Are you stuck at home? We can still get together.
I’m teaching Awareness Through Movement® and Taiji classes using Zoom. One participant refers to these classes as a “lifeboat” during these troubled times. (At the bottom of this page some people say how they benefit from these lessons.)
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- There are some advantages to Zoom classes.
- You don’t have to drive on icy roads.
- The room temperature is exactly what you like.
- The comfort and safety of your home helps you feel relaxed so you can get the most out of the lessons
- You can get together with old and new friends who may live in the same city or many provinces apart.
- You don’t need to wear a mask.
- ATM schedule
- Taiji schedule
- Questions? Contact me.
This mind-body approach combines movement and awareness to teach people of all ages and conditions to move and live more comfortably and effectively.
Why do people do Feldenkrais® ?
You can learn to:
- increase ease of movement
- practice mindfulness
- improve posture, balance and flexibility
- prevent injury
- increase energy
- reduce stress and fatigue
- improve concentration
- ease pain
All people, regardless of age or condition, have the ability to improve. Movement is the primary mode for learning in the Feldenkrais Method. It is taught in either a class setting or in private sessions.
Here is an article by Jane E Brody, in the New York Times. She is no longer sceptical about the Feldenkrais Method. Read more
Who was Moshe Feldenkrais?
Dr. Feldenkrais (1904-1984) was a Judo expert, a physicist and a creative thinker. His study of how to rehabilitate his severe knee injury led him to understanding what we now know as neuroplasticity — that our brains can “rewire” to replace patterns of pain and inefficient ways of moving. That we can improve and keep improving throughout our life. It doesn’t mean we can get younger but our lives can get richer as we learn ourselves from the inside out.
The origin of Moshe Feldenkrais’ therapeutic method reads more like a spy thriller than a neuroscience textbook. Read more
What is the Feldenkrais Method™?
This video highlights some of the movements used in the Feldenkrais Method:
This video of Baby Liv is a lovely example of how we learn to move by experimenting. Of course as adults and we learn differently, but the idea of improving by experimenting and playing with movement is part of our human potential.
© International Feldenkrais™ Federation
“Why I do Awareness Through Movement lessons.”
Hi Oliver,
I’ve noticed that the brain predicts pain and I have to relax my way out of it which is where ATM™ [Awareness Through Movement®] is helpful. I’ve determined that my mind knows absolutely nothing about my body. Let me explain, my mind used to try to correct my posture, the result was pain because my mind was mechanically arranging my skeleton. ATM has developed my ability to trust my body and to feel my way into being the most comfortable.
Last summer I became aware that what I was experiencing as pain was exactly things I’d felt before. That summer I spent a lot of time first accepting and then identifying the specific sensation, there was the C-section, and the time I stubbed my toe, and when my behaviour did not meet my standards, triple whiplash, and grief.
First accepting and then identifying these feelings required me to reassure myself and that in turn built more trust within myself which dovetailed with the philosophy of ATM. The way ATM lessons are structured where we do minimal movements that evolve proved to me that the pain wasn’t real because after our experiments I could move painlessly in ways that were not allowed normally. So I started at the base of the spine and worked my way up. Sometimes particular vertebrae took weeks to detach from the pain sensation. I learned to reassure myself and relax, and most important to commit to the belief that my body as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts which was comforting.
I had to deal with horror when I physically felt that the muscles in my core had mutated to allow the kyphosis and scoliosis to expand. And fear, I confess I feel a lot of fear. I can watch it and note it, and relax, but I am surprised how threatened and fearful I am.
I decided I wanted to heal, I continued with ATM 2 or 3 times a week, switched chiropractors, worked with a couple of massage therapists, and a physiotherapist. Sometimes everyone was telling me the same thing which I took to be the universe telling me I was headed in the right direction. And that is how I straightened out my left shoulder and right middle back. Now when we end a Feldenkrais lesson and I’m comfortable and aware of every bone in my rib basket, honestly for me I feel like I’m a super hero.
I now embrace the cliche that life is a process, I will never arrive. When I was younger I resisted change. Seeming powerless in front of change is kind of an epidemic right now. I got so stressed about George Floyd that I made myself ill. I thought I’d remedied it, but no, I got stressed out about the truckers, and stress is very bad for my health. So meditating, journaling, exercising, practicing, and most important – thinking positive thoughts are going to keep me sane going forward. This is process, it’ll never end, I’ll always be vulnerable so this is how I’ll cope.
I am deeply grateful for how you share your knowledge.
LTS, Feb 19, 2022
I wanted to thank you for the help that your classes have provided. At 65 years of age it is hard to change the way you have been moving all your life. After our personal one hour session I have actually changed the way I walk. It took a serious knee injury to force me to change but I realize that if I had taken advantage of your advice years ago I would not be as injured as I am now. I now walk smoothly and effortlessly, without any strain on my body. This is help that I would not have got from a physio or doctor.
Thank you for helping with my recovery,
Boris M
