Why We Don't Demonstrate in ATM Lessons

For many newcomers to Feldenkrais group lessons, the fact that the teacher doesn't demonstrate comes as a surprise. There are so many reasons we don't demonstrate! The most obvious is that I might show the 'wrong' thing—how I raise my arm might be imperfect. Even if I were perfect, it would be perfect for my self (corporeal, past history, psychological etc), not for you. But what if I could show you the perfect angle for you in this moment, the right way to lift your arm? Pffffaugh! The whole point is for you to find this for yourself. We actually really don't care whether your palm turns forward or to the side when you lift your arm. We care whether you are aware of it, at some level. (Not necessarily the precise conscious level….) So if indeed I could teach you the perfect angle of your elbow? That would skip the whole point! The point is for you to refine your ability to pick the most pleasing angle for any situation, any time, any context. So no. We don't demonstrate. We teach you how to find what you want for yourself.