It is fascinating to discover that the things that hold us back are there for us to see all the time.
These are the quiet places, the ones that don't scream so loudly. But it seems that our attention so often is driving by who demands the most attention.
For example, someone comes for a Feldenkrais® lesson complaining of her knee. The knee is where the student is focusing all of her attention, fear, anxiety and projection of possible (almost always negative) outcomes. She describes the knee pain, all the things that have happened to that knee, the way she can't put weight on it or how turning around that knee is frightening because it might "give out".
If we allow ourselves to be distracted by the part that is making the most noise it is as if we become part of the story of the knee, part of her story to validate and justify her position. But this is really such a small part of the story. Rather than get caught up in this story which in so many ways is already written with beginning, middle and end, it is important to begin to ask questions.
Questions lead us to other areas, other ideas and other possibilities for outcomes. What is happening with the hip? What is happening in the pelvis? When does the pelvis move in relation to the knee. Where is she looking?
By asking questions we begin to unravel the knotted threads and see other perspectives. We can tease apart the anxiety, pain and fear that hold the knot tightly. Questions lead to more questions but this is the process of discovery rather than predetermined outcomes.
Movement leads us to find more questions. When do you move, in what timing? What moves first? What is included in the person's body image as she moves? When is the pelvis, hip, knee, ankle mobilized?
With these questions we begin to see why something might be hurting and also how simply changing our focus can allow for different movement, thoughts and ideas that lead us away from the pain and into more freedom of movement, thought and action.
