"In Russell two streams meet: Zen and the teachings of Moshe Feldenkrais. He weaves them into a uniquely powerful, transformative teaching where mind, body and spirit evolve together. Russell touches deeply into the soul"
-Rabbi Zalman Schacter-Shalomi
"The Embodied Life School has been and will continue to be a great influence on my life. I am in my second ELMP. My first was with Russell teaching and now my second has both Russell and Linda. Combining their two backgrounds as Feldenkrais trainers, his devoted Zen practice of 50 years and her lifetime of Interfaith spirituality brings a firm foundation for seekers of awareness through freedom. "
-Wolfgang Bauml, Vienna, Austria ELMP Graduate, Classical Pianist
Click here to listen to Russell speak about The Embodied Life.
Embodiment refers to the experience of wholeness, i.e., the integration of mind/body/spirit and includes: presence (the connection of self and world in present moment) and integrity (authenticity, honesty and self-responsibility). The body is viewed as a vehicle through which the entire human being and one's relationship to life can be explored.
The Embodied Life™ refers to an approach to human transformation developed by Russell Delman. These programs are an integration of the teachings of Moshe Feldenkrais, Zen based meditation and Guided Inquiry. All of the practices are based on learning to be present with the reality of our inner experience in an open, authentic and curious way.
Why the emphasis on bodily experience? Our body lives in the present moment, always in a particular time and place, whereas our mind is sometimes consciously connected to the living moment and sometimes not. This fact that the body is always present can be a great ally; our physical sensations can be like a magnet to the present moment. True satisfaction only exists in our Presence, through being consciously alive right here and now. This return to our living reality is the basis for connectedness and meaningfulness in whatever tasks we choose in our lives.
The Embodied Life™ Programs
These programs are taught both as seminars of varying lengths and as residential retreats. The seminars, while including some sitting meditation, are more focused on learning through movement and inquiry. The retreats have numerous meditations each day- chairs are available and encouraged when needed; accommodation is made for people with challenging physical circumstances.
The three main components of all seminars are: Embodied Meditation, Feldenkrais Movement lessons, and Guided Inquiry. All are based in bringing presence and curiosity to the living moment.
- Embodied Meditation is based in an atmosphere of openness and kindness as we learn to be present with the thoughts, feelings and sensations that arise from moment to moment.
- Feldenkrais movement lessons are a unique, neurologically based approach to eliminating ineffective habits of standing, breathing, sitting, walking as well as unconscious contractions due to stress reactions. These compulsions are the infrastructure for our diseases and self-limiting behaviors. Our natural healing and learning capacity can be liberated through these movement lessons.
- Guided Inquiry is a study of our physical/mental habits, belief structures, relational and communication patterns. Through talks, Q+A, interactive experiments, games and listening deeply to the wisdom of our bodies we can become more and more free from ineffective behavioral patterns and inaccurate identity structures. Bringing a curious and open presence to all that arises in our experience is the means.