The Feldenkrais Method®
The Feldenkrais Method® is an educational system that uses movement to teach self-awareness and improve function. Using gentle movements and directed attention it helps people learn new and effective ways of moving. From the Feldenkrais website: “The Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education uses gentle movement and directed attention to help people learn new and more effective ways of living the life they want. You can increase your ease and range of motion, improve your flexibility and coordination, and rediscover your innate capacity for graceful, efficient movement. Since how you move is how you move through life, these improvements will often enhance your thinking, emotional regulation, and problem-solving capabilities.
Awareness Through Movement®
Feldenkrais® group classes are known as Awareness Through Movement® lessons. These classes use slow, mindful movements to achieve powerful effects in terms of strength, flexibility, and holistic integration of body and mind. Unique to the Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education is that these lessons tie directly into functional movements of daily life, such as walking efficiently, safely lifting objects, and improving one’s posture in sitting or standing. You can expect a class to last somewhere between 30 and 60 minutes. You might walk, stand, or sit in a chair, although usually, you will lie on the floor in a variety of comfortable positions: either on your back, front, or side. The teacher guides students through a sequence of movements, encouraging them to move with gentle attention within a comfortable range. You may become aware of unexpected and interesting connections within and between the movements. As you attend to the improving quality of movement, unnecessary muscular tensions throughout the body can reorganize and release. Students are often amazed at the quick and clear changes that occur through the neuromuscular repatterining that happens in an Awareness Through Movement lesson!”
“The aim of the Feldenkrais method is for a person that is organized to move with minimum effort and maximum efficiency, not through muscular strength, but through increased consciousness of how movement works” – Moshe Feldenkrais
I am currently enrolled in a four-year training program to become a certified Feldenkrais practitioner. At this time I am authorized as an Awareness Through Movement®️ practitioner. For more information on the many ways The Feldenkrais Method® can help you, please visit my resources page here.
For more information on The Feldenkrais Method®, please visit their website https://feldenkrais.com/
“In order to recognize small changes in effort, the effort itself must first be reduced. More delicate and improved control of movement is possible only through the increase of sensitivity, through a greater ability to sense differences.” -Moshe Feldenkrais
Testimonials
“Leah, thank you for a wonderful workshop. I’ve been to a lot of clinics and conferences throughout my career and found many presenters to be boring and often unclear about their topics. Your presentation had new information and clarity. I liked how everyone was actively involved.” -D.S.
“I recently participated in a Rider Awareness clinic with Leah. One of the lessons focused on turning, and we explored ways to make turning more efficient and fluid. During the lesson we learned how to access, full body movement, when turning. For me, this brought an awareness of how to use my knee to help facilitate more precise turning when riding my horse. This lesson was performed while sitting in a chair. It was easy to do. I could not wait to experiment with this new movement when mounted. The next day, I explored this new way of turning with my horse. Much to my surprise, I did not have to use any rein pressure at all, even in my more difficult direction of turning left. My horse was much more relaxed and easier to ride overall. I usually experience some lower back stiffness after riding. I was so happy after my ride my back felt great! Leah sends handouts home of the lesson so you can practice them on and off the horse. I highly recommend participating in her clinics, your body and your horse will thank you!” -Susan Lafferty
“Since attending the clinic last week, I’ve been practicing feeling my seat bones and working on keeping my right seat bone un stuck. The difference in my young horse in particular is pretty interesting. Our leg yields are coming so much easier already! And we had been having trouble going into our corners going to the right, those troubles disappeared immediately on my first ride with her after the clinic.” -Stephanie W.