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Quality of Movement is Quality of Life

Would you believe that it is possible to lie down, perform the tiniest movements for minutes and arise with less pain, improved bio-mechanics and a psychological lift, and that these effects would last? Feldenkrais is unlike any other wellness practice. A practitioner guides students through a series of small, gentle movements, directing their attention to how these movements feel. The method is based on neuroplasticity: the ability of our brains… Read More »Quality of Movement is Quality of Life

5 minute Self-Care to practice on your own

In my experience, focusing on gentle movement naturally shifts attention away from stressful thoughts and gives a person a chance to relax and restore. It is a more effective way to feel better physically and emotionally, than “trying to relax” or “trying not to worry”. There are no special skills to master. All that is needed is a few minutes of your time and a little bit of patience. I… Read More »5 minute Self-Care to practice on your own

Motor Memory or Muscle Memory?

The term muscle memory is very common, but it has always struck me as being imprecise in a way that leads people away from holistic thinking to focusing on separate muscle groups and body parts. And this type of focus is not the most productive for long term improvements – adjusting the way you move part by part or strengthening individual muscles groups is hard work and usually offers only… Read More »Motor Memory or Muscle Memory?

Do You Focus on Healing or Learning?

Often healing and learning are seen as different processes, but when it comes to the Feldenkrais method it is not the case. Whether you are recovering from an injury or learning to move more gracefully, the direction is the same. Focusing on improving the quality of movement helps you achieve both.This also means you don’t need to make a full list of problems to address. In fact, many physical difficulties… Read More »Do You Focus on Healing or Learning?

Practical Self-Acceptance

Often the idea of accepting ourselves as we are goes out the door the moment we are focused on the results. Depending on what is at stake, it may be justified to push oneself to work hard, to do things you don’t really want to do, but in a long term this could backfire. But there are situations when pushing oneself is actually less productive than accepting oneself and focusing… Read More »Practical Self-Acceptance

Being at Home in Your Body

Being at home in your body means that you move well without having to think about it. Movements just come together in an easy, graceful way without you having to be in charge of how they happen. There is a sense that this ease and gracefulness will be there whether you attend to it or not, which frees you up to focus on what you want or need. It is… Read More »Being at Home in Your Body

Strong vs Intelligent Body

Building strength does not increase your body’s intelligence. Chronic pain(including back pain and neck pain) is often caused by inefficient movement habits, not by weak muscles. This could happen with any movement that you haven’t learned to do well enough: at the same time as performing the movement, you unconsciously do things that are actually counterproductive. This is usually experienced as a strain and often becomes accepted as a necessary… Read More »Strong vs Intelligent Body

Are you Fighting Yourself on a Daily Basis?

As long as you are trying to correct your posture or movement habits, you are fighting yourself. It maybe worthwhile to do it as a temporary mage to avoid acute pain, but it’s not an effective way to create long term change. This fight is impossible to win, because you are fighting with your own nervous system. You try hold on to good posture and move correctly, but the moment… Read More »Are you Fighting Yourself on a Daily Basis?

The Unnatural Idea of Natural Change

The idea of unforced, natural change is often the first counter-intuitive surprise for many people who experience the Feldenkrais method for the first time. After the first individual session, I often hear something along the lines: “I feel great! But you did so little, why do I feel so different?” After group class, students are often surprised to discover how much the way they feel can improve, after “simply” attending… Read More »The Unnatural Idea of Natural Change

Feldenkrais and Yoga – Focus on Being

I am often asked if Feldenkrais is similar to Yoga. Since there are so many different ways to practice yoga, it’s hard to give an exact answer. Recently I came across a quote about Yoga practice that is in resonance with my understanding of the Feldenkrais method. “The pose is what you are doing. Yoga is how you are being in the pose. […] Doing a yoga pose while attached… Read More »Feldenkrais and Yoga – Focus on Being