A multi-faceted method of regaining health
and improving self-awareness

How many of us have admired the easy elegance of a gymnast or a figure skater? Or if we are suffering from pain or limitation of motion, envied those whose everyday walking and other movements are easy and pain free?

In the Feldenkrais method, we do not look at graceful, easy movement as the province of a talented few. Neither do we look at pain and disability as the inevitable consequence of aging.  We believe that by learning efficient and pleasurable ways of movement, we can decrease pain and improve function, as inevitable consequence of aging.  We believe that by learning efficient and pleasurable ways of movement, we can decrease pain and improve function, as well as improving our capacity to learn and our awareness of life.  Although our focus is on movement, movement is not the end-goal, but a tool for greater awareness in all aspects of our lives.

Awareness Through Movement lessons are interesting and complex guided explorations of movement, taught in a group context.  They are designed to improve coordination and efficiency as well as to decrease stress and relieve muscle and joint pain.  Many of these movement sequences are based on the explorations that babies and young children do as part of their development, during the stage of life when learning is the most rapid.  This innovative method was developed by engineer, physicist, and judo expert Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais.

Remember the old fable about the six blind men and the elephant?  One felt the elephant’s tail, and insisted that the elephant was like a rope.  Another felt the flank, and insisted that the elephant was like a wall.  Another felt the elephant’s trunk, and insisted that the elephant was like a hose.  Each of the other three felt a different part of the elephant’s body, and soon all six were arguing, convinced that he was right and the others were wrong, based on his limited experience.

How does this fable apply to the Feldenkrais Method?  Like the elephant, The Feldenkrais Method is multifaceted, and is experienced differently by each individual.  If the six blind men had studied the Feldenkrais Method, their argument might go like this:

“The Feldenkrais Method is an educational process to help people understand movement.  It is strictly an educational, not a therapeutic process.”

“The Feldenkrais Method is invaluable as a method of pain relief.  It is widely used in occupations such as physical and occupational therapy.  It offers a gently alternative to conventional “stretch and strengthen” therapies and is tolerable to some who might be injured by such therapies.”

The Feldenkrais Method is a way of helping the individual to expand awareness.  It helps us learn to think better.  Feldenkrais himself stated that he was interested in flexible minds, not flexible bodies.”

The Feldenkrais Method is used by performing artists such as singers, dancers, and actors to improve performance.  It may also be used by athletes to improve efficiency of movement.”

The Feldenkrais Method emphasizes developmental movement.  It is valuable in working with developmentally challenged children, as well as adults who may not have benefited fully from childhood developmental sequences.”

The Feldenkrais Method is a way of reconnecting with ourselves.  We can relearn to experience pleasure in ourselves and in the movement of our bodies.”

Which of these facts of the Method interests you most?  The Feldenkrais Method is not easily categorized, but provides a way for people of different ages, interests, and background to achieve better health and a deeper understanding of themselves