Awareness Through Movement #513

Reptiles - with Marianne Rivington

Marianne wrote us an introduction to what we’ll be doing tonight:
”In this lesson Moshe invites the student to explore developmental movements related to the transition from moving the entire body
to differentiating right and left…

He says:
”And so you see in the beginning fish move forward
in such a way that their entire body goes at one time.
The means the right side and the left side are always together.
There is no difference between the sides…
A very old part of the brain called the palladium is found behind in the head…
You will find it in any atlas you want…

The pallidum, also known as the globus pallidus, is a region within the brain's basal ganglia, divided into dorsal and ventral segments. The ventral pallidum (VP) is particularly known for its role in regulating motivated behaviour, reward processing, and addiction. It acts as a crucial interface between limbic and motor systems, influencing movement, decision-making, and emotional responses. (copied from Google’s AI)

And afterward, the second period [of time] begins and the body changes.
In simple English, it begins to work with like the lizards and reptiles.
Lizards, alligators, crocodiles- all these have legs on the rights side
that work separately from those on the left side…
In the beginning, a child only knows how to do movements completely
with the upper part of the body…
the arms and legs separately and the lower part together.
As time goes on, all of a sudden, he for as he begins to straighten one leg
instead of both of them at the same time
or he or she takes one hand to the mouth instead of both of them.

I have given you the opportunity to find it in the lesson without me showing because I think this is the best way to learn.
Now you are able to distinguish it through the movement.”

And, Marianne continues:
As I was preparing this lesson, I was reminded of this video of Moshe working with 4 year old Jonathon, a child with cerebral palsy,
and the moment of joy captured as Jonathon crawls for the first time
this imagery continues to inspire me as much today as 40 years ago.
The struggle and frustration of the process is very similar to the process
that us today, as students, are guided through
in yet another incredible ATM lesson.”

(Above is a 21 minute video from an interview series called the Medicine man).

Enjoy learning more about and with your Self in tonight’s lesson,
Marianne.