Article below, describes a study comparing the use of Feldenkrais and exercise to help people with chronic pain. I really liked this article, because I was excited that they pointed out what I see as an intrinsic truth (and one of the main principles of the Feldenkrais method). Learning from your own experience offers an opportunity to develop trust in yourself. Quoted from the article: “In one of the studies… Read More »Learning to Trust Oneself
“Reduce the effort whenever possible. The use of force is the opposite of awareness; learning does not take place when we are straining. The principle should not be no pain, no gain. Rather, it should be if strain, no gain. Feldenkrais thought the use of willpower (of which he obviously had plenty) was not helpful in developing awareness.” ― Norman Doidge, The Brain’s Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries… Read More »Work Smarter, Not Harder
In a Feldenkrais lesson you can enjoy an opportunity to slow down and simply be with yourself as you are. This process allows a person to easily find the state of flow. This is the state in which a person is naturally present and grounded, also called, “in the zone”. The state emerges when we are perfectly capable of performing given activity and the activity at hand is complex enough… Read More »State of Flow: Process is the Benefit
Consciously or unconsciously, many people believe that if they (or somebody else) don’t make adjustments to their movement and posture, at best they will feel the same, but more likely their posture and movement will become worse over time bringing more pain, tension, limiting mobility. Which naturally leads to what I call “fixing approach”: a combination of correcting bad habits, creating good habits, strengthening individual groups of muscles that are… Read More »Is fixing faster than learning?
“Reduce the effort whenever possible. The use of force is the opposite of awareness; learning does not take place when we are straining. The principle should not be no pain, no gain. Rather, it should be if strain, no gain. Feldenkrais thought the use of willpower (of which he obviously had plenty) was not helpful in developing awareness.” ― Norman Doidge, The Brain’s Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries… Read More »Force or Awareness
“Neuroscience research shows that the only way we can change the way we feel is by becoming aware of our inner experience and learning to befriend what is going inside ourselves.” ― Bessel A. van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma Facing one’s feelings without trying to influence them is not easy. In my experience for many people it is easier to accept… Read More »Befriending yourself
– Movement reflects the state of the nervous system– Attending to movement can be a healing experience that does not require analysis or interpretation– It is easier to attend to movement than to thoughts and emotions Inspired by reading article Awareness Movement and Capacity for Change which does a wonderful job highlighting connections between the Feldenkrais Method and Psychotherapy. https://iahip.org/inside-out/issue-49-summer-2006/awareness-movement-and-the-capacity-for-change-an-introduction-to-the-feldenkrais-method
One of the rewarding and motivating things about my work that is witnessing a beautiful experience of the person appreciating newly found ease, gracefulness, and a quieter, more relaxed state of being. It is especially precious to hear what people have to say when they experience this work for the first time. At the end of the session, when client sits up and shares new beautiful things they notice about… Read More »This was so subtle – why do I feel so different?