PATTERNS OF
BEING™
The Anatomy of Wholeness
"We need look no further than ourselves to see a
miracle every day!"
(Babette Lightner, LearningMethods Teacher)
Description of the Course
"Mr.
Gorman's patience and brilliance in picturing human anatomy has been
achieved beyond question"
The late Prof. Raymond Dart, discoverer of early hominid,
Australopithecus,
former Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Witwatersrand, S. Africa |
We want to be whole, yet we still find ourselves in parts—“my aching
back”, “releasing my shoulder tension”, “strengthening my abdominal
support”, etc....
What we need is an understanding of ourselves that is more accurate to our nature as whole
and present creatures:
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one that reveals
our design as inherently integrated creatures securely grounded and
fully organised for free, effortless movement; |
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one that liberates
us from the mechanistic model where muscles ‘hold us up’ and
‘contract’ to move us; and instead one where muscles act as sensitive
detectors of instability and respond by suspending us in an elastic
web of adjustable support that follows us around, springing us into
activity; |
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one which shows
that when we interfere with this natural integration, we become
divided into parts (creating separate mind and body) and almost inevitably
end up with chronic pain, tension, joint damage, strains and
other organic problems. |
"With a refreshing
air of personal discovery, Gorman delineates the glorious, unsuspected
flexibility of the human organism ... the best one-man show in town"
Edward Maisel, author of "Tai Chi for Health" and
"The Alexander Technique, the Resurrection of the Body" |
What will we do?...
The
workshop will explore this new model of our human system using a lively
blend of information, practical activities and discussion while going
through as many of these major structural areas and functional systems as
we have time for:
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posture and
support—how gravity is not an enemy but rather activates you into a
spring-loaded whole; |
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the response of
breathing and the voice, expression and emotion—how we interfere by
making it an ‘activity’; |
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the spine as a
flexible lengthening device—why back problems are so common; |
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the built-in
primate nature of the legs that can be accessed to reduce effort and
eliminate back problems; |
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why many kinds of
exercise programs for strength and fitness don't really give you what you
are after; |
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our incredibly
sensitive inheritance of awareness and perception; and how to make
sure it is reliably giving you the information you need; |
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and how our
experience, beliefs and consciousness all interact to either bind us
more deeply into unconstructive habits of stress, tension and
conflict, or liberate us to a wholeness where we are not even separate
from the world around us let alone from ourselves; |
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and wherever else your questions and interests lead us! |
"After 15 years of
treating people, and I must admit, some anatomy teaching myself, this
workshop is the first time it has really all made sense to me. My work
is so different now. Bravo!"
John Hansen, body worker |
Who is it for?...
The course presumes no
special knowledge of the body, though for those who already know a lot,
you'll find a whole new point of view to deepen your understanding.
It is designed for
anyone who is already exploring themselves and their function through any
method or technique, for health and medical professionals,
fitness or
body-workers, and those who work with others, performers
(musicians, actors and dancers), athletes, those doing yoga or martial arts, and those who use themselves as their own instrument
... or anyone simply interested in themselves and how to function better.
All you need is yourself and a willingness to learn that your system is more amazing and
more whole than you ever thought!
Who is the teacher?...
David Gorman David Gorman has become
widely known for his innovative and unique approach to making our human
functioning understandable, relevant and fascinating. In 1980 he
published a 600-page illustrated text on human structure and function
called The Body Moveable, now in its 5th
edition, and in 1997 a collection of articles and essays, Looking At Ourselves.
David has been helping people make sense out how they function
since the mid-70s. He taught the Alexander Technique for 17 years and trained Alexander teachers until 1997 when
he began developing his new LearningMethods work from his discoveries. He is now writing another book covering the
material of this workshop. Parts of this book will be available in e-book format soon (more information here)
He teaches private workshops, at conservatories and for conferences as well as training teachers in the
LearningMethods work. The work is now being integrated
into the curriculum of many schools and colleges in
Europe and North America.
Read more about David's discoveries of
our elastic spring-loaded suspension system.
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