The Feldenkrais Method®
Heal Pain, Prevent Injury, Move Better
How and why does The Feldenkrais Method® work?
Applied mindfulness and self-reflection – through moving
Works with the novelty your brain needs to learn & adapt
Regain posture that supports your health
Reclaim your inner resilience and apply new tools for healthier movement
Verbally guided gentle movements anyone can do, to be applied in any context
The Feldenkrais Method® is for anyone seeking to discover the wealth of their physical, emotional, and mental possibilities.
You will be guided, by moving with awareness, to learn to sense the underlying mechanics of your movement patterns. Moving with attention has been proven to create new neural pathways in your brain, which in turn generates new movement possibilities.
In the Feldenkrais Method®, awareness and subtle movements are used to improve your flexibility and spontaneity.
Effective in preventing injury, promoting natural functional movement in creative expression and enhancing overall health, Feldenkrais is used by athletes, performers, yoga instructors and many more, as an excellent source of cross-training. You will learn how to learn, thereby generating injury-free, efficient movements in all your activities.
A short Awareness Through Movement® (Feldenkrais Method) lesson:
What to Expect
You will be guided, by moving with awareness, to learn to sense the underlying mechanics of your movement patterns. Moving with attention has been proven to create new neural pathways in your brain, which in turn generates new movement possibilities.
In the Feldenkrais Method®, awareness and subtle movements are used to improve your flexibility and spontaneity.
Effective in preventing injury, promoting natural functional movement in creative expression and enhancing overall health, Feldenkrais is used by athletes, performers, yoga instructors and many more, as an excellent source of cross-training. You will learn how to learn, thereby generating injury-free, efficient movements in all your activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Feldenkrais Method ?
The Feldenkrais Method is a remarkable approach to movement, learning and change. The Method is based on the sound principles of physics, neurology, physiology and the martial arts. Emphasizing the conditions under which the nervous system learns best, the Method improves posture, flexibility, and coordination.
Where did the name come from?
The Feldenkrais Method was developed over 40 years of research by Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais. He was a scientist and an athlete, as well as one of the first Europeans to earn a black belt in Judo. He combined his rigorous scientific approach to the study of movement in order to explore how we learn and how to improve our lives. More about Feldenkrais’ life.
Why Choose the Feldenkrais Method?
Eliminate pain and discomfort
Improve brain fitness and physical intelligence
Move smarter, easier and younger
Replace limiting habits with comfortable patterns of movement
Heal faster and more completely from injuries
Discover naturally healthy posture and better balance
How will I feel after a session?
Participants enjoy greater ease of movement, an increased sense of vitality, and feelings of peaceful relaxation. After a session you often feel taller and lighter, breathe more freely, and find that your discomforts have eased. You experience relaxation and feel more centered and balanced.
How can I participate?
Group Classes AWARENESS THROUGH MOVEMENT®
Awareness Through Movement lessons are a series of verbally guided, gentle, slow and organized movements typically done on the floor. Lessons may also be done sitting or standing. These lessons guide your awareness toward sensing your own movement habits, exploring new ways of moving, and integrating more choice into your movement patterns. Nearly all the lessons in our books, audio programs and DVDs are Awareness Through Movement lessons.
Private sessions FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION®
Functional Integration lessons are a one-to-one approach tailored to the client’s unique needs and organization. Through skilled manipulation, the client is slowly and gently moved in ways that deeply influence their organization at a neurological level. Through these lessons, overall functioning and sense of well-being improve and problems diminish or resolve.
HOW ARE PRACTITIONERS TRAINED?
The Feldenkrais Method is taught only by Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitionerscm who complete four years of training and are certified by the North American Feldenkrais Guild® and the International Feldenkrais Federation. Feldenkrais Practitioners are required to renew their certification and must meet certification requirements of continued study through advanced training. When finding a Feldenkrais Practitioner, make sure they are Guild Certified.
I have a lot of pain, and severe movement limitations, can I still study the Feldenkrais Method?
Absolutely. The wonderful thing about the Feldenkrais Method is that it is about exploring learning strategies. If you have difficulty with one side, you can work with the other side. If you can’t lie down, you can sit. And even if nothing moves, you can work with your imagination, creating new neural links that can improve your quality of life.
I feel great and perform at my peak. What can the Feldenkrais Method offer me?
There is always room for improvement. You can learn to do what you already do well, more easily, with less effort, so there is energy left over to go even further. Many of Feldenkrais’ biggest adherents are professionals who strive to be their best – Yehudi Menuhin, Martina Navratilova, Whoopi Goldberg are just a few. Weight lifters find the weights seem lighter, tennis players, golfers find their swing more effortless, runners go further and performing artists feel they can dance or play the night away.
Where can I learn more?
The Feldenkrais Guild of North America has a great website: feldenkrais.com