What is the Feldenkrais Method?



Posted: Wednesday, April 27, 2011

by Ellie Garwood

The Feldenkrais Method has been described as the internal journey to rediscover balance, flexibility and co-ordination; it has also been described as awareness through movement. The method aims to deepen the awareness of how you move and the exercises are devised to reduce effort and increase co-ordination; it recognizes that the brain is core in the movement of the body, and uses patterns of movement that exist deep within us, but that maybe we don’t utilize as much as we could.

Developed in Israel in the 1940s by Dr. Feldenkrais, the Feldenkrais Method was born out of the physicist’s bid to cure his own knee injury. A physicist, engineer and judo master Dr. Feldenkrais’ principals were derived from both Western science as well as the martial arts. In the 1970s the Feldenkrais Method was brought to the US, and since then Feldenkrais classes have become more and more common throughout Europe and the States. Feldenkrais wanted to access the power and intelligence of the central nervous system to improve human function, he found with quiet, exploratory movements (process orientated and not goal directed) the mind could invoke new neuromuscular patterns, much how babies learn to move. The importance lies, Feldenkrais believed, in the intention given to the movement. Not only does the Feldenkrais Method encourage better movement, it also promotes better posture and increased health and confidence.

In a typical session participants will undertake a range of slow controlled movements, in full awareness, breaking each move down to its most basic, and looking at them in relation to gravity. Participants are then able to understand the easiest and most graceful way of moving. After attending a handful of sessions participants will start to see stamina improve, the sports they undertake become easier and even everyday activities such as walking up stairs and putting on shoes will become easier and easier. Just as important as building muscles, believed Feldenkrais, is realizing how all the muscles work together.

On a different level Feldenkrais enthusiasts emphasis the positive effects the method has on thinking patterns and emotions; as awareness of movement is increased tensions in the body are released with it come positive shifts in emotional and thinking patterns.  In addition to this, due to the slow movements, and relaxed atmosphere of the workshops the Feldenkrais Method can also help those with anxiety problems, those suffering from stress and those suffering from depression. Dr Feldenkrais summed up his method perfectly when he said, “What I am after is more flexible minds, not just more flexible bodies". He described the Feldenkrais Method as more self-education than manipulative therapy.
Ellie Garwood is a freelance writer interested in a host of topics. For a host of complementary medicine, and physical therapy related anatomy books she recommends the range available at Lotus Publishing.
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