What is the Feldenkrais Method®?
The Feldenkrais Method® facilitates learning about movement, posture and breathing to ultimately increase the ease and range of our movement, improve flexibility and coordination.
Through gentle movement lessons, we become more aware of how our habits may restrict our moving through life easily and pleasurably. We learn new, easier options for movement.
Who can benefit?
- People of all ages, from babies and children through to senior citizens.
- Dancers, musicians, athletes or actors with recurrent injury and pain or simply wishing to improve performance.
- People whose work may involve repetitive tasks
- People interested in preventing or relieving stiffness, pain or strain.
- People living with difficulties such as Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, injury or learning difficulties
What are the benefits?
- Improve and maintain health and well-being
- Greater clarity in sensing, thinking and feeling
- Discover how habitual posture can contribute to pain and limit movement
- Learn new and easier ways to do familiar tasks
- Improve balance, increase flexibility and co-ordination
- Breathe more fully and deeply
- Recognise and ease tension
"The aim is a body that is organised to move with minimum effort and maximum efficiency, not through muscular strength but increased consciousness of how it works."
-- Moshe Feldenkrais
Who was Moshe Feldenkrais?
(pronounced “fel-den-krise”)
Dr Moshe Feldenkrais (1904-1984) was trained in mechanical and electrical engineering. A keen interest in martial arts, and personal knee injury, provided the impetus which led him to a lifetime study of the structure and function of humankind and the relationship between human development, education and movement.
How is it taught?
Classes called “Awareness Through Movement” lessons ATM)
ATM lessons are usually taught in groups on a weekly basis. A Feldenkrais practitioner guides the clients through a planned sequence of movement explorations. Attention is drawn to the process of each movement pattern. Through observing their movements, clients learn easier ways of moving in everyday activities.
Exploration of movement in these classes is designed to improve overall wellbeing.
Individual lessons called “Functional Integration” (FI)
This is a hands-on process which addresses particular individual problems. Fl lessons are tailored to each client's needs. The Feldenkrais practitioner guides your movements through precise touch.
The client lies or sits, comfortably clothed, on a low padded table. The practitioner brings present habits into focus and offers new movement options. The learning is then applied to everyday activities such as reaching, sitting, standing and walking.
To learn more about The Feldenkrais Method®:
International Feldenkrais Federation Research Journal:
http://www.iffresearchjournal.org.
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