1:30 - 1
2:15 - 1
3:00 - 3

Happy stress-free holidays,
Erik

http://www.alkimoves.com/




Monday, December 6, 2010

An oasis of relief

Are the holidays starting to stress you out?
Give yourself a welcome break, let your nerves rest.

Give Feldenkrais a try.

After a short hiatus because of the recent snow/ice storm to hit, the West Seattle community Feldenkrais clinic is back on:
Tuesday December 7th 2010




 
Group class is from 12:30 - 1:15 pm
$10
$5 WS Senior Center member

Individual sessions with a Guild certified Feldenkrais Practitioner:
$25
$15 WS Senior Center member

1:30 <-1 left
2:15
3:00

The West Seattle community Feldenkrais clinic is held in the California room of the West Seattle Senior Center.
Corner of Oregon and California, next to West Seattle Coin.

To reserve your spot call Erik
206-406-8154
or
email
erik@alkimoves.com

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Moving through uncertainty, or another day at the clinic!

Today's West Seattle community Feldenkrais clinic was another lesson in moving through uncertainty. What do you do when the elk runs in front of your car?

Four new people who had never heard of the word 'feldenkrais' before, got to experience at least a group lesson (Awareness through Movement) today. Two of them also received individual lessons following the group lesson.

One of my goals for this clinic is to keep it as organic as possible, to keep it a learning experience for all who participate, clients and teachers. By working together we can learn from each other to better serve the population around us.

Part of being in the organic state is uncertainty. Where change is ever-present.
How do you deal with change?

Feldenkrais lessons have helped many with chronic pains, neurologic disorders, recovery from injury, etc., and they're also a great way to learn the skills to deal with change and uncertainty.

Our next West Seattle community Feldenkrais clinic will be held on Tuesday, November 23rd at the West Seattle Senior Center.
Also, we may have an addition to our practitioner family....

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

The leaves are fallin, the word is spreadin...

Today we had our third approximation of the West Seattle community Feldenkrais clinic.
Ana Oeste taught the ATM lesson, a wonderful exploration of sitting, using a chair to get to the floor, lying down, and going back to the chair.
Of course this lesson is/was geared toward the more senior members of our society...the ones that usually give me that look of "you'll have to get me off the floor if you make me lie down there!"


After the group lesson Ana, Mary, and I gave 1-on-1 lessons to the public.
I even ended up receiving a great lesson from Ana at the end, since we had a couple openings.

The next community clinic will be:
 Tuesday, October 26th at the West Seattle Senior Center.

Book Now as the three 1:30 lesson slots have already been booked.
We still have spots available at 2:15 and 3:00pm.

If you'd like an appointment call Erik LaSeur at 206-406-8154

What's your dream?

For more on the Feldenkrais Method: