How is Feldenkrais Method different from Physical Therapy?
Why do I suffer from pain and stiffness?
How can I learn new ways of moving? Is it difficult or painful to change?
Will this body-mind connection carry over into my everyday life?
What is the Feldenkrais Method?
How do these lessons affect changes in our body?
How is Feldenkrais Method different from Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy is a rehabilitation therapy. The Feldenkrais Method is an educational system for all types of movement challenges from helping top athletes improve their performance, neurologic conditions, office ergonomic issues to basic aches and pains of everyday life.
Why do I suffer from pain and stiffness?
It’s true! Most pain, stiffness and discomfort is caused by using only a limited part of your body. In other words, a few muscle groups do all the work while other muscles move partially or not at all. It’s this overuse of frequently used muscle groups that cause many problems and pain. By exploring new ways of moving and using more of your body, you will achieve greater comfort without stiffness and pain. Your body will feel lighter and taller with improved balance and stability.
How can I learn new ways of moving? Is it difficult or painful to change?
Awareness is the key. By doing slow easy movements, you will become aware of which muscles are moving. And you will learn to use your less active muscles. Once you become aware, you have a choice to move differently. Of course, using more of yourself feels better, lighter and uses less effort. You’ll have more energy and do more when you feel better.
Will this body-mind connection carry over into my everyday life?
Yes! Learning to listen to your body is a skill that will enrich your life and help you to prevent pain and injuries at work or at home. You will begin to notice other things in your life that you do everyday without thinking. Are these habits serving you in the direction you want to take your life? Now you will have an opportunity to make better choices when you learn to listen to yourself.
What is the Feldenkrais Method?
Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, Ph.D., developed the lessons we are doing. He was a Russian born Ph.D. physicist and judo expert. He looked at the body from a mechanical perspective combined with his knowledge of judo. This unique combination of both eastern and western influences led him to look at the body-mind connection as a whole. One of his most famous quotes says it best: “If you know what you are doing, you can do what you want.” This is the goal of these workshops.
How do these lessons affect changes in our body?
Each lesson is built around a theme of a certain body movement, like bending, twisting or reaching. In order for our body to know the best, most efficient way to move, we have to move very slowly. Feeling and sensing how your body wants to move and how different parts of your body relate to one another. This is the beginning of learning to listen to our own body’s intelligence.
Slow movements let us learn outside of our habitual pattern of moving. In this way, we inform and educate the brain (re-programming our computer center so to speak) to what we are doing. Our brain then sends better, more efficient movement patterns to the muscles. The end result is, our movements feel easier, more flexible with less effort and greater coordination.
These lessons teach the Feldenkrais Method which combines gentle, pleasurable movements with self- awareness to help you reconnect with your natural ability to move. These lessons are very relaxing creating a feeling of calmness (similar to a meditative state) while reducing stress. Everyone works at their own pace.