Roots of David's Upcoming' Working with the Chest' Advanced Training

by David Zemach-Bersin

I met Dr. Feldenkrais for the first time in the Spring of 1973 while he was in California for a one-month workshop in Berkeley, sponsored by the Esalen Institute. This was a follow-up to his outstanding 1972 workshop that was held in Big Sur. I had known about Moshe since 1971, but it was complete serendipity that he came to Berkeley during my last months before graduating (pre-med) from the University of California. He taught a professional workshop and an evening class for the public. I attended both as much as I could. I was fascinated by my experience of Awareness Through Movement and completely stunned by what I saw him achieve with Functional Integration. I know you'll understand when I say that I had never, ever in my life, seen anything so interesting!

As soon as I graduated, I began trying to get to Tel-Aviv; first working as a cook's mate on a ship from the USA to Rotterdam and then, basically, hitchhiking the rest of the way to Israel. When I arrived, unannounced, at Moshe's studio on Nachmani Street, he generously received me and allowed me to sit -six days a week- for many months, watching him work.

I was reluctant to ask him for a lesson for myself. I had very little money and the lessons looked so magical; I wasn't sure I deserved one! However, I eventually got up the nerve to ask. As I recall, it cost approximately $23.00 US dollars in shekels. I lay on my back as he worked -methodically- with my chest, my ribs, my diaphragm, and lastly my head and neck. I remember that lesson as if it were yesterday, and each and every note he played. The result was amazing; I felt as if I were a newborn infant, breathing air for the very first time. It was a revelation -nothing less- and I have been dedicated to the art of Functional Integration ever since.

I have given variations of this lesson to my FI students hundreds of times, and it never fails. And, I have applied what I learned in that lesson in many different orientations and FI contexts. I'd like to invite you to join me online, October 24-26, for Working with the Chest: Movement:  Articulation, Differentiation and Integration. I will share the content and techniques from that first lesson with Moshe, along with the many creative applications I have developed over the years. We have filmed approximately five hours of Functional Integration in preparation for this workshop, and you will have lifetime access to these videos as well as the workshop itself.

Feldenkrais Trainer Raz Ori will be assisting and adding his perspective on the relevant anatomy and biomechanics. I hope you will join us.

For more information: www.feldenkraisaccess.com/working-with-chest