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    63. News & Views 4                                                                  10/01/04

“Peals of laughter fanned out like rings of water on a pond. Alone? Alone? Alone? It was an idea beyond comic there could no more be aloneness than there could be death.”

The Other Side of Haight
James Fadiman

 This Month I had the pleasure of attending and giving a workshop at the Bodywork Breakthrough Conference in California (PDF/BBCPosterA.pdf). This conference was put together by the good folks at Enlightenment.com.

California has in its numerolgy  the attribute of innovative influence which seems apparent as we inspect the impact over the last 40 or more years that this state has had on the rest of the American culture.

One theme that jumps out at me from the conference is that we are still refining and learning about our bodies. As we develop and work with new forms of working with our understanding of the body this also entails letting go of many old practices while integrating the truths they contain with our current insights.

This theme was delightfully presented by James Fadiman in his opening commentary. He spoke about the many ways we have used traditional forms for working with the body for both the enhancement and in some cases detriment, of what being in the body really means today. I hope this particular talk will be put in manuscript form so we may enjoy the words that do herald in a need to continue exploring new ways of viewing and working with our form.

The remarkable Molly Hale, gave us a down to earth commentary of coming from paralysis to reclaiming movement by what ever natural means possible. She gave an inspiring account of her Journey with the many intuitive forms she worked with. I was deeply moved by her ever-present joy and gratitude.

Angelina Spector, founder of the Mind-Body connection, explained the effectiveness of combining Pilates, Gyrotonics, Yamuna Body Rolling in somatic empowerment classes she gives in San Francisco. An inside look at the many forms she uses to help release the body as well as exercise and tone the body.

Steve Shafarman, presented his insights and practice of what he has termed FlexAware, a system of movement and breathing developed from his 25 year of working with Mr. Feldenkrais.

Robert Rudelic, presented a very unique system of using the fingers to tapping on acupressure points to set in intentions and affirmations for development as well as fulfilling our intentions. Robert works with professional athletes and showbiz people and has recently published a book on the subject called Power Tapping.

Jordan Gruber our Master of Ceremonies introduced me to the Rebounder experience, which I have been doing on my own, but not on the state of the art mini-trampoline he has. Within minutes I was fascinated with this multifaceted form of exercising, and felt some of the many different and important experiences we can give ourselves. He has written a book, soon to be published, on the subject which will bring an honest assessment of what we can do to keep ourselves whole and fit.

right to left Jordan-Molly-Harmon
*****

In my own presentation of a class as well as giving private sessions during my stay, I felt that the receptivity to and acceptance of the ABC’s of alignment was received directly. I also felt this is a result of most people at the conference being exposed to so many forms of bodywork in the past. When accuracy is presented there seems to be direct assimilation and acceptance by the body of what is represented. When people have experienced so much work about the body their references to what is useful or not becomes very sharp.

The tools, presented as the ABC’s of alignment, when comprehended can provide an appreciation of other modalities that work with the body. From my perspective this does give a map (dare I use this word) or foundation for experiencing the effectiveness of work we do with the body. The elements that give us the real understanding of how to keep alignment on the body and how to use it to handle the many different problems that visit the body over a lifetime are very definite.

Of course the final word is; we as love’s creation seek to inhabit and animate our body with all the grace, dignity and tenderness that resonates in our soul. This is, to me, why we search in so many interesting fashions to be representatives of light in total.
 

I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.
    Galileo Galilei, (1564-1642)

Peace

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