About Feldenkrais®
 

What is the Feldenkrais Method?        
 The Feldenkrais Method is a unique approach to human movement and learning.
Often our movement is limited due to unconscious habits of muscular holding.
Feldenkrais lessons help people recognize and interrupt these habits, and eliminate limitations and restrictions. It based on a new understanding of how we learn and how patterns of action become habitual. As a result students learn better body mechanics and discover natural flexibility and comfort. As students let go of unnecessary effort they start to move more in accordance with the design of the skeleton and experience reduction of strain and tension throughout the whole body. This new way of coordinating oneself results in increased strength, grace and well being. This learning is directly applied to improve all of life's daily activities, as well as athletic and artistic skills. There are two complimentary formats of the Feldenkrais Method: group classes & workshops (Awareness Through Movement), and private sessions (Functional Integration).

Awareness Through Movement
In Awareness Through Movement lessons students lie or sit on mats on the floor as they are guided through a series of elegantly designed movement sequences. During these lessons people learn new flexibility and ease of movement in a very short time. Often habits of stiffness or tension immediately melt away. This remarkable improvement results from learning to change neuromuscular habits, without stretching or forcing. Attention is focused on ways to reduce effort and make the movements easier. The lessons are adaptable to different physical abilities, and can be used to improve virtually any activity. Awareness Through Movement lessons provide the self-care tools for students to experience the benefits of Feldenkrais learning on their own.

Functional Integration
Private Feldenkrais sessions are called Functional Integration lessons.
Clients lie or sit on a padded treatment table while the practitioner uses skilled, gentle touch to facilitate the learning process. This hands-on approach focuses on uncovering the details of the individual student's movement habits. This interaction helps people become aware of what they are doing unconsciously that limits them. This new awareness helps students renew their ability to control their own movement and comfort. After a session, students often feel lighter, taller, more aligned, comfortable, and deeply relaxed. Individual lessons are a wonderful opportunity to make deep and lasting changes. Functional Integration lessons were Dr. Feldenkrais's original approach to working with people, and allow the practitioner to work directly with specific issues.