Day 5

Plans to do anything in the morning got put aside when I recalled an instructor had said on Monday "your entire job this week is to look after yourself."  It came as I was trying, somewhat half heartedly, to decide between heading to the Metropolitan Museum or finding my way to South Ferry and Staten Island. The fact that neither appealed as much as resting, reading seemed insolent of me. After all there's a big city out there and I shouldn't waste time. Then it came to me, I was going into the 5th straight day of intensive attention, including, in my lunch break, an individual session, and that perhaps taking advantage of the city was at the expense of my own best interests. So I took my time, re-read the homework, and meandered into class via Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Fishs Eddy and a couple of other stores. 

Just as well, because the first exercise was on hands and knees...and if you think that a couple of hours moving in and out of that position is easy...more power to you. 
The individual session is challenging in another way...making sure that each part of the body is heavy, doing nothing, so the practioner can move it for you. I'd hoped to get him (Raz) to focus on my ankles, but it is really my right shoulder that lead me into individual sessions, and it remains the most visible issue...so there was no fooling him! 

I had a quick lunch that I'd picked up at Pret $4.79 and then went into the after lunch session ready to fall asleep...which I did. FK is one of the few classes I know of where one is congratulated by the of the assistant teachers for falling asleep...and no, there was no trace of sarcasm in their voices. Feldenkrais built much rest into his classes, believing that it when the brain learns. MRIs in recent years have shown this to be very much so. I'd already done the ATM session, and so on waking, was able to do the last part very gently and slowly, but with ease.

After class one of the other Vermonters suggested we find the HiLine and explore it. We got on at 28th Street and walked down what used to be an elevated train line delivering to warehouse. The end was reached too soon at 10th street, having given us a lovely view of the Hudson, sail boats, sculpture and plants galore. It's beautifully appointed with seat, benches, and all in all one of those places that one can delight in what people can do, even if they often don't!

Dinner was a $21 prime rib at Pete's...the bar O'Henry made famous established in 1864.  I love prime rib, but I should probably have had company to eat it!