| The Feldenkrais Method (FM) was first taught in | | | | can help people who spend a lot of time in one |
| the 1950s by Moshe Feldenkrais, who had a | | | | position, like those who work on a computer. It's |
| doctorate in science from the Sorbonne, but | | | | good for seniors and others who may not be able |
| studied many other subjects, including martial arts, | | | | to move much, but who want to stay as active |
| prenatal development, cybernetics and linguistics. | | | | as they can. It can even help people who can't |
| It has two components, Functional Integration and | | | | move in some ways at all, because it can help |
| Awareness Through Movement. | | | | improve the quality of movements a person can |
| Functional Integration consists of one-on-one | | | | make. Dr. Feldenkrais believed that even if the |
| sessions which begin with the practitioner's | | | | movement is just imagined - but done slowly and |
| assessing how the client sits, stands and moves. | | | | carefully in the imagination - the body can learn |
| Then the practitioner begins to gently move | | | | more from it that it would from actual |
| different parts of their body. These movements | | | | movements that are faster and more repetitious. |
| start out small, but get larger as the session | | | | And, since the Feldenkrais Method helps people |
| proceeds. They are never intended to be painful, | | | | get more in touch with their body, it can work |
| because pain will inhibit movement. The client's | | | | with those who have pain that has no apparent |
| only participation in the session is to notice how | | | | cause. The increased awareness it helps people |
| they feel when different parts of their body are | | | | develop may give them the information they |
| moved in different ways (and of course inform | | | | need to find the source of their problem and |
| the practitioner if any movement causes pain, so | | | | resolve it. |
| it can be stopped or changed). After a treatment | | | | FM can work with anyone, even if they have no |
| the client may notice that they sit, stand, or | | | | problems, as Dr. Feldenkrais believed that |
| move differently, or perhaps they just feel more | | | | movement can always be improved. For example, |
| relaxed. | | | | an athlete could use it to help them improve their |
| Awareness Through Movement is done in groups, | | | | game - regardless of which game they play - and |
| with one practitioner and many clients/student. In | | | | a musician to improve their playing. |
| one of these classes the practitioner has the | | | | As we go through our lives we all develop |
| students perform certain movements, asking | | | | patterns of movement that may not be helpful |
| questions throughout the class to help the | | | | and may possibly be harmful - if only to our |
| students pay attention to what is happening in | | | | psyches. The Feldenkrais Method teaches that |
| their bodies and how they feel as they move in | | | | changing the way we move can help us make |
| certain ways. | | | | changes in our lives, because movement is the |
| The Feldenkrais Method has many uses. It is good | | | | best way for the mind to communicate with the |
| for people recovering from an injury because it | | | | body. It is always possible that some of these |
| can teach them how to move in a way that does | | | | changes may be mental or emotional rather than |
| not aggravate the injury or increase their pain. It | | | | physical. |