What is the Feldenkrais Method®?
Named after its founder, Dr Moshe Feldenkrais D.Sc (1904-1984), the Feldenkrais Method is a holistic educational system that focuses on increasing awareness of your body and its movements to enhance both function and comfort.
It incorporates principles of biomechanics, neurology, martial arts, developmental sciences and psychology to create a unique opportunity for learning and change.
It teaches you to pay attention to how you perform an action and helps you discover alternative ways to move that are more comfortable, more pleasurable and easier to do. It improves how your brain and nervous system coordinates action and creates greater flexibility of both mind and body.
Core Principles:
- Neuroplasticity: The method is rooted in the idea that the brain is capable of change at any age. By re-learning movement patterns, individuals can enhance their brain’s ability to reorganise and improve motor functions.
- Learning through movement: The Feldenkrais Method promotes learning not just through intellectual understanding but through physical action. By exploring different ways of moving, people can “unlearn” inefficient or habitual patterns and replace them with more functional ones.
- Mind-body connection: It emphasises the connection between body and mind, aiming to create a more integrated experience of self. The method encourages self-awareness and mindfulness, making people more aware of their habitual movements and postures.
Benefits:
- Improved posture and movement efficiency: Many people find that the method helps them improve their posture, balance, and coordination.
- Reduced pain and tension: By improving movement patterns, the method can help reduce chronic pain, especially in the back, neck, and joints.
- Increased flexibility: It can help release stiffness and improve overall flexibility.
- Greater overall well-being: The method helps promote relaxation, mindfulness, and a sense of calm and centredness.