Deborah Bowes and Cliff Smyth's Feldenkrais® Learning Resources Pages

What we have learned about successful practice Or: Practices for successful practice, by Deborah Bowes and Cliff Smyth

We have found that there are many actions, behaviors, values and practices that have helped us to be successful in developing our Feldenkrais business.

We've learned from our own experience in ATM and FI that some things transfer over to developing a practice. Values such as treating yourself with respect, a willingness to deal with uncertainty, learning from mistakes and from unexpected breakthroughs are useful in growing a practice. Doing these things with an intention to learn means you will encounter things that are new and strange, and experiences that sometimes challenge your self-image.

You do need to be and feel competent in both FI and ATM and yet that is not enough. Ask any successful practitioner.

We have taken key words and ideas and expounded on them - and discovered that they are connected in a web of effective practices. Perhaps the list will stimulate your thinking and result in a change in action! A practice is also a process for developing what you envision for yourself and your community and what will satisfy your needs. There are many ways to be and feel successful.

Communication
You have to communicate with many categories of people. New and continuing clients, family, colleagues and other professionals who may refer to you all require slightly different ways of talking about yourself and Feldenkrais. However there are some generalizations I think we can make.

Benefits: In talking with people emphasize the benefits or potential outcomes of the Method: how it can help a person do what they want, be how they want to be. This is a good place to start rather than pushing the features of the Method such as Moshe's biography or how we are different from other approaches. We often find using an example helps someone to understand. As you increase your competence in the Method, you increase your ability to match the benefits with the needs and interests of each person. Also if you specialize you develop more ways to talk about the Method.

Talking with your students: We talk with our students after every ATM class, asking them what they notice and how the lesson affected them. This requires making yourself available and open. Sometimes our students tell us they haven't had this opportunity with some teachers. It is hard to believe because it is such a great opportunity for learning from your teaching - for you and for them. Listen to your students - they will have a lot of information about your teaching and the lessons. Sometimes you may prefer not to hear it. But stay open. Talking with your students also gives you a chance to reinforce the learning and benefits of the Method, to teach about the Method. For example you can teach the principles without 'explaining away' the person's experience, and model for them how to speak about the Method. If your students can talk about the Method, they can convince their friends to see you!

Learn to talk about the Method: Read and re-read Moshe's works. If your thinking and understanding is muddy, it is harder to discuss the Method. Read the guild marketing materials and articles on your colleagues' websites. Talk with colleagues either on the phone if there aren't others living nearby or form a study group. Make notes on what you say to people on the phone and reflect on them. If you go to ATM classes, listen to how your colleagues answer questions and talk with their students. Think of different ways you can talk about the Method: your short 'elevator pitch', your longer phone and airplane explanations. Explore how would you describe it to a psychotherapist, an engineer, a farmer, a businessperson. Be comfortable discussing the range of benefits of the Method, not just those you like for yourself. Learn how to ask people questions that you can link to the benefits.

Good and effective communication is essential in all aspects of a well-lived life and Feldenkrais practice. We will explore this in depth in our Art of Practice program and help you to develop useful tools for improving your verbal and non-verbal skills.

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This if the first part of material we provide for participants and discuss in our Art of Practice program. Other topics include:

  • Continuous Learning: Reflection, learning from your practice
  • Continuous Learning: Study
  • Professional relationships and behaviors
  • Environment: like light, heat, mats, etc.
  • Marketing
  • Persistence
  • Developing a vision and the unique nature of your practice
  • Collaboration, Consultation

In addition to improving and clarifying your foundation in ATM and FI, the Art of Practice provides an opportunity to explore these kinds of practices that contribute successful practice in the Feldenkrais Method.

Copyright, Deborah Bowes and Cliff Smyth, 2009


 

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