2024 - 2025 Series By Zoom

Supple Shoulders October 20th, 27th and November 3rd and 10th

This series offers very soft and easy lessons for a beginner, and with plenty of subtlety and depth for advanced Body Wisdom students. Last season started with a shoulder set as well, but these lessons will be all new! In the past, I have emphasized the movement of the shoulder girdle and of course we’ll do that this time around as well, but I’ll probably prioritize the issue of spinal rotation in the upper back and the sequencing of the lower engine (the pelvic girdle) with the upper engine (the shoulders). Yeah, I know. You don’t paddle with your arms. But you sure do paddle with your upper engine. And remember, your ‘arm’ almost starts at your spine!

Learning from Walking (and vice-versa) Nov 17th, 24th and Dec 1st and 8th

Our bodies and brains are designed for walking—not just the skeletal and muscular structure but the neurological patterns. How can you use this to advantage in your paddling—to find your rhythm, to distribute the work, to get the power from your pelvis and back, to harmonize your flexors and extensors? To feel pleasure? When you paddle, you want to push off from the water… it is equally true that when you walk, it is nice to push off from the earth. Find out how improving the push of your foot on earth can improve your stroke in the water. This series has the added benefit of easing that soreness kayakers sometimes get when they walk after a long paddle.

Balance Dec 15th, 22nd and January 5th, 12th Sundays at 10 a.m.

When asked by a journalist to summarize his method, Moshé Feldenkrais said ‘it is about making peace between [humans] and gravity.’ That’s what balance is. On one level, you find your balance by locating where you are in relation to the gravitational axis, coordinating information from your eyes, your vestibular system, your proprioceptors and more. This class helps with that integration. On another level, you maintain grace and balanced control primarily by managing the relationship between your pelvis and your head. This class helps with that coordination, too. Join us and find your balance.

How Can it be Easier? Jan 25th and Feb 1st, 8th and 15th

One of people’s favorite parts of these lessons is the question ‘How could this be easier?’ Of all the things you will learn in Body Wisdom movement classes, the ‘How can it be easier’ attitude seems to be the most transportable from the movement class to your time on the water. Coordinate your flexors and extensors—that makes you nearly weightless! Be ‘skeletal,’ meaning you carry yourself more with your bones and less with your muscles. That uses less energy, and it feels good. Let go of the muscle tension that isn’t helpful, or even works against you. Involve parts of your body that had stayed on the sidelines—such as maybe your ribs! And feel how luxurious and available your body has become. Make it easier.

Rolling March 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd

Ah, well. Rolling is just so much fun, whether on the floor or in the water, and will improve your paddling whether you actually roll your kayak or not.

Ideas for Personal Paddling Clinic April 6th and 13th

At the end of a class, people are surprised by the greater range, the smoother motion and the pleasure they have gained--or really regained. You can do this for yourself! In these two sessions, we’ll look at the underlying ‘tricks’ of the body wisdom approach and how you might use them on the water to understand and improve your stroke.

This class is for people experienced with the method and willing to workshop their own aches and confusions.