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The Feldenkrais Method is a powerful, education-oriented approach to body awareness and health.  My training as a Feldenkrais Practitioner helped me develop a viewpoint based on a somatic philosophy:  the body knows what it should be doing but the mind overrules it based on habit or response to pain or injury.  When you, as my client/student, receive a lesson either individually or in a group, you are guided through a series of gentle movements and encouraged to pay close attention to those movements and how they help you learn to function more easily, efficiently and comfortably.

Most of us move unconsciously:  we do not normally devote attention to how we do it.  In other words, it is habitual.  That is, until we are injured or develop a condition that leaves us in pain when we move.  Then, we compensate for the injury or pain by changing the way we move.  We are trying to alleviate the pain or work around the injury.  Unfortunately, even if we are successful are relieving discomfort, we also then develop habitual patterns that continue long after we no longer need them.  The mind is very good at programming the body in the first place but seems less able to reverse itself spontaneously.  These unnatural movement patterns may in the short term lessen discomfort but long term, since they generally are not easy or efficient, can lead to more pain and discomfort.

 As a Feldenkrais Practitioner, I start out with a careful examination of your movement patterns.  That information allows me to put together a plan to deal with your specific issues.  As I work with you I modify the plan as you begin to respond and progress.  My goal is to help you learn better, easier and more comfortable and efficient movement patterns and eliminate your discomfort.  More importantly, I want you to reach a point that you do not need to come back regularly; I don’t want permanent clients, I want happy ones who will lead healthy, comfortable lives and recommend me to their family, friends and acquaintances.  

 History

Moshe Feldenkrais (1904-1984) founded the method that bears his name.  Born in Russia, he emigrated to Israel when he was 13 and proceeded to study mechanical and electrical engineering.  He went to Paris and obtained a D.Sc. degree from the Sorbonne, studying under Frederic Joliot-Curie.  He then did research in nuclear physics and antisubmarine warfare during the WWII era.  While in Europe he also was an avid soccer player and martial arts student.  He received one of the first black belts in Judo awarded in Europe.  As a result of his physical activities, he sustained a severe knee injury.  At the time, he was told that the only choice he had was surgery, with less than a 50% chance of success, or he would loose the functionality of the knee.  He decided to find a better solution and began his study of the human body.  As he studied the body from a mechanical viewpoint he also realized that he needed to study psychology, neurophysiology, applied biology, other health-related sciences and cybernetics.  His success with his knee led him to work with other people’s problems and he developed his Method over a period of decades.  

Early on, he realized that he needed to train a group of individuals in his Method in order for it to become broadly available.  He began teaching in Israel in 1969 and held his first training in North America in 1975.  He continued to be personally involved in training Practitioners until his death in 1984.  Since his death, training has been carried out under the auspices of Feldenkrais Trainers and Assistant Trainers who are certified, after extensive additional training, by the International Feldenkrais Federation and the Feldenkrais Guild of North America.  

Feldenkrais Practitioners receive about 1000 hours of training over a three to four year period before becoming Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioners.  The training is spread out over time since leaning is a process that involves primary teaching and then a period of integration of the information, especially the body-centered information received during the training sessions.  As a client/student of a Feldenkrais Practitioner, you will experience this phenomenon after your sessions and classes.


For more information about the Feldenkrais Method, please visit www.feldenkrais.com.

Awareness Through Movement (ATM) Classes

ATM classes are group lessons.  I verbally guide you and your fellow participants through a series of gentle movements.  Through repetition, you begin to discover how to move more freely, comfortably and efficiently.  Many ATM participants see an immediate change in posture and comfort.  

Classes are usually taught in a sequence that covers many different body systems and means of motion.  I suggest that you plan to attend at least six weekly sessions.

When you come to an ATM class, please wear loose clothing and, before the class, remove all jewelry, watches, pocket contents, cell phones and glasses.  Bring a blanket and, optionally, a pillow for comfort while lying on the floor.

Price:  $75 for a series of six lessons, $20 for drop-ins


Functional Integration (FI) Lessons

 

An FI is an individual lesson in which I use a gentle hands-on approach.  Generally you will lie, fully clothed, on my treatment table but at times I may have you sit in a chair, stand or lie on the floor.  I will be carefully moving your arms, legs, head and other parts of your body do determine how each part interacts with the rest of you.  I will also, at the end of most lessons, give you a series of gentle exercises for you to do in the days between lessons.  

I usually will want to see you weekly until you reach some goals we have agreed to after my first evaluative lesson.  After that, we will meet as needed.

When you come to an FI lesson, please wear loose clothing and, before we begin, remove all jewelry, watches, pocket contents, cell phones and glasses.  

Price:  $90 for the first evaluative visit, $60 per visit thereafter

 
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