March 27, 2021

Alan Questel gifts intentional kindness...

1 hour 22 minutes

Heidi and Dale introduce a veteran gift to this Feldenkrais space, Alan Questel from SanteFe New Mexico USA. Alan has been practicing Feldenkrais since injuring his back many years ago whilst he was making a living to become an actor. He shares about some of the obstacles he faced along his pathway from being a client to becoming a trainer. Moshe often talked about practitioners bringing a unique aspect of themselves to his method, it seems his wish was that his insights for BEing human were expressed through people as they struggle/d with the maturation process of becoming a practitioner to further establish his work. Alan certainly took Moshe's intention to a different level, he has developed a signature style by practicing intentional acts of kindness via his Awareness Through Movement classes. He invites people to like themselves, beginning with sensing pleasurable options in the most unlikely movement - like rolling from back to belly with books on each foot (Imagine the advanced version of this, balancing books on hands also). Click here to see the downloadable collections on his website - reversibility, or as he calls it, ytilibisrever is amongst a host of valuable lessons.

They talk about the ripple effects this enquiry has introduced to his life and how it has shaped his actions.. true to his intention he offers listeners options to pay what they feel for one 'set' from his collection of material.

And, yes, the missing quote from Ram Das:

“… when you go out into the woods and you look at trees,

you see all these different trees.

And some of them are bent,

and some of them are straight,

and some of them are evergreens,

and some of them are whatever.

And you look at the tree and you allow it.

You appreciate it.

You see why it is the way it is.

You sort of understand that it didn’t get enough light,

and so it turned that way.

And you don’t get all emotional about it.

You just allow it.

You appreciate the tree.

The minute you get near humans, you lose all that.

And you are constantly saying

“You’re too this, or I’m too this.”

That judging mind comes in.

And so I practice turning people into trees.

Which means appreciating them just the way they are.”

— Ram Das, On Self Judgment

Heidi and Dale host this episode, the format of two hosts per episode has been planned for the rest of the year. Next month Heidi and Libby move into the unknown with Russell and Linda Delman, more Feldenkrais legends.

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