Yesterday I had the pleasure of joining colleagues at the Sydney pre Christmas gathering of the Creative Skills Training Council.
Andrew Gaines - CEO, Alliance for Sustainable Well Being was our presenter for the evening and he gave us some insights on Moshe Feldenkrais
Moshe Feldenkrais was said to be a genius about the body.
He was actually a genius about improving the operation of the central nervous system. All skilled activity is mediated by the central nervous system. Feldenkrais developed a way of improving the coordination of the central nervous system by working with the body.
His method, however, can be generalised to improving the operation of any complex human system, including how whole societies operate.
The key Feldenkrais question is: How does this system operate to produce the difficulties it experiences? In other words, how do we shoot ourselves in the foot?
When we can answer that question accurately, we can identify points of improvement that can make the system work better.
In the session the Feldenkrais approach to improving function was demonstrated by teaching us how to do an advanced Tai Chi push. Through traditional practice it might take you two years or more to discover the integrated body use that enables you to do this.
We instead were learning systems thinking through the body and were given the basic theory of improving function (it’s quick) and a few problems so that we can try out this way of thinking into the future.
We concluded by looking at how functional thinking applies to creativity and to large-scale social systems - augmented by whatever great ideas you come up with!
Together we can look at social concerns and problems like climate change and sustainability and look for creative solutions that can help.
The workshop left us with a new window on improving human performance that integrates neurology with practical outcomes. It has applications in creativity training, psychotherapy, sports and management.
For more information on Andrew Gaines and his programs, please contact us