Movement & Wellness

Working at a deeper layer

When it comes to pain, and movement difficulties, we need to think about looking deeper than the muscles, joints and tissues. Not because they don’t matter, they do. However, the real driver of meaningful change is deeper, we need to look to the brain and nervous system.

The nervous system is the primary driver of how we move, how we feel, and how we respond to the world. The two methods I work with, the Feldenkrais Method and Applied Neurology, both target this deeper layer. They are gentle by design, not because the work is superficial, but because both methods recognize that the nervous sytem learns best when it feels safe. These methods complement each other beautifully, and are often combined in sessions.

The Feldenkrais Method: Uses gentle movement and directed attention to help the brain develop more efficient and less harmful movement patterns. Rooted in neuroscience and motor learning, this work is particularly effective for chronic pain, improving ease of movement, recovery after injury, and even emotional regulation. It touches not just how we move, but how we feel.

Applied Neurology: Works through the brain’s sensory systems, especially the visual and vestibular systems. This can greatly help to improve the quality of the information the brain receives. When these inputs are clear and functioning well, the nervous system can settle. These systems have far-reaching effects on movement, balance, chronic pain, anxiety, focus and chronic fatigue. More research on these connections is available on my Resources page.

Who this work is for

You don’t need a diagnosis or a specific condition to benefit from this work. If you’ve been dealing with chronic pain, stiffness, balance issues, or you would like more tools to help you deal with stress or anxiety then this work is for you.

For those recovering from injuries, these methods can offer a gentle, intelligent path that addresses not just the injury, but the compensations and protective patterns the nervous system can build around them.

For children experiencing difficulties with focus, anxiety, or sensory processing issues, this work can be adapted in a playful and fluid way.

“After discovering which color worked best for my brain and nervous system in our sessions, I changed the background tint on all my electronics at work — and my eyes have stopped hurting when I work at my computer all day! Certain exercises also really help to quell my anxiety when I use them, and overall my balance has improved since we started working together.” - Kathryn B.

“ It was very freeing to discover simple ways to release known and previously unknown issues in my aging body. I have confidence I can develop better quality vision and movement through these fun exercises.” - T.R.

“Combining Leah’s work with Equine Facilitated Learning on the farm has been so powerful for people I work with. I have watched the horses respond with more softness and trust. I’ve seen kids become more balanced and less worried using simple brain-based tools, and adults release tension- which in turn helps the horses relax as well. One of the most beautiful things is seeing the horses start to yawn and let down as someone’s nervous sytem begins to feel more safe. The connection between brain, body, and animals is real, and it can be life changing.”

- Crystal Birchmeier Owner, Happy Hooves Wellness

Sessions are offered in-person and over zoom. To learn more or schedule a session connect with me through the links below.