HOW FAR CAN YOU TURN?

I have found the following interesting exercise on the net.

I have had the experience of learning a variation of the exercise during the late eighties, when I had attended a mind power seminar, which eventually gave me a good understanding about the mental rehearsal technique often used by peak performers.

"Here is a short AWARENESS THROUGH MOVEMENT lesson for you to enjoy.

By doing it, you will demonstrate to yourself that your body has a potential far different from what you normally think.

NOTE: This lesson involves turning the head. It is important that you turn slowly and gently, stopping if you get any signals of strain, discomfort or pain.

If you have pain in turning, turn only so far that you are pain-free. A very small turn is OK.

To begin, sit comfortably on the edge of a chair with your hands relaxed in your lap.

1. Gently turn your head to the left. Notice a point on the wall that is the furthest point you can comfortably see. Return to the centre.

Repeat a few times.

If you had pain in turning, turn only so far that you DO NOT have pain. A very small turn is OK.

Gently turn your head to the right a few times and return to the centre. Each time, notice a point on the wall that is the furthest point you can comfortably see.

Turn gently, only so far as you have no pain.

2. Feel which side you would like to improve.

The other side is the better functioning side.

3. Cradle your head with the palms of your hands, so that the heel of your hands is at your jaw line, and the fingers may rest around your eyes. Notice that your elbows rest on your chest.

Keeping your elbows glued to your chest and your hands cradling your head, gently turn to the better functioning side as far as is comfortable and back to centre. Notice that the whole upper body turns.

4. TEST: drop your hands and turn to the side you wanted to improve. Notice the improvement!

Take a moment to realize how organic learning does not happen mechanically in the muscles, but in some higher faculties of the nervous system.

Isn't this more interesting?"

[Source: Issue #1 of SENSEABILITY, A Quarterly Newsletter of the FELDENKRAIS METHOD®, produced by The FELDENKRAIS GUILD®;]