Welcome to
"The Feldenkrais Method (R)"

This is the most sophisticated and effective method I have seen for the prevention and reversal of deterioration of function ~Margaret Mead, Ph.D., Anthropologist

Some History: The Feldenkrais Method was developed by Moshe Feldenkrais, a leading physicist of his day and the first western Judo Master. Dr. Feldenkrais injured his knee severely and developed his Method during his own quest for wellness. Feldenkrais utilized many resources while developing his Method. One of these resources was his wife's pediatric practice. He carefully studied not only the motions an infant makes while learning about its body but also the attitude the infant has about this exploration: playfulness and curiousity. Using similar motions, the Feldenkrais Method recreates a similarly playful environment and encourages adults to re-experience the kind of body awareness they had as infants. In the learning opportunity that is created new or forgotten ways to move become possible.

ATM and FI

There are two manifestations of The Feldenkrais Method. One is called Awareness Through Movement (R) (ATM). An Awareness Through Movement lesson typically begins with the students lying on their backs, on a blanket, on the floor. In a soft "guided meditation" style the student is lead through a body scan to increase presence.

Verbal directions then lead the student through one of the very easy movement sequences. These sequences are not simplistic. Rather, they are carefully structured to teach a different subtlety of human motion. Students are encouraged to "relax completely between movements, then repeat the movement again. Be gentle, move slowly, and rest when you have to."

The basic movement is repeated over and over while the practitioner suggests various parts of the body to be aware of, as in "bring your attention to your left hip. What is the left hip doing as you make the movement?... Is it sinking toward the floor, or moving away from the floor?... Is it tilting toward the head, or away?... If you don't feel any movement, that's ok, just notice whatever you feel and move on..."
This line of questioning is repeated for all the cardinal points of the body, and serves to call conscious awareness to all aspects of the movement, including those that we don't usually see as part of a movement.
In addition, the practitioner will suggest options, such as trying the movement again, "this time with the head rolling to the left... and now to the right... which felt easier? How did the quality of movement change?" This method of exploration is how we all learned to control our bodies as infants and we can use it again to regain lost function, or to improve on what we already can do.

The other manifestation of The Feldenkrais Method is a one-on-one hands-on application called Functional Integration (R). FI's are based on the same movement sequences but the student is relatively passive as the practitioner manipulates them. The movements are usually very small and extremely gentle, the Practitioner accutely attuned to subtle cues the body is revealing. FI's are usually pleasant to receive and students often go to sleep. (It is considered a high compliment for a Student to fall asleep during a session, since nobody sleeps unless they feel perfectly safe.)

Miscellany: All Feldenkrais students remain fully clothed. The ATM student does not have to be touched by the practitioner at any time, although many practitioners add a little FI to their ATMs (and visa versa). ATM's lend themselves to group work, with one practitioner directing the learning of several people simultaneously. ATM lessons are usually very reasonably priced and practitioners often sell taped ATM lessons. Taped lessons are an excellent bargain but I would caution you to not invest lots of money in taped lessons unless you already have one tape of that practioner or have done a workshop with the practitioner. You'll want to know that the practioner goes at a good speed for you, explains things clearly, and, since ATMs are much like guided meditations, you may want (or not want) someone with a relaxing, "Windham Hill" monotone voice.

There are many benefits realized by people using the Feldenkrais Method, ranging from increased body awareness to a better golf swing to relief from painful conditions such as RSI.

Feldenkrais professional Trainings are available. The Feldenkrais Guild maintains a list of Feldenkrais Guild-certified Practitioners who are online.


Meditation, The Feldenkrais Method, and other Alternative Paths
http://www.alternative-medicine.net
The terms FELDENKRAIS,FELDENKRAIS METHOD,AWARENESS THROUGH MOVEMENT, and FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION are registered service marks of The FELDENKRAIS GUILD.