The Feldenkrais Method

Registered Feldenkrais Guild UK

FGUK

®

The Feldenkrais Method is a mindfulness educational system created by Dr Moshé Feldenkrais (1904-1984). Feldenkrais uses the brain's capacity for learning, through movement, to re-educate us, to help break down established patterns of behaviour and initiate change. Feldenkrais is described as somatic learning - learning from within, reawakening mind, movement, flexibility and wellbeing.

Encouraging us to use our skeleton to bear weight and transmit force, rather than over use our muscles. Using kinesthetic and proprioceptive self-awareness, Feldenkrais utilises movement and attention to enhance our natural ability to discover, learn, change and continue to develop throughout our lives.

Moshe Feldenkrais demonstrated that by developing innovative exercises, even when damaged, the brain has the ability to change and learn new skills and recover lost function. Neuroscience today acknowledges brain plasticity or neuroplasticity:- the brain's ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. This allows neurons in the brain to compensate for injury and disease, and adjust their activities in response to stimuli, situations and changes. Neuroscience research indicates that experience can actually change both the brains physical structure and functional organisation.

Applications of the feldenkrais method include: reducing pain, improving orthopedic, neurological and learning difficulties, enhancing performance of professional athletes, dancers, musicians, and actors. People from all walks of life are drawn to the feldenkrais method to achieve greater levels of comfort, increase mobility and range of motion, improve coordination and flexibility, expand self-awareness and vitality. Applicable to anyone wanting to improve the quality of their life and activities.

Two Types of Feldenkrais lessons:

Functional Integration (FI) is a one-to-one, hands-on learning process, specifically designed to meet the needs of the individual. The quality of touch is non-invasive, and practitioners guide students through a series of movements that help alter habitual patterns and provide new information directly to the neuromuscular system. Students usually lie or sit and are comfortably dressed. These individual sessions use movement as the means to promote changes in patterns of sensing, feeling, thinking and interacting.

Awareness Through Movement (ATM) lessons are group sessions. Participants are verbally led through a series of movement sequences, which utilise attention, perception and imagination. As the lessons progress, participants become more aware of their movement habits, and the lessons help establish new movement patterns. The lessons are usually done lying down or sitting, each participant moving at their own pace and range of motion. Comfort, ease, and the quality of movement are the main criteria.

I provide individual sessions, I will guide you through a series of movements which will be gentle and bring your awareness to different area of the body. Helping release tension and muscular holding, and inviting new and varied movements.

Spontaneous feedback:-
"That was absolutely amazing",
"I feel really relaxed",
"I feel like I'm floating on air",
"I can really feel my legs supporting me, it's great",
"Years of back and hip problems made it a struggle to walk, you have helped me pay attention to how I walk and introduced me to more efficient ways of moving, and this has given me relief from pain."

Working with Babies and Children

Following an advanced training for Feldenkrais Practitioners with theory and techniques from Anat Baniel Method, taught by Nancy Aberle and Lynn Bullock, called "Working with Children". Gaining more experience in working with children and babies with brain damage and neurological difficulties.

I have continued advanced trainings with babies and children, and in November 2020 completed a training with Michelle Turner - Movement Lesson.

Spontaneous feedback

Parents after their baby had a few sessions: "Really pleased we found you, they're much more settled, you're really helping, thank you"