What is Feldenkrais?
Feldenkrais is a form of movement re-education developed by nuclear physicist and engineer Moshe Feldenkrais after suffering a sports-related injury. Rather than undergo surgery, he explored alternatives and created his own form of rehab integrating physiology, anatomy, martial arts, psychology, and neurology.A key principle of Feldenkrais is that the way that a person speaks, moves, and thinks is based on the self-image that person has developed over the years. In order to change the way we move and carry ourselves, we have to change how we see ourselves.
Feldenkrais recognized the importance of proper breathing to movement. He also believed that postures and movements reflected the state of the mind and body. For example, a depressed person may have hunched shoulders.
Conditions Treated
- Muscle pain
- Back pain
- Neuromuscular conditions, such as cerebral palsy and fibromyalgia
- Repetitive strain
- Multiple sclerosis
- Performance enhancement for dancers, actors, athletes
- Sports injuries
What a Typical Feldenkrais Treatment is Like
With Feldenkrais, there are two approaches:- Awareness Through Movement group classes - Led by a teacher, these classes increase mobility and help replace old patterns of movement with new, improving breathing and blood circulation. Classes are popular with actors, musicians, and dancers.
- Functional Integration individual sessions - One-to-one sessions, using touch and tissue manipulation, where the practitioner actively directs the client's body through various movements tailored to individual needs.
