Building on the foundation laid by Moshe Feldenkrais, Thomas Hanna's groundbreaking work completely redefines the body's potential for withstanding decline. Introduction The Myth of Aging xi PART 1 The Stories of Sensory-Motor Amnesia 1(36) Barney (42 Years): The Tower of Pisa 3(6) Moving and Feeling---Two Sides of the Same Coin 5(4) James (32 Years): The Nightmare Back 9(8) Chronic Muscular Tension 13(4) Louise (56 Years): The Frozen Shoulder 17(6) What ``Somatic'' Means 19(4) Harley (60 Years): The Retracted Landing Gear 23(6) The Unconscious Levels of the Brain 26(3) Alexander (81 Years): Los Viejitos 29(8) Summary: What These Five Case Histories Teach Us 32(5) PART 2 How Sensory-Motor Amnesia Occurs 37(56) Atrophy: The Role of Gradual Surrender 39(6) The Muscular Reflexes of Stress 45(4) The Red Light Reflex 49(12) The Green Light Reflex 61(6) The Sum of Neuromuscular Stress: The Senile Posture and the ``Dark Vise'' 67(12) The Archer's Bow and Danger of a ``Tight Gut'' 75(4) Trauma: The Role of Injury 79(6) Staying Sexy and Smart 82(3) Expectation: The Role of Mental Attitude 85(8) Learning to Drink from the Well 88(5) PART 3 The Somatic Exercise Program 93(62) How to Give Yourself the Maximum Benefit of Somatic Exercises 95(6) The Daily ``Cat Stretch'' 98(3) The Somatic Exercises 101(54) Controlling the Extensor Muscles of the Back 101(5) Controlling the Flexor Muscles of the Stomach 106(6) Controlling the Muscles of the Waist 112(4) Controlling the Muscles Involving Trunk Rotation 116(7) Controlling the Muscles of the Hip Joints and Legs 123(6) Controlling the Muscles of the Neck and Shoulders 129(8) Improving Breathing 137(8) Improving Walking 145(10) References 155(4) Index 159