My work in The Feldenkrais Method® has seemed to some, a deviation from my roots as a speech and language therapist. The more obvious alliance is with physiotherapy and yet these boundaries have been created by a focus of attention on one aspect of our being.I continue to be drawn to communication but have always loved movement and do not see them as mutually exclusive. Indeed some of the finest movements we create are involved in making sound, and non-verbal communication includes facial expressions and the micro moves we all respond to.As well as physical movement, I can be moved by listening to music, listening to poetry, listening to someone else’s story both in an emotional response and in sensations. The connection is instantaneous and my heart responds before I have time to find the words to express myself.But I wonder how well we listen nowadays. The external environment is being filled with the background hum of computers, other machines of one kind or another, traffic, signals from mobiles: I could go on. Our internal minds have never been busier and never more unaware of the endless distractions and detachment from reality.But the Joy of Awareness in Movement is the space to quieten the mind, to listen closely to our physical messages and to begin to re-connect with ourselves in a real moment-to-moment experience. This is a form of meditation, a mindfulness practice which has been researched and proved to be beneficial, with changes shown to occur within the brain.I certainly found my own journey of using meditation was helped by this mindfulness in motion.
Mindfulness is getting more press with many celebrities voicing their support. It is of course, nothing new, being an ancient tradition involving minds and bodies but our technologically advanced culture is now recognising the wisdom of our forefathers. And in terms of communication, what better way to improve our listening skills than to learn how to tune into ourselves first. If we can acknowledge and quieten our own busy minds then we have space to really listen to others. What follows is an opportunity to speak with clarity, sincerity, and empathy rather than the reactive defences or promotions that usually arise.It is work in progress for me. And I welcome a sharing of experiences.
