Master Moves [Paperback]

Moshe Feldenkrais (Author), CARL GINSBURG (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 091699015X | ISBN-13: 978-0916990152 | Publication Date: June 1, 1985

The introduction: I attended my first Feldenkrais wrokshop during the summer of 1974. It was taught by a man who spent only a month with Moshe Feldenkrais and was not a qualified teacher of the Feldenkrais method. Nevertheless he had absorbed enough of the Feldenkrais spirit to convey something of the essence of Moshe's work.
I was at that time suffering form periodic bouts of low back pain and exploring various body therapies to alleviate my trouble. But I was initially reluctant to try Feldenkrais work. Feldenkrais movement, I had heard, had something to do with coordination. I knew I had poor coordination and I thought of myself as clumsy, without grace, a poor athlete and a terrible dancer.
The workshop was a revelation. In two days I discovered that I had all the ability to change what I wanted changed. It was possi ble for me to dance and move freely. I could stand in gravity and my pelvis could be underneath my shoulders. Above all I could do simple muscles as long as I moved with what Feldenkrais called awareness. ...Carl Ginsburg

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Moshe Feldenkraqis is, unquestionably, one of the great figures of our time. He has introduced some of the ideas that are now having profound effect on our society andon each of personally. He has a very special personal style of sharing his learning which covers over 80 years of full, vigorous, and vital living. His anecdotes, coming one upon the other, about his relationships with some of the great persons of the century and how they contributed towards his personal development and the development of his work are rich beyond compare. He will beguile you, taunt you, humor you, lovingly scold you, and excite you with his personal commitment to his work and his great desire to share it with you.

Product Details

• Paperback: 194 pages
• Publisher: Meta Publications (June 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 091699015X
• ISBN-13: 978-0916990152
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #606,662 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic insight into the Feldenkrais method, July 11, 2009

By 

S. Arora - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Master Moves (Paperback)

I am interested in the Feldenkrais method (though not a practitioner) and have received many lessons over the years and have read (at least superficially) many of Moshe Feldenkrais's books. Unfortunately, though Feldenkrais was a genius in his understanding of how to correct movement problems, his book-writing skills were not too good. This book is just a transcript of a long workshop he gave in California in the late 1970s. Apparently somebody was taking notes verbatim. Feldenkrais is leading a class of (presumably fairly advanced) students through some movement lessons. He discusses his motivations in inventing these particular lessons, and sprinkles in his usual salty and irreverent language, and random observations and comments. The twelve movement lessons are better than almost any other lessons of his that I have come across. However, as the book title suggests, these are "master moves," meant for more advanced students. They are not super-difficult, but they do require more introspection and careful self-examination than usual. The lessons that address the midback and the 7th cervical are especially interesting and not often found elsewhere.

I particularly enjoyed his description (thrown in randomly in one lesson) of how a musician used his method (specifically, gentle movement with minimal possible effort) to teach him how to play the piano.

I wish somebody would prepare a book-on-CD version, allowing the listener to try the movement lessons more easily. (Movement doesnt mix well together with reading!)

45 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Intro to the Magic of Moshe Feldenkrais, June 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Master Moves (Paperback)

Based on the transcripts of a five-day seminar Moshe did in California in 1979, this book, which combines wonderful images with a direct transcript of his lectures, offers the best way to clearly get a sense of this wonderful man and his physical/verbal wizardry.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterfully Designed, April 5, 2009

By 

P. Rabel - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Master Moves (Paperback)

This book is the collection of a five day work shop that Moshe Feldenkrais gave.
This book is very well written. It has its own style which lends to its form. The words "bring home" many of the teachings within.