Janet

Finding Comfort - a testimonial from a woman with Parkinson's.

"I first heard about the Feldenkrais Method® from a practitioner who gave a presentation to my Parkinson's Support Group. I had not met her before. She was so balanced and serene, and moved with grace that evidenced inner joy. Just how she achieved this state interested me.

At the time I was feeling none of these positive qualities. I was uncomfortable in a body that would not follow my orders. I felt resentment and discomfort, sometimes pain, sometimes numbness. Daily life was difficult, I have always felt pressured, isolated and ineffectual. I did not believe I had any influence over any of these factors. My belief was that until medical science found a cause and cure for Parkinson's and I might be "re-set" there wasn't much I could do. I thought of my body as a machine that had broken down and that was separate from my mind. It was me against unwilling arms, legs, hands and feet, and always a feeling of so much to do with so little energy.

I came into contact with a local Feldenkrais Practitioner in Mornington. Again, I was impressed with her poise and ease with herself. She offered small group classes called "Awareness Through Movement": and also offered private individual session called "Functional Integration Lessons".

Functional Integration:
The first time I had a Functional Integration session I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do. At this time I was hesitant to feel my own feelings, let alone base any decisions or actions on them. For the one hour duration of the Functional Integration (F.I.) session, external expectations were suspended, the only requirement was "to be". I was there, present, experiencing myself, held secure by the wisdom, sensitivity and silent trust of my practitioner that this moment was significant and totally as it should be, completely satisfactory, without strain, experiencing what is.

I have found the Feldenkrais Method® supportive in my personal journey because it strengthens my sense of self. The process is gradual and seems to be directed by an inner knowing committed to a fuller experience of life. This gentle pace of awareness allows a lot of new learning to take place.

Awareness Through Movement" (A.T.M.)
These classes have also benefited me greatly. I have attended ATM classes for three terms in 1997 and am currently enjoying another term.

It began with a class where I lay on the carpeted floor, eyes closed, when the practitioner asked me to become aware of my body, how it was making contact with the floor, and what sensations I was aware of. To start with, I was a head, a bum and a pair of heels. That was it. On a bad day, the contact I felt was just a head, half a bum and one heel. With time, and thanks to these classes, the sensations from other parts of my body returned to my awareness. I recognise now that my body is a friend, always was. Now I am learning to live in harmony with myself, to be aware of my physical sensations and to respect them.

The Feldenkrais Method® has enabled me to re-learn how to move with ease, flexibility and to enjoy movement.

I'm now kinder to myself. I have a greater awareness of my comfort levels and feel good about responding to those messages from my body to care for myself. Instead of pushing myself like a slave-driver with a punishing whip, I am learning to come alongside myself, have a little 'talk" about how things are in my body. I'm learning to say,"That's Okay!".

Conclusion:

For me Feldenkrais has not just been exercise. I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue my personal growth and development as a beautiful human being, embracing the changes happening in me.

My life has a new quality of experience that was missing pre-Feldenkrais. My medical team tell me I am a pioneer. My symptoms are lessening and I have been able to reduce my medication without loss of mobility. I believe I am taking responsibility for my own health and movement, putting some effort into attending regular ATM classes, and working with my medical support team. They are learning with me that a human being is not split into body and mind, but mind and body are one unit.

"We all come into this world with the capacity to imagine what we want out of life and to set about making it happen. But at some point in childhood we get discouraged: we are told what to expect. To be accepted socially, we begin to shutter the windows of imagination. Opening those shutters is re-opening the question of how effective you can be for yourself and for others. You can develop a new set of behaviours - visionary habits. It's never too late."

(Marilyn Ferguson, Editor: Brain/Mind Bulletin)