Say “FELL-den-cries” if you want to move more gracefully and with less pain, if you want to improve your sport performance, if you want to have better balance, better posture, or an improved sense of well-being.
The Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education is a self-learning technique that improves your ability to sense yourself accurately. Have you ever had the experience of seeing a video or photo of yourself, or even hearing a recording of your voice, that did not match the way you think you look or sound? Practicing Feldenkrais can help change that dissonant perception so that you look and sound and even feel the way you think you do.
We all have habits of the mind and body, a sort of automatic pilot of everyday function. These habits are linked to activities that may be necessary, like walking, driving, reading, and thinking, or optional, like golf, knitting, skiing, meditating, studying, singing, painting, cooking or cleaning. Practicing Feldenkrais can improve your ability to do all of your everyday functions by increasing the efficiency of your thinking, moving, sensing and feeling. Harmful or extra patterns of behavior that have become habit through past injury or experience may be reduced and removed by choice, increasing your repertoire of possible, comfortable and safe behaviors through gentle exploration and innovation.
Many people are drawn to and benefit from learning Feldenkrais, including artists, athletes, office workers, retirees, people recovering from physical injuries, people with stressful jobs, and people in recovery from addiction or trauma.
Awareness Through Movement lesson, Photo Credit:
Most people studying Feldenkrais take a weekly 30-45 minute Awareness Through Movement® class, which is often taught in a neighborhood recreation center, gym, dance studio, hospital, or other community facility. Public Feldenkrais lessons are verbally guided by a Feldenkrais practitioner or teacher training student and usually take place on a mat or in a chair and are appropriate for most age-groups and abilities. Wearing loose, layered clothing is recommended for ease of movement and comfort. Towels, pillows, pads, foam rollers, and other props may be used as necessary to increase the comfort of each student during the lesson. All movement variations in each lesson are optional.
Functional Integration, Photo Credit:
Some Feldenkrais students also take private sessions with a Feldenkrais practitioner. These are called Functional Integration® lessons. They usually last 45-60 minutes, may involve manual and verbal guidance, and are tailored to the needs and goals of the individual. Clothing suitable for easy movement is worn by all participants.
For more information about the Feldenkrais Method or to find a local class or practitioner, please visit the Feldenkrais Guild of North America.
For a listing of classes and practitioners in Omaha, please visit Feldenkrais in Omaha.
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I feel blessed with having had the opportunity to work with Holly in San Francisco,CA,for over two years,both individually with FI sessions and in group ATM classes. For all of you who now have her in your area in Omaha,please do yourselves a favor and take a class from her! You will not only thank yourself afterward but,most likely, you will be curious,energized and determined to return,continuing to grow your sense of self-discovery: how to move more freely,with ease and grace,and most of all,with less pain and more joy!
Comment by Susanne Ellis January 1, 2009 @ 3:16 pmHey – Good to see that you are still blogging and pushing the envelope. – Ryan
Comment by ryannagy99 February 17, 2009 @ 10:58 am[...] Injuries to the soft tissue often have impacts on our movements, even after the injury is long-healed. These include adhesions, or tissue layers sticking to each other, the skeleton, and even the internal organs. The Feldenkrais Method can be applied to these residual effects of soft tissue injury, both in Awareness Through Movement lessons and in Functional Integration lessons. [...]
Pingback by Feldenkrais and Soft Tissue Injuries « A Midwest Adjustment December 18, 2009 @ 7:24 am