The Feldenkrais Method: Teaching by Handling. A Technique for Individuals

260 Pages·1991·30.496 MB·English

by  Yochanan Rywerant

The
authorized edition of the
manual
training of basic theories
and techniques. Indispensable
for teachers and their pupils.
I
J'
Yochanan
/
Rywerant
Foreword by
'
Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais
Illustratededition

ftl
THE FELDENKRAIS METHOD
TEACHING BY HANDLING
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THE
FELDENKRA1S
METHOD:
TEACHING
HANDLING
BY
A Technique for Individuals
YOCHANAN RYWERANT
Illustrations by Daniela Mohor
Keats Publishing, Inc. ^5 New Canaan, Connecticut
The Feldenkrais Method: TeachingbyHandlingis not intendedas medical
advice. Its intent is solely informational and educational. Please consult a
health professional should the need for one be indicated.
THE FELDENKRAIS METHOD: TEACHING BY HANDLING
This book is published in association with the K. S. Giniger Company,
Inc., Publishers, 250 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10107.
Copyright © 1983 by Yochanan Rywerant.
All Rights Reserved
No part ofthis book may be reproduced in any form without the written
consent ofthe publisher.
Designer: Jim Mennick
Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Rvwerant, Yochanan
THE FELDENKRAIS METHOD
Bibliography: p.
1. Manipulation (Therapeutics). 2. Sensory-motor integration.
3. Self-perception. 4. Feldenkrais, Moshe, 1904-1985. I. Title.
RMII724.R97 1983 6L6.7'40622 83-47734
ISBN 0-87983-544-0
Printed in the United States ofAmerica
Published by Keats Publishing, Inc.
27 Pine Street (Box 876)
New Canaan, Connecticut 06840-0876
Contents
Foreword vii
Preface viii
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction xv
Part I: Manipulation and Teaching
1. Manipulation as Nonverbal Communication
Between Teacher and Pupil 3
2. The Approach to Communicative Manipulation 15
Part II: The Basic Technique
3. The Unit of Communicative Manipulation
(The Manipulon) 25
4. A Classification of Manipulons 44
5. The Various Modes of the Pupil's Response:
The Limbic and Cortical Levels of Control 59
Part III: Further Technical Considerations
6. Some Physical Principles Involved in Functional
Integration 97
7. Increasing Efficiency: Directions of Movement,
Timing, and the Teacher's Own Body Awareness 109
vi / Contents
Part IV: Working Through Sessions
8. The Form of the Manipulatory Session 121
9. Schematic Outlines of a Few Model Sessions 127
10. A Few Typical and Often-Encountered
Manifestations of Inefficient Neuro-Motor
Organization 161
11. Additional Do's and Don'ts for a Future
Practitioner 197
Part V: Some Illustrative Case Histories
12. The Story of Hanoch's Return to the Flute 203
13. Improving the Ability to Perform 214
14. Remarks on Pain, Function, and Structure 223
15. Reflections on the Creative Process 229
Bibliography 236
Foreword
Yochanan was a teacher ofphysics in one ofthe best schools of
Israel. He was at that twenty-eight years running.
Later hejoined the Feldenkrais School. He worked thirteen
andahalfyearswithinclosequartersinthesameroominwhich
I worked. He has his own "handwriting" like all the others.
Everyone learns the method without imitating his teacher. Yo-
chanan is not imitating anybody.
Thebookin frontofyou shouldbe reread several times. That
wayyouarelikelytogetmostofthegoodnessofthebook. Good
luck!
M. Feldenkrais
Tel Aviv, Israel
Preface
The Feldenkrais Method: Teaching by Handling is a momen-
tous publication, because it makes accessible a unique form of
human education. The book is a presentation of the system of
Functional Integration devised by the Israeli scientist Dr.
Moshe Feldenkrais. The Feldenkrais system is a way of han-
dling the body by communicating specific sensations to the
central nervous systemin order toimprove the functions ofthe
motor system.
Functional Integration is unique in that it evokes changes in
the human brain at a level heretofore thought unachievable by
—
any known educational technique: muscular tonicity even
—
spasticity is actually modified, the range of movement is en-
hanced, movementbecomesmore coordinated, and theoverall
efficiency and comfort of muscular functioning is increased.
In The Feldenkrais Method: Teaching by Handling Yocha-
nan Rywerant has devised a framework for understanding an
immensely subtle and elusive technique for human change.
Ryweranthassuccessfullycreatedthearchetectonicsforunder-
standing a major area ofhuman cybernetic functioning and, in
so doing, has effectively established the vocabulary for a new
area in the field ofnonverbal communication. Feldenkrais, the
inventor of this new area of Functional Integration, is also its
most brilliant practitioner as well as its most inspirational and
intuitive teacher. What Rywerant has accomplished is to have
taken thisintuitiveclarityandworkeditintoaningeniousintel-
lectual framework that makes sense ofthe technique's elusive