Feldenkrais

It is especially effective in establishing intelligent functional movement patterns for people depending on what their circumstances require. The method is suitable for all ages and fitness levels.

As a modality, could be used for helping someone overcome the debilitating effects of a neuro-muscular disorder or an elite Olympic class athlete refining their skills just that bit more.

I have worked at both these extremes and the principles involved remain the same.

As you take in the various aspects of this site you may find a way that this method could be of value for yourself.

Feldenkrais as a learning system

A Practitioner is much more interested in sensing how to influence the nervous system for change rather than relaxing or massaging a muscle.

This is one of the areas that sets it apart from many of the physical intervention modalities - not better or worse, just different.

There are many intricacies involved with the learning principles behind this Method. These vary according to whether you are dealing with a purely physical aspect or another type of learning.

It would be quite possible to apply these principles to learning a language for example or learning to play the guitar. Moshe Feldenkrais himself said he could teach this Method through mathematics.

To really understand the Method you really need to understand how these principles apply in non-physical applications. Too often this is thought of just as a means of physical intervention in a physical therapeutic manner.

Part of the intention of this website is to introduce and illustrate many of the Feldenkrais principles to those who are interested.

Like many things worth learning they are simple in their application and understanding and can take a life time of mastery.

Awareness Through Movement (ATM)

One is through guided movement lessons, something akin to slow motion Yoga, called Awareness Through Movement (ATM).

A typical Awareness Through Movement exercise lasts for 30 to 40 minutes or so. It is possible to get the benefits of these exercises, though, out of just a few minutes of well directed movement patterns.

These are usually conducted in group settings. This aspect can also be practised through the means of CDs and MP3s.

Functional Integration

This entails a Practitioner guiding a persons body through specific movement patterns with the intention of developing more intelligent, or appropriate, ways of moving.

This represents one of the hallmarks of a Practitioner, - that being the extremely sensitive and aware quality of touch involved and the highly developed capacity to sense another persons movement patterns.

It is common for a Practitioner to use supporting aids, such as foam rollers, to support the clients body in the field of gravity. This makes it easier to get inside habitualised patterns and change them - which is one of the guiding principles of this Method.

Embodiment

Unless the Practitioner continuously practices the Method and attends to their own movement the work becomes impossible.

To sense another you must be sensitive to yourself first. I love it that there is no 'Ivory Castle' here.

A true Practitioner must be the embodiment of well organized movement.

Awareness

Feldenkrais Lessons

One point of interest is both the guided movement exercises and the hands-on sessions are referred to as 'lessons' by the community.

This is because they are perceived as 'learning experiences' for the nervous system, not as a mild form of physical workout. Even the most experienced Feldenkrais Practitioners, in the doing or receiving of an ATM or FI, would consider themselves as having lessons in that moment.

One of the great aspects of the Feldenkrais Method. is that it is principally a modality of awareness.

Based on this there is no 'used by date' with any of the movement ATMs bas you are always able to bring a higher quality of awareness each time.

A Practitioner of 20 years experience could be doing the same ATM beside a person experiencing the Method for the first time and both would be deriving benefit, just in different ways depending on their organisation and sensitivity.

There is much more to say and learn about Feldenkrais and you are invited to come back often to this website as it will be constantly updated with more articles and points of interest.