WHAT IS THE FELDENKRAIS METHOD?
The Feldenkrais Method is named after its originator, Moshe Feldenkrais, D.Sc. (1904-1984), a Russian born physicist, judo expert, mechanical engineer, educator and author.
It is a form of Somatic (body) Education that uses gentle movement and your conscious attention to improve and enhance human functioning. Through this Method, you can increase your ease and range movements, improve flexibility and co-ordination and rediscover your innate capacity for graceful, efficient movement. These movements will often change how you think and move in other areas of your life and to enhance your overall functioning as a "true" human heing, letting go of some old unconsciously programmed, less efficient, ways of operating in your life.
Click Here to find out more about the theory and principles of the Feldenkrais Method.
The Feldenkrais Method has 2 branches:
1. Group Classes called Awareness Through Movement (ATM)
Group lessons consist of classes of varying numbers of students, usually between 5 and 20. These are lead by a fully trained Feldenkrais Teacher who verbally directs you through a sequence of movements in basic positions: such as lying or sitting on the floor, sitting in a chair or physio-ball or standing, plus occasional interesting variations.
Lessons last between 30 and 60 minutes. Sometimes 2 lessons are taught in a class with a break in between to integrate each lesson. The lessons consist of comfortable, easy movements that gradually evolve into movements of greater range and complexity. The precisely structured movement explorations involve thinking, sensing, moving and imagining. Many are based on childhood developmental sequences and can be playful and fun. Others may be based on ordinary functional activities such as reaching, looking behind yourself, standing, moving from laying down to sitting, etc., exploring how to do these activities with more ease and the use of your whole body. Some lessons are based on more abstract explorations of joint, muscle and postural relationships.
The emphasis is on exploring how to do these activities with more ease. Also using your whole body with more even distribution of appropriate muscle tension, increasing overall muscle tone and releasing unwanted tension in previously overworked areas such as neck, shoulders and lower back. You also learn to move with a better balanced weight bearing skeletal alignment.
As well as learning more choices and
better quality of movement, some people find the lessons help
improving their connection between thinking, feelings and
movement. Making and exploring new choices becomes a way of
"being". Moshe Feldenkrais recommends that we have, at
least, 4 choices for every activity we are involved with in life.
2. Functional Integration Lessons (FI)
Functional Integration is a private
lesson in movement awareness, uniquely designed according to your
needs and intentions. You learn how to re-organise body movement,
posture and self image. It is a combination of verbal and hands-on
kinaesthetic communication between teacher and student. The
student is fully dressed, usually lying on a table, although
sometimes in sitting or other positions with passive or active
involvement of the student. Lessons usually last between 45
minutes and 1 hour. Through gentle, non-invasive touching and
movement, the teacher conveys the experience of comfort, pleasure
and ease of movement while you learn how to re-organise your body
and behaviour in new and more expanded functional patterns,
physically and mentally.
Who Can Benefit from the Method?
If you experience any of the following, you may gain some benefit from Awareness Through Movement Lessons (ATM) or Functional Integration (FI) Lessons:
* Aching or stiff back, neck, or joints *Jaw misalignment (T.M.J) *Scoliosis, Lordosis or Kyphosis.
* R.S.I. and other occupational over-use conditions. Chronic Fatigue or Fibromyalgia.
* Headaches *Breathing Difficulties *Poor Posture
* Poor co-ordination and balance *Poor performance in sport and performing arts
* Stress *Neurological problems such as strokes, neuritis, M.S. etc.
* Some gynaecological problems *Ante and Post Natal conditions
* Lack Energy and Motivation *Poor Self-Image
Click Here to see Patrisha's currently available classes and workshops in Alexander and Feldenkrais