AY # 115 A plane dividing the body, part 2

We all know by now that what we're doing is working with the brain. Most of the time in ATM we access the part of the brain that we're interested in changing by working with--moving--the body. This is one of those lessons (there are many others) where, in addition to using the technique described above, Dr. Feldenkrais also works directly with changing brain patterns (and the consequent muscular responses) through the use of descriptive imagery that's designed to focus attention, engender a particular muscular response and thereby heighten awareness in a very specific manner. As in the "first part" of this lesson, AY # 112, we are again concerned with expanding the self-image by defining the center line of the body. He introduces new techniques not used in the previous lesson that can illuminate (again) just how much power our brain has over our body. Here, as we have seen in several recent lessons, some significant abdominal power is required to "successfully" complete the tasks asked for by the lesson. But, as always, the actual movement is not really important and the power of the heightened awareness this lesson can bring about is achievable by anyone, regardless of their ability to actually accomplish the physical tasks set out by the lesson. It's all done on the back and, while some strenuous movement is asked for, I'm pretty convinced that the lesson could be profound even if the student did the entire thing in his/her imagination, never moving a muscle.