One thing I make sure to emphasize to my students or anyone else who asks me about Feldenkrais is that it is a learning method, not a medical treatment. That being said, people who practice Feldenkrais can improve their function by learning about themselves and how they can go beyond what is habitual for them.
Sometimes, a habit can begin with an injury. I hurt my left ankle several months ago in a yoga class. Being a physical therapist, I worked on it myself, without success. I went to another physical therapist and although it improved a little, it still bothered me quite a bit. He suggested I do nothing more, just let it heal up on its own, preferably in a boot.
I declined completely immobilizing my whole left lower leg because I felt that would create more problems than it would solve. Instead, I chose to wrap it and laid off heavy exercise for several months.
The discomfort eventually resolved, but every morning my first couple steps were quite stiff. Yesterday, I did a Feldenkrais lesson for Ankle Movements and today is the first day there was no stiffness.
Feldenkrais did not heal my ankle. It showed me how to go beyond the habits of my injury. By exploring the repertoire of ankle movements and some of the relationships between the ankle, knee, hip and spine, I rediscovered what it was like to move without pain or stiffness.
Would this have worked if I had done it before my ankle had healed? I am not certain. What I do know is that I was not ready to learn until yesterday.
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[...] pain and disability due to soft tissue injury, including my foot injury that I mentioned in a previous post. It is also peaking my interest in our embryological beginnings, but that topic is for another [...]
Pingback by Feldenkrais and Soft Tissue Injuries « A Midwest Adjustment December 18, 2009 @ 7:24 amI really appreciate this. I am drawn to the paragraph, “Feldenkrais did not heal my ankle. It showed me how to go beyond the habits of my injury. By exploring the repertoire of ankle movements and some of the relationships between the ankle, knee, hip and spine, I rediscovered what it was like to move without pain or stiffness.” To me that is an excellent “advertisement” for all types of practices. In a body awaremess practice we are learning to become aware and then we use that knowledge to move in comfort.
Thank you for this post.
Comment by terrepruitt December 18, 2009 @ 4:49 pmTerre,
Thank you. Feel free to use that idea! Best wishes in your own somatic explorations and Nia practice.
Holly
Comment by hollybona December 18, 2009 @ 5:09 pm