“The system developed by Moshé Feldenkrais has as much potential for understanding the mind/body relationship as Einstein’s general theory of relativity had for physics.” —Bernard Lake, M.D.
The Feldenkrais Method is a gentle, awareness-based approach to movement. It is pain-free and accessible to all, regardless of age or physical abilities/condition. It was founded by Moshé Feldenkrais, a brilliant scientist who combined engineering, physics and concepts from Eastern martial arts. The Feldenkrais Method solves problems by creating space for new information and experiences of being in the body and mind.
Functional Integration is the name for one-on-one Feldenkrais sessions. Usually but not always, this entails hands-on work in which a client will lie on a massage table. Throughout a session, a client will change postures and the position of their limbs through the use of verbal cues or hands-on assistance. Changes in posture can look like shifting between sitting, standing and walking.
As a client, the primary goal during Functional Integration is to have mindful awareness of what you are experiencing about and within your being. That may be very direct, like noticing how your leg bends and rotates, or it may be less direct like noticing that you tense up in a far away part of your body, or even before the movement begins.
Dr. Feldenkrais was a scientist, so he created an approach that contains little experiments. This gives a participating client the chance to gently test their expectations about their body. We will create challenges that are analogous to the problem you are having. By facing these challenges, you build the resources to overcome your real life challenges.
We all have been misled at times regarding our bodies. There is a lot of conflicting information in our culture, and there are situations where other people offer opinions about your body that are based in their own fears or desires. The Feldenkrais approach provides the chance to notice when information about our experiences are and are not accurate to provide space to make updates. These discoveries accumulate quickly, allowing the chance to shift “bigger” challenges easily.
Our habits can create cycles that create stagnation in our lives. We do things we don’t notice and sometimes they are exactly the things that cause our pain. Often, we stop improving our movement around age 15. Some patterns are set much earlier and never get updated. Imagine letting a 15 year old control your financial or romantic life! No matter what age we are, we have the capacity to learn and to then use our bodily wisdom to make life easier and more interesting.
“Nothing is permanent about our behavior patterns except our belief that they are so.” —Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais