Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #28

Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #28

Wednesday, December 13, 1978

Grounding of feet is essential to the lengthening process. Otherwise the student will not risk this step for fear of falling.

Any kind of movement involving the whole body can be used to free joints for walking, particularly figure eights, in and out of the chair, and going in and out of walking etc..

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Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #27

Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #27

Wednesday, May 2, 1978

Working on her direction. Taking someone in and out of a chair.

We work in a spiral. Each time we learn shoulder or head direction, etc., We can grasp more. That is why we don't stick to one thing until completely learned. It is a cumulative learning experience.

Take a person into a chair.

Neck free.

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Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #26

Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #26

Wednesday, April 26, 1978

A. Had directions on the table

One thumb on the neck, giving “neck back” direction, and the other thumb under the jar, giving “head forward” direction.

B. when giving length to the spine from her position, it is useful to sometimes place one hand on the lower abdomen to keep pelvis from “curling up at the base”.

Working on [classmate]:

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Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #25

Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #25

Wednesday, April 19, 1978

Picking up a knee

First check on the freedom of the leg in the hip joint.

To free the leg:

1. Take care of yourself first, i.e., your own directions.

2. Place one hand on the pelvis, thumb on thigh. The hand is saying pelvis goes with head, thumb is directing out the knee.

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Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #23

Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #22

Tuesday, February 28, 1978

Turning the head on the table. Our wrists are free. Holding book between the hands. A figure eight pattern of movement allows for the expanded mobility of the wrist joint. When the other person is on the table, with their head resting on the books, we give head direction and also lateral rotation of the head on the atlas/access articulation.

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Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #22

Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #22

Tuesday, February 28, 1978

Turning the head on the table. Our wrists are free. Holding book between the hands. A figure eight pattern of movement allows for the expanded mobility of the wrist joint. When the other person is on the table, with their head resting on the books, we give head direction and also lateral rotation of the head on the atlas/access articulation.

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Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #20

Train Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #20

February 17th, 1978

A question came up about how one can be certain that he/she has really understood an idea or experience and can repeat it. Judy said that you cannot learn it by trying to hold onto it. The learning may not be possible to verbalize. Judy can get quick results because she is clear about objective: neck, head relationship, back, etc. She also sees before she touches. This cuts down time required to work period these skills are required over the years and they develop as you teach. First thing is to establish the primary control (poise of the head on the neck, and spine) then get on to the rest of the work. Judy says that she takes the student ahead of the previous experience and knowledge (a preview) to where the student will go, thus it will feel to the student that the use is “odd” or wrong.

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Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #19

Train Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #19

February 15th, 1978

Wait for [the] person to respond to your direction. Release the hand into direction. Don't put hand on with intention. Wait for impulse from a student. Anytime you feel like your direction stops, take hands off for a moment.

To correct one sidedness, though we are all one sided, direct into whatever side more clearly is your weak side. Look at your kinesthetic judgment and verify that both sides can support you.

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Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #17

Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #17

February 8, 1978

Judith Leibowitz: “In the exhalation, the diaphragm comes up, allowing the ribs to fall down. When back and up, we can get open breathing period when the back is narrow, it is hard to get that free movement. We don't exhale enough. CO2 level[s] in the blood determines our rhythm and breathing. It is a volume to volume exchange of gases. We are looking for an easy, rhythmical breath. We deal with those things in the body that don't allow a free breath to take place, such as a narrow back, also fixing in the throat and neck.

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Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #14

Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #14

January 19, 1978

We worked on the use of the self as a totality in movement, being attentive to the tendency to get fixed in the small of the back.

As a group, we looked at our mirror image face on…. Judy wants us to have a clearer image of our objectives, as we are in movement. The image of our spine hanging between our ears, pelvis suspended from the sacrum (lower spine; loose bones, loose muscles; all of the spine is hanging as we walk. Nothing is fixed. Length is making room for bones, front and back.

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Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #13

Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #13

January 17, 1978

“Don't get bored. You are on a spiral of change. “

“When working on hands, start by dealing with the totality, out of which you move the hand.”

Think of the hand as being open and free. It is one of your most precious tools. Be nice to them.

Stretching often uses tension. Allow it to release. Direct it to release. She [Judy] used the example of reaching an octave on the keyboard. First stretch to reach it. Then allow your hand to release to reach. Think of the hand as material that has no bones. Your hand can be full of energy. When placing it on something, allow the energy to “flow” to that.

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Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #12

Training Journal: Classes with Judith Leibowitz #12

January 12, 1978

Topic: Use of the arm in gesture. Begin with primary control. Use of the whole torso involved in direction. The arm gesture comes out of this. Think of air under the scapula. Think of air under the sternum. Release out of the neck. Support of the arms comes from the back of the torso which begins low in the deep area below the muscles of the [buttocks].

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