Support Your Habit?!?

Here's one of the weirdest things about Feldenkrais: often, in a lesson (ATM or FI), we'll actually support or reinforce a habit. And it melts. For instance, you know those ropes of muscles along your spine, the ones that keep you standing up straight? Why don't they relax more when you lie down? Why is your lower back up on stilts for a while? You aren't going to fall through the floor.

I like to have a client lie on their side and I'll move along their spine and actually help those muscles do their (unnecessary) work even better. I say to them 'ok, you feel like you need to do that? Then let me help.'

Let's make sure your person doesn't fall through the floor. After all, they aren't going to fall.

And then I'll very slowly remove the support, move my fingers another quarter inch up the back, and give the support. And slowly release it. And give the support. Slowly, lovingly release. And give the support.

The change in muscle tone, the softness, is amazing—but not just there along the spine. Everywhere.

This is how I think about habits. They are in protective mode. What could be better for getting out of protective mode than to be supported?