About Feldenkrais

The Feldenkrais Method is named after Moshe Feldenkrais, who developed this system after a lifetime of studying science and sports (he was one of the first European Black Belts in Judo, as well as a Doctor of Physics). After chronically injuring his knee, he decided to use his training in science as well as martial arts to develop a new way of helping bodies improve movement. His theories caught on, and by the mid-1950s he was teaching and helping others with his practice full-time.

Absolutely! The beauty of this practice is that it meets you where you are and goes from there. If you can’t get on the floor, you can sit in a chair. If you have difficulty with your left side, you can do the lesson on your right. You can even successfully visualize the movements if you can’t move something. You will learn, and learning allows for change.

When you bring awareness to your body, it stimulates the brain to create new neural pathways to encourage optimal movement patterns and functionality. This is also known as “neuroplasticity.” When you learn better ways to move, your brain will help you develop better breathing, coordination, flexibility, and cognition.

As an athlete in any arena, you have learned to use your body, and to use it efficiently. However, you may have also developed habits that worked in the past but don’t now, or you may want to refine movements because of your personal goals. While no expert in these areas, as a Feldenkrais practitioner, I have helped  have, equestrians, kayakers, hikers, runners, climbers and more.

Classes change weekly, so there is variety. Movement in any part of the body affects the whole so allowing yourself to experience slow, gentle movement will probably help you. What does that mean? Instead of pushing yourself to see how far you can go, you’ll explore just how much you can already do. If you’d like to see a sample class in action, here’s a video courtesy of the New Zealand Feldenkrais Guild.

You should wear layered, loose, comfortable clothing, and bring some water. Movements will be gentle and low intensity, and still you may find yourself thirsty after a session.

Unlike yoga, Feldenkrais doesn't encourage holding poses or stretching for lengthy periods of time. You don’t repeat the same positions.  Instead, I encourage my Vermont Feldenkrais students to use gentle and unique movement inquiry to help each person find holding patterns, learn real range of motion, movement inefficiencies, and even pain/discomfort. By learning what your habitual movement patterns are and how they may be hurt you, you can choose to learn a new pattern of movement that encourages freedom and ease. In fact, a growing number of yoga teachers take Feldenkrais classes.