The Feldenkrais Method

The Feldenkrais Method is a presentation of the system of Functional Integration devised by the Israeli scientist Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais. This system is a way of handling the body by communicating specific sensations to the central nervous system in order to improve the functions of the motor-system. Functional Integration is unique in that it evokes changes in the human brain at a level heretofore thought unachievable by any known educational technique.

This book brings the Feldenkrais Method® and the concept of Somatic Education to a wide audience. As well as providing an introduction to the Feldenkrais Method® and its applications, a team of highly qualified contributors, representing a variety of therapeutic professions, explore how the Feldenkrais Method® interacts with and supports other professions and modalities, including Pilates, yoga, dance, physical therapy, sports coaching, rehabilitation medicine, and more. (See the table of contents for full details.) Moshe Feldenkrais (1904-1984), the founder of the Feldenkrais Method®, built his Method around the concept of improving human functioning by increasing self-awareness through movement. The concept of neuroplasticity - the brain's amazing capacity to change and adapt - was one of Feldenkrais' basic tenets of how the brain organizes movement, and is now in our daily lexicon. Pain, illness and injuries all affect how our nervous system and brain react to events in us and around us. Feldenkrais' thesis is that our nervous system always does the best it can with the information it has, and learning through the nervous system is the theme that runs through this book. Coverage includes: Comparisons about similarities as well as differences between the different modalities. Theory and practice of how the Feldenkrais Method® can be applied in a variety of specific settings. Coverage of the research base that supports evidence-informed practices for clients Online video of theory and practice accessed by QR codes throughout the book

In this fascinating and practical book, Garet Newell and Simon Paul Ogden show how the Feldenkrais Method can be used by coaches and managers as a resource to improve both the performance of individuals and the health and wellbeing of the people they work with. The Feldenkrais Method is based on sound mechanical and neurological principles that are easily accessible through simple practical lessons. Through its emphasis on experiential learning, The Feldenkrais Method for Executive Coaches, Managers, and Business Leaders offers a means to improve many aspects of everyday working life: from sitting and walking more comfortably, improving interpersonal relations, developing personal impact and presence, to performing a highly developed skill more efficiently. By exploring patterns of everyday movement, the method encourages the discovery of new possibilities and choices providing a remarkable approach for expanding potential. Although widely recognised within the performing arts and sports as a method for improving skills, performance and recovery from injury, the Feldenkrais Method is not as widely known outside these arenas, yet the principles and practice behind it are equally applicable to the workplace. Using case studies, the book highlights common issues that coaches and managers are frequently asked to deal with. Each case, and the impact it has in the workplace, is explored from the perspective of the Feldenkrais Method. Included at the end of each chapter there is a practical Awareness Through Movement lesson that addresses some of the themes raised. The Feldenkrais Method for Executive Coaches, Managers, and Business Leaders provides, an invaluable resource for professionals interested in both learning and development, and health and wellbeing in the workplace. It will also appeal to counsellors and therapists interested in somatic approaches.

Ruthy Alon's description of Feldenkrais work in Mindful Spontaneity is a favored text of a generation of Feldenkrais enthusiasts. Alon weaves experiential and theoretical information in a poetic yet pragmatic language. These simple and unexpected suggestions will help everyone who suffers from restricted movement or pain to find a new sense of freedom.

Relieve pain, recover from stress, and enhance pleasure with the Feldenkrais Method The Feldenkrais Method is a revolutionary approach to health and fitness. Using what Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais called "Awareness Through Movement," people of any age or condition can learn to move more comfortably and effectively. In pleasant yet powerful ways, his method reawakens the natural process by which we as babies learned to crawl, walk, and talk. In the U.S. and Canada more than one thousand guild-certified practitioners teach the Feldenkrais Method. Awareness Heals is the first book to present the full benefits of the Feldenkrais Method in clear language. It details six basic lessons which help you to become more aware of how you breathe, sit, walk, and otherwise move. By sensing these natural actions, you grow more skillful and supple in all your movements. Through the Feldenkrais Method, you can learn to relieve pain, enhance flexibility, and recover from physical or emotional stress. The gentle movements in Awareness Heals are designed for practice at home and work, and even in your car. They fit into any program of fitness, exercise, or therapy. Most important, Feldenkrais lessons demonstrate that such problems as stiffness and stress do not require outside intervention--the remedy lies within each of us.

A thorough study of the Feldenkrais Method, a leading form of exercise therapy designed to improve your mental and physical well-being through mindful movement An educational system of neuromuscular re-education known for its gentle approach, the Feldenkrais Method has been shown to dramatically improve individual functioning by increasing self-awareness and facilitating new patterns of thinking, moving, and feeling. Intended for those who need to improve their movement repertoire for professional reasons—dancers, musicians, martial artists, gymnasts, and athletes—a well as those wishing to reduce pain or limitations in movement, Feldenkrais is based on the idea that learning to move better can improve anyone’s overall health on many levels. Using Moshe Feldenkrais’s own words, Embodied Wisdom clearly explains the basic principles underpinning his techniques, Awareness Through Movement (ATM) and Functional Integration (FI). These thoughtful articles and lively, sometimes humorous interviews explore a diverse range of subjects: the importance of bodily expression, the primacy of hearing, the mind-body connection, martial arts, sleep and consciousness, movement and its effect on the mind. Embodied Wisdom gives readers the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the scientific and spiritual principles behind the Method and offers sound strategies for incorporating it into their lives.

A pioneer in the Feldenkrais movement draws on her extensive experience to offer somatic education practitioners a new perspective on infant development When should my baby be walking? Should I worry if they are not talking yet? What can I do to help my baby in their development? Dr. Chava Shelhav draws on her forty years of experience in the Feldenkrais movement to offer answers using her holistic approach to child development for practitioners, parents, and caregivers. Child Space describes Shelhav’s unique method for assisting babies in achieving specific developmental milestones at the appropriate time, including physical skills, language, social skills, emotional attunement, and cognitive development. A baby’s natural curiosity and innate desire to learn is stimulated through movements, games, and toys. Methods of touch provide the deep stimulation a baby needs to sense parts of their body, creating the awareness required for mastering motor skills, balance, and coordination. Also covering the importance of nutrition in the beginning years of a child’s life, this book presents new perspectives and techniques that will benefit healthcare professionals like pediatricians, family and child therapists, and physical therapists working with infants.