a personal practice for integrating your life and body.
( what is the penumbra method? )
the penumbra method is a movement and meditation practice that centers on the breath as an agent for integration and personal direction.
it’s based on the teachings of Ilse Middendorf and principles from the Alexander Technique.
Ilse Middendorf (1910 - 2009) was a Jungian and a breath therapist from Berlin, Germany. she made important discoveries about the laws breath follows when it is allowed to come and go on its own and when it is sensed rather than observed.
she clarified 3 ways of breathing:
breathing that is unconscious
breathing that is consciously controlled or guided
breathing that is unconscious but consciously sensed
she called this third way, the “perceptible breath”
breath that is consciously controlled
the perceptible breath
breath that is unconscious
the perceptible breath is in communication with the unconscious but is sensed consciously. this invites a powerful dynamic between the conscious self and the power from the unconscious for self development, insight, and creativity.
the perceptible breath moves with coherence, transforming dysfunctional patterns of movement and thought into an organized unity that reflects your uniqueness and personal direction.
( who is this practice for? )
this practice is for creatives, artists, actors, voice and movement teachers, meditators, martial artists, somatic practitioners, therapists, and anyone interested in movement and embodied meditation to align with their innate resources of power and creativity.
( how is it practiced? )
the work is practiced in group movement and meditation classes and individual hands-on sessions.
in both group classes and individual hands-on sessions, the practice is organized as a dialogue between you and the intelligence that moves the breath. the movement of breath when we allow it, moves in a direction toward wholeness.
the practice teaches you how to participate with this organizing movement and discover your unique path of embodiment.
group classes & workshops
simple movements, techniques to stimulate sensation, and exercises using vowels and consonants, form the “working” aspect of the practice.
portions of the practice are done in stillness, listening to the body and learning to sense and be moved by subtle inner movements that occur without our doing them.
TAKE A WORKSHOP
basics workshops provide an excellent introduction to the work. you’ll learn how the practice operates and how to engage with it.
weekend intensives offer a deep dive into a theme relevant to the group.
weekly classes
online every tuesday from 6:00 to 7:30 pm eastern time beginning february 25th.
these weekly classes are for those who are familiar with the work, having attended a basics workshop or have prior experience.
private hands-on sessions
in an individual hands-on touch treatment session, you would lie on a low padded table, fully clothed. together, we engage in a dialogue with the breath.
I use my presence and light touch to offer “questions” to the breath and you allow it to move in response. together, we respect the movement of the breath to guide the session.
private sessions provide valuable support and an opportunity for individual feedback.