Non-Linear Movement for Creatives
Class details for June
A Chairde, Friends,
To follow-on from yesterday’s reflection on Story and the Body, I will host two Non-Linear Movement Method (NLMM) classes for you lovely members on:
Monday, 24th June at 4:00-5.00PM Irish Time
Tuesday, 25th June at 09:30-10:30AM Irish Time
I have chosen these times and will host two sessions of the same class to accommodate multiple time zones.
Please Note:
These classes will not be recorded. There is a code that all NLMM teachers follow and that is to practice live classes. This is in support of your nervous system so you can rest assured as you move that the class is not being recorded.
If there is interest in this class, I will schedule more dates over the summer and we can explore different themes like moving with a particular archetype or image from folklore or mythology.
About the Class
‘Our bodies were designed to move, roam, hunt, gather, and do physical work. When the body does not move enough, we get stuck, not only physically, but emotionally and mentally.’
Michaela Boehm, author of The Wild Woman’s Way and creator of the NLMM
What will I be doing in this class?
Non-Linear Movement Method (NLMM) encourages you to move WHAT you are feeling in the moment. Non-linear movement simply means your body moves in whatever way it needs to. This is an invitation to drop out of your head and invite the natural genius of your body to lead for a time.
Ideally, you will begin on all fours. This changes the energetics of the body, drawing the ascending outward energy of the mind, down into the descending inward energy of your body.
You can also practice on your forearms, lay down, kneel or sit in a chair.
This class will be done in the comfort of your own home (or a safe space) so you feel welcome to close your eyes as you move, which will help you to shut the door to the external world for an hour and sensitise to your internal world of thoughts, feelings, emotions and sensations.
I’ll be giving you prompts throughout the class along with music and there will be long stretches where you can just feel and move your body without interruption.
At the end, we will have a rest period.
Similar to a yoga class, there will be no sharing in this class as this will pull you out of the body and into the mind.
After class, please take your time returning to your day and drink plenty of water.
What do I need?
A quiet, safe space where you feel comfortable to move with your eyes closed.
You will need a yoga mat, rug or blanket to support your knees as you move along with comfy clothes that allow a full range of movement.
Please also bring whatever you need for a rest period.
Some people like to wear an eye mask as they move but this is completely optional.
Good sound so you can hear me and the music as you move.
Where is the class hosted?
It will be hosted online on Zoom, details are at the end of this post.
Will this be recorded if I can’t make it live?
No, this class will not be recorded. There is a code that all NLMM teachers follow and that is to practice live classes. This is in support of your nervous system so you can rest assured as you move that the class is not being recorded.
‘Being with the full array of sensory and emotional perception—the sublime as well as the ugly—allows us to savor the full human experience: body, mind, and spirit; alive, open, and integrated.’
Michaela Boehm, author of The Wild Woman’s Way and creator of the NLMM
What are the benefits of NLMM?
Some common benefits of this practice include:
Smooths out the Nervous System:
The demands of modern life create stress and tension in the body and an overactive mind. The NLMM encourages an identifying and unwinding of the patterns of contraction and through gentle, non-force movements relieves the bodily tension and underlying mental loops. The result is a systematic, self-guided unburdening of the nervous system.
Processes and identifies emotions:
As the body unwinds and the mind relaxes its pressured pace the emotions associated with these patterns become apparent and are being let go of. You can note recurring emotional loops for further processing and at the same time allow emotions to simply rise and release.
Awakens creative energy and sensual sensation:
As tension, contraction and emotion are being released, the body becomes sensitised and we are able to feel deeper. One of the marked results of this sensitisation is an ability to feel increased creative lifeforce, pleasure and well-being. Participants report an increased ability to connect through their body, both with themselves and others.
Releases old patterns into flow:
One of the results of traumatic experience (fresh and old alike) is “freeze”, a state in which body, mind and emotions are stuck in a state of numbness. Often “freeze” is falsely perceived as a feeling of “calm/nothing”, which results in an inability to release the experience and ease the bodily patterns. The NLMM facilitates a continued movement, which gently opens the freeze pattern and allows for recognition and release of the underlying bodily and emotional patterns.
Unites mind and body in intimacy with physical sensation:
Through continued engagement with the release of contraction and facilitation of emotional awareness the ingrained patterns become apparent and less pronounced. Over time physical sensation can be engaged with and the acceptance and tolerance of all sensation increases. Intimacy with whatever is present is possible.
Creates high bodily responsiveness:
NLMM educates the body how to release and process contractions, stress and emotional tension. The body becomes highly attuned to all sensations and can note, react or release fluidly and without having to attend to traumatic or suppressed backlog.
Opens access to bodily wisdom:
By putting emphasis on movement and circumventing the analytical mind and loops of tense thinking the natural intelligence of our bodies is accessed. Through gentle guidance, the mechanisms of “freeze” and refusal to feel are being loosened and bodily wisdom can create the necessary actions and releases.
Please be aware: NLMM is not a substitute for therapy or medical treatment. If you have a history of trauma, mental health issues or medical conditions, please consult your physician or mental health care practitioner to determine if somatic movement modalities are appropriate for you.