Feldenkrais method
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The Feldenkrais method is an educational system intended to give individuals a greater functional awareness of the self. The method uses body movement as the primary vehicle for learning in the human organism. Though some people may consider the Feldenkrais method to be alternative medicine, the code of ethics of the Feldenkrais Guild makes clear that practitioners do not undertake to diagnose or treat illness of any kind. The terms "therapy" and "therapeutic" are often used to mean anything that feels good, although their original meanings were confined to the treatment of illness. For this reason it is easy to confuse what is pleasant, healthy and good with that which cures and treats illness. Perhaps this example will help to avoid this confusion. Learning to play the piano might be a very good, pleasant, and even healthy, thing for a blind person to do. It might improve his overall well-being and, speaking loosely, we might say it is therapeutic, but we certainly would not therefore think of piano playing as a treatment for blindness. Since we do not do anything in life that does not depend on movement, improving our ability to move can improve overall well-being without referring either to illness or therapy.
Originated by Dr Moshe Feldenkrais (1904-1984), an Israeli physicist and judo practitioner of Eastern European descent, the method is presented in two forms by practitioners, who generally receive more than 800 hours of formal training over the course of four years:
Functional Integration (FI) is hands-on form of tactile, kinesthetic communication between a practitioner and student. The practitioner communicates to the student how s/he organizes his/her movements. Through precise touch and movement, the student learns how to eliminate excess effort and strain and thus move more freely and easily. Lessons may be very specific in addressing particular issues brought by the student, or can be more global in scope.
Awareness Through Movement (ATM) lessons are verbally directed movement sequences given primarily in a group setting, though they can also be given to individuals. There are more than a thousand distinct Awareness Through Movement lessons in existence. Lessons are generally organized around a particular function, and each practitioner lends his/her particular style to each lesson.
The Feldenkrais Method is a form of self-education rather than manipulative therapy. Feldenkrais himself was a friend of Ida Rolf, who established the rolfing method of bodywork. Feldenkrais' approach was more cybernetic and informational. Some of the influences on Feldenkrais' work include Gustav Fechner, F. Matthias Alexander, Gerda Alexander, G. I. Gurdjieff, Emile Coué, Milton Erickson, William Bates, Heinrich Jacoby and Jigoro Kano, all of whom were more concerned with awareness than with simple physical exercises.
Feldenkrais first taught the method in Tel Aviv to 13 students. He later came to the United States in the early 1970s, where he taught at Esalen. He subsequently gave two professional trainings in the US, in San Francisco (1975-77) and Amherst, Massachusetts (1980-83).
Somatic-oriented techniques influenced by Feldenkrais include: Hanna Somatics, Rubenfeld Synergy, Tellington Touch (for animals), Anat Baniel Method (http://www.anatbanielmethod.com/).
External links
- Feldenkrais Guild of North America (http://www.feldenkrais.com/) (online lessons, background of the Method, and practitioner listings.)
- International Feldenkrais Federation (http://www.feldenkrais-method.org/) (general explanation of the Feldenkrais Method as it is practiced around the world.)
- Feldenkrais Guild of Germany (http://www.feldenkrais.de) (Information, Verzeichnis von Feldenkrais-Lehrern in Deutschland, Verzeichnis von Ausbildungen)
- Information about the Method in German (http://www.feldenkrais-ausbildung.de) (Informationen zur Methode und anerkannte Feldenkrais Ausbildungen in Deutschland)
- Feldenkrais Resources (http://www.feldenkrais-resources.com/) (clearing house for books, audio-programs, and other Feldenkrais related materials)
- Feldenkrais FAQ (http://www.wozny.org/mpfaqtoc.html)
- Feldenkrais Movement Institute (http://www.feldenkraisinstitute.org/) (practitioner training, workshops and products promoting the Feldenkrais Method)
- Feldenkrais German Institute in Berlin (http://www.feldenkrais-mitte.de) (practitioner training and workshops / Praktische Arbeit und Kurse zur Anwendung der Methode)
- The New York Region of the Feldenkrais Guild of North America (http://www.feldenkraisny.org) (news and events in the New York region for practitioners and the general public)de:Feldenkrais-Methode