Feldenkrais Method

The Feldenkrais Method was developed by Moshe Feldenkrais (1904-1984) as a method of somatic education. Somatic education is an approach to mind-body integration that can improve natural control of your body’s muscles and movement. The word ‘Somatic’ refers to your ability to sense the processes going on within you. Sometimes this is also known as proprioception. ‘Education’ in this sense means increasing your ability to function.

Moshe was a distinguished scientist and engineer who developed the system after a knee injury in his youth. Despite being told he may never walk normally, he drew on his vast knowledge and expertise in anatomy, physiology, psychology and engineering to heal himself naturally. And so began The Feldenkrais Method.

This somatic discipline is based on mechanical and neurological principles that are explored and developed through unforced physical movement. The Feldenkrais Method emphasizes experiential learning by helping the individual to gain a heightened psycho-physical awareness. This provides more options to the individual, enabling them to make intelligent choices about everyday movement and action.

A Feldenkrais Class by Baby Liv from Irene Gutteridge on Vimeo.

Feldenkrais Method lessons are structured in such a way that enables individuals to develop in their self-awareness, and consequently discover and choose new patterns of movement which enables them to let go of old habits and patterns of movement for more efficient ones.

The Feldenkrais Method employs two techniques to enable the individual to experience the transformation of efficient, integrated and aesthetically pleasing movement. These methods are Awareness through Movement™ (ATM) and Functional Integration™ (FI).

Functional Integration

Functional Integration is a hands-on approach that enables the practitioner to analyse the physical organisation and the way movement is transmitted throughout a persons body. The practitioner uses their experience to guide the student to new discoveries. The lessons are bespoke and are selected by the practitioner to address the individual’s movement habits and physical organisation.

Awareness through Movement

Awareness through Movement, on the other hand, is usually experienced through group lessons that involve verbal instructions in an exploratory journey to a more efficient and functional use of the whole self in movement. In these classes, the practitioner uses verbal prompts and instructions to lead a group of students through a sequence of movements which are explored using gentle movement and repetition. The students may be sitting, lying or standing for these movements.

The Feldenkrais Method uses the concept of awareness, of which movement is the basis. This awareness uses the art of ‘questioning’ and is central to the teaching and practice of the Method - it is an inquiry based system of learning and unlearning movement habits.

How Feldenkrais can help you

Feldenkrais Method is useful in the way that it presents you with the clear indications as to ‘what to question’ and ‘how to question’. It offers you a space in which to listen to yourself and to enquire about your physical organisation and relationship to the world around you.

This space provides you with a unique opportunity to notice, to be uncertain and to possibly change long held habits that will, in turn lead to greater ease, sophistication and creativity in movement, play and action.

You can achieve greater efficiency and fluency in your movement, as well as the confidence that comes with the possibilities that this growing awareness presents.

The Method helps you create a more neutral state from which, for example, your physical characterisation can develop more clearly and imaginatively.

You can develop more inner stability and self-awareness, with self-management tools and more ability to care for your body.

You will create a state of ease, confidence and presence.

Feldenkrais for Musical Performance from Irene Gutteridge on Vimeo.

Summary

One of the basic principles of the Feldenkrais Method is to increase your options and create more choices about how you do things. Rather than teaching the right way of doing something, the Method evokes more possibilities. Ultimately, the Feldenkrais Method has a profound effect on your ability to act with precision, power and spontaneity.

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Published on Thursday, 05 April 2012 02:14

Written by Richard