workshop with Meir Schneider
November 4, 2010
I went to a workshop with Meir Schneider last week. BRILLIANT!
What an experienced teacher. There were about 10 of us there, and he managed to make the workshop personal for each of us. It was obvious that he had an overall design for how the day should go, but that he chose the specific aspects carefully as he went in response to our questions and needs. I had already seen how generous he is online – his CD and kit materials are a tenth of the price of other similar kits, and his mp3s are practically free. In person his generousity shines as I could see how hard he worked to share his knowledge with each one of us in a way that would benefit us the most. It made me appreciate how a good teacher can adapt the method to the student.
If you can’t tell, I’m pretty excited about this experience. There is something special about Meir, when he smiles at you, you feel the warmth. As a bonus, you get a shoulder massage from him or his able assistant while palming – bliss!
What comes across very strongly in his work is the whole body approach. He finds ways to improve circulation to each muscle from the toes to the forehead. One of the big things I learned was to massage my face and loosen up my neck and shoulders before palming. Also, he emphasized it is necessary to stand up from the computer every 20 minutes or so. If even for 30 seconds to look out the window and do one stretch, it brings relaxation that can last for the next half hour.
We also learned many self-massage techniques, how to sun without squinting, and how to work on an eye that is weaker than the other. I highly recommend his teaching. Keep an eye on his website, http://www.self-healing.org/, because he travels a lot, giving lessons, worshops, and free lectures. Or save your pennies and visit him in San Fran.
Later edit as a response to the question: did it improve my vision and what Bates techniques did we practice?
I had been stressed out over a deadline leading up to the workshop and my visual accuity had lowered to about 20/200. My vision improved back to 20/50 during the workshop and is still at that level.
We practiced the whole gamut of Bates techniques: palming, sunning, shifting, swinging, blinking, reading the Snellen chart and fine print, central fixation ( increasing peripheral vision), memory, imagination – all with resulting improvement to visual clarity. I’m now hoping to continue improving my sight using what I’ve learned, to get beyond 20/50.
November 4, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Sorrisi,
Wow, congratulations! This sounds like a wonderful experience. I’ve also noticed independently that moving around physically is much better for my vision (as well as the rest of me!) than sitting still for an hour or more.
Nancy
November 4, 2010 at 3:49 pm
I’m thinking now that one of the reasons driving is visually stressful for me is that I can’t move around as much. I’ve got a 4-hour drive coming up tomorrow and am already thinking about stopping every hour to stretch and palm, even though it will take me longer to get there. Did Meir have any hints for driving?
Nancy
November 4, 2010 at 7:51 pm
Hi Nancy – very interesting question and I didn’t even think to ask (since I still only bike here). I think your instinct is right though – pull off every hour, what a great idea.
I’m trying to think of what he might have said… Perhaps you could slightly change your position now and then? But I know there aren’t many positions possible. You could support your back with a rolled up towel if that is comfortable.
Great to hear from you!
Sorrisi
November 4, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Shoulder massage! Sounds great! He was here in Massacchusetts a few months back. Thanks for the overview, next time I will go.
November 5, 2010 at 8:37 am
Sorrisi, beside the massage, did your eyes and mind benefit from the Meir’s treatment? You haven’t told us the most interesting thing. What Bates techniques did you practice and with what result?
November 5, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Hi Oleg, my eyes definitely benefitted from the day – I had been stressed out over a deadline leading up to the workshop and my eyesight had gotten down to about 20/200. It improved back to 20/50 after the workshop. It was also good for the mind, I think Meir’s whole body approach is very calming. I’m hoping to keep up the good effects now!
Specific Bates techniques that we practiced included palming, sunning, shifting, swinging, blinking, reading the Snellen chart and fine print, central fixation ( increasing peripheral vision), memory, imagination all with resulting improvement to visual clarity. I would say the most helpful thing I learned was to relax and loosen up before palming. The palming was much more beneficial. I also appreciated his methods for sunning without straining. This resulted in being able to read an extra line, sometimes two. Working with the weaker eye while also stimulating the periphery of both eyes was very helpful. It’s worth noting that he teaches central fixation indirectly as Dr. Bates suggested in his book, i.e, by raising awareness of the periphery (which is seen worse). We also took some time to gaze into the distance, looking at details.
I’m afraid it’s not worth going into too many more details. It would be extremely time consuming for me to write up even one activity properly (his book or other materials would be a better reference). The purpose for writing this post was to show what a great benefit can be had by having an experienced teacher tailor the method to you, watch you practice, and correct your practice. Thanks for pointing out that I didn’t report on my progress!
Sorrisi
November 5, 2010 at 10:17 am
Sorrisi, I’m so jealous! Meir Schneider strikes me as an amazing personality through his book, which I simply love. It’s great that your personal encounter with him confirms this! I wish I could find the opportunity to go to one such workshop at some point.
November 5, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Hi Fuoco,
he said he had a mailing list – perhaps you could join it and at the same time let him know where you are in the world so they will let you know if he’s anywhere nearby!
Sorrisi
November 5, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Thanks for the post, Sorrisi. Very interesting, and motivating.
November 10, 2010 at 9:03 am
Sorrisi, may I ask specifically about the palming practice: How does Meir Schneider suggest doing it – near a table, elbows on the table, or put some books or pillows underneath them?
Also, could you describe a bit the activities meant to loosen up the neck and shoulders before palming?
I feel that while palming more and more tension cramps up my neck, back and arms. Some of it was certainly there before starting, and some of it results from me feeling uncomfortable while palming posture-wise.
November 10, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Hi Fuoco, a quick response:
1. remove watches and rings
2. I think you have his book, Handbook for Self Healing? If so, follow the breathing exercizes in the first chapter (any of the first dozen) this really gets the chest and neck loosened up and the breath flowing more easily. In his description on palming he includes many tips for massaging the face first.
3. Shoulder massage, from yourself or someone else! You can also massage your chest, arms, hands, and face
4. Don’t underestimate the power of bringing circulation to a different part of the body. We did some toe and leg strretches, and even some backward steps, all of which somehow loosens up the upper body. We did some stretches on the floor that would be impossible to describe in writing. just try some!
5. It’s easier to do this in a group because you have a reminder – try something, did it work? try the next thing. If your hands get warmer, you know you’re on the right track.
While palming, keep expanding the breath.
Definitely support your elbows. You need to have good posture to keep breathing. I find slightly wiggling my fingers and keeping some movement in my wrists keeps my arms and shoulders from locking up while palming.
In the class we used a palming stick from this guy: http://www.able2see.co.uk/palming.html
It was really nice, and I will definitely buy one at some point! Meir sells one as well, but he said this guy’s palming stick is way better.
hope that helps!
sorrisi
November 11, 2010 at 8:09 pm
Thanks Sorrisi, it does indeed sound familiar from the book. I actually have the other book, “Movement for Self-Healing” – unfortunately I gave it to my mother and forgot to take it back…
For some reason, palming doesn’t seem to work for me. While palming I experience huge amounts of small or big “ticks” in the eyes, but they don’t go away, and afterwards I don’t feel my eyes more relaxed. I’m not sure but sometimes I think they are actually more strained. Does that make sense at all?
November 12, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Hi Fuoco, that makes sense. What do you think about while palming? have you tried listening to music or stories?
sometimes, though, palming just doesn’t work! I go through times when it doesn’t do anything for me. Perhaps leave it for a while and practice other things like the long swing and looking for details? You can always try again in a few months.
Sorrisi
November 12, 2010 at 12:57 pm
Hi Sorrisi,
While palming I have tried listening to music, and generally I think about letting go in my muscles of my back, neck and shoulders, feeling comfortable, and seeing black. Imagining going into a dark place like a cave, or just imagining a black object and expanding that black all over.
Swinging also never helped me so much.
In fact the only thing which I always felt helped me a lot and made me relax while being very enjoyable is sunning. Unfortunately I get very little sun here in Berlin where I currently live.
By the way I’ve seen that next month Meir Schneider is planned to be in Israel, and at some of that time I’m also going to be there. I would like to try to arrange a meeting or session with him if that’s possible.
November 14, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Hi Fuoco,
definitely take advantage of meeting him. He gets a lot of info across in a short time! (well worth the money). To arrange a session contact: officemanager@self-healing.org
As for the palming, let go of it for now, perhaps Meir can help you with it! Certainly let me know how it goes!
best,
Sorrisi
November 14, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Is this the place you went? How was this Activity Julia Galvin says Meir Tauight?
November 15, 2010 at 9:21 am
Hi Clark! Thanks for posting those videos!! I didn’t know videos could be posted like that in comments! I also didn’t know about Julia’s youtube channel. Her videos are very well done, thanks for sharing.
The activity she talked about from Meir – do you mean the one with the card blocking the central vision? It is a really neat activity. In addition to what Julia spoke of, we also used a partner and tossed the ball to each other, or we would walk backwards while tossing the ball in the air. It works really well! Other variations include using a smaller black card to partially cover only one eye. Then read the chart with the free eye while stimulating the peripheral vision of the covered eye. He always had us cover our stronger eye.
best,
Sorrisi
November 15, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Thanks Sorrisi,
I bought Meirs kit. Like it! Getting his books soon. Thanks.
November 15, 2010 at 12:21 pm
November 16, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Hi Clark, thank you, that video is really good. I really like the plastic bottle example.