Cheryl – Page 27 – Cheryl Ilov International

What is Feldenkrais?

Written by Cheryl on October 20, 2014. Posted in Feldenkrais.

What is Feldenkrais, anyway? And why should you, or anyone else for that matter, care? Quite simply, because it can change your life forever. Feldenkrais is a highly sophisticated form of neuromuscular re-education based on the scientific principle of neuroplasticity, which simply means that our nervous system is capable of changing and learning new patterns during the course of our entire lifetime. Feldenkrais’ unique approach to neuroplasticity accesses our nervous system in a very gentle, but powerful way, through movement. We all have habitual patterns of moving, sensing, feeling and thinking that help us move easily through our day. However, some of our patterns may be harmful and destructive, resulting in chronic pain, joint dysfunction, headaches, neck and back pain, anxiety,...

Feldenkrais Training: Lie down and smell the coffee….

Written by Cheryl on October 13, 2014. Posted in Uncategorized.

I love coffee. I don’t think I have a true coffee addiction, since I only drink it it the morning. However, I sure do love my coffee. I love the sound of the beans grinding, and I love the smell of it brewing. I love pouring my first cup. And my second. And my third. I love the taste, the smell, the heat, and even the feel of my coffee mug in my hands. Face it, I love my coffee. But, during my second week of Feldenkrais Training, I decided to give up coffee. Like I said, I don’t have an addiction to coffee, and for some strange reason I started trying new things once I began my training. The day I gave up coffee was grey, cold, and snowing. Coffee would sure warm me up on such a cold morning, but I was full of determination instead of coffee. I had a cup of green tea instead,...

Feldenkrais Training: The transformation begins….

Written by Cheryl on September 22, 2014. Posted in Feldenkrais.

When I finally completed my first two weeks of Feldenkrais training, I was exhausted. However, there were no life-altering changes, no magical “AHA” moments, no epiphanies, no enlightenment, and certainly no transformation. I was pretty much exactly the same as I was the first day I walked in to the training two weeks earlier. Where was all this change I was supposed to experience? Nope, I hadn’t changed at all. Except, of course, for the love affair I had with the floor during the first week. I absolutely could not get enough of that floor! The tips of my fingers still tingle just thinking about it. Then there was that little incident where I was moved to tears simply by the image of a ball rolling across my arm. What was up with that? Then I had that melt down at the...

Feldenkrais(R) and the wardrobe malfunction….

Written by Cheryl on September 3, 2014. Posted in Feldenkrais.

I had minor surgery on my right shoulder last week, which reminds me of an old joke. Question: What is the definition of minor surgery? Answer: Something they do to someone else. In other words, it’s still surgery and a pretty big deal, no matter which way you cut it, so to speak. Anyway, I had my marching orders to take it easy, don’t use my arm, don’t lift anything, etc. However, no one said that I had to stay home, so the day after surgery I decided to treat myself to a manicure and pedicure. The soft lights and classical music at the salon was a far cry from the sharp needles and bright lights of the surgical suite. Besides, I figured a mani/pedi was just what the doctor ordered. Having made up my mind, I started to get dressed. I grabbed a camisole and mindlessly pulled...

The best of times and the worst of times….

Written by Cheryl on August 18, 2014. Posted in Uncategorized.

Family vacations. You got to love them. They truly are the best of times and the worst of times. My husband and I went on a family vacation last week with my sister and her family. We rented a beach house on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, just like we did last year. We had such a great vacation experience last time, we spent the entire year looking forward to going back. To make our vacation even more special, my sister and her fiance were going to get married on the beach in a small, private ceremony. The first three days were great, even though it rained. Not the cleansing, refreshing kind of rain, but torrential, unrelenting sheets of rain. That was okay, because we were together, enjoying each others’ company. When we weren’t getting on each others’ nerves, that...

Feldenkrais and Grati-Shoes….

Written by Cheryl on August 12, 2014. Posted in Uncategorized.

Two weeks ago I delivered my last donation of shoes for The Mountain Peace Shoe Drive. After two months of collecting shoes and offering discounts to my students for donating shoes, the final tally was 302 pairs of shoes! Mountain Peace is a domestic violence shelter and counseling center in Bailey, Colorado. Once the shoes were collected, they were to be sent to third world countries to help families get out of poverty and start their own businesses. Wow. Wanting to contribute as much as I possibly could, and in an effort to spread the word, I offered $1 off the cost of my Feldenkrais classes for each pair of shoes a student donated. I expected a fairly good response, but nothing like the one I got. Everyone dug deep into their closets, and I gave a lot of deep discounts for Feldenkrais...

Feldenkrais wisdom in the old, wild west….

Written by Cheryl on July 7, 2014. Posted in Uncategorized.

My husband and I both love old movies, and there are some that we never get tired of watching. My husband especially likes watching old Westerns, which I do get tired of watching. Some of them make me silently groan and roll my eyes. Well, maybe I groan out loud while I roll my eyes. Last week my husband was channel surfing when he came upon one of his favorite movies of all time, “The Outlaw Josie Wales.” He almost squealed with delight as he settled back to watch it. I groaned silently and rolled my eyes. Okay, maybe I groaned out loud. I asked him why did we have to watch it again? He replied, “Because it has some great lines in it.” He would know, because he recited every single line out loud, in perfect harmony with the actors. Who knew his memory was that good?...

Feldenkrais Lesson: Rolling the Head

Written by Cheryl on June 23, 2014. Posted in Feldenkrais.

Yesterday’s Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement(R) lesson was titled “Hand Rolling the Head.” Actually, it would be more appropriate to say “Hand Rolling Your Head.” Rolling the head implies a sense of detachment or lack of ownership to the marvelous structure which sits on top of your spine and protects the most intricate personal computer you will ever own….your brain. Besides, the term “the head” implies a creepy image of a head rolling around on it’s own. That’s not a picture that supports a healthy self image, and it’s also a bit jarring to the nervous system. Ooops, I mean, your nervous system. Language does have a powerful impact on how we see ourselves. If we are impersonal in our approach to a lesson, we might...

A very moving day….

Written by Cheryl on June 2, 2014. Posted in Uncategorized.

After being in the same office for eight years, I moved into a new space last Friday. In five short action-packed weeks, I found a new suite, negotiated a contract, designed the space, and supervised the construction. It was moving day, and I found myself overwhelmed by a myriad of mixed emotions. I was cool and detached as I packed my things before the movers got there. But, when I collected my assortment of butterfly pictures, I was surprised by the emotional tidal wave that threatened to sweep me away. The events of the past five weeks, and the memories of the past eight years caught up with me all at the same moment. Looking back, there was a lot of fun, joy, love, laughter and learning over those eight years. There was also a lot of pain, heartache and disappointment as well. I gathered...

The power of kindness….

Written by Cheryl on May 28, 2014. Posted in Uncategorized.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” -Dr. Leo Buscaglia I recently came across this quote from Dr. Leo Buscaglia, and it deeply touched me. It reminded me of so many wonderful and unexpected experiences that resulted in powerful and lasting friendships. Sometimes you just need to put yourself out there. The rest will come, as long as you begin from a position of respect, honesty, sincerity and kindness. It’s amazing what comes forth.

All of her experiences, training and practice contribute to a truly customized workout/core-strengthening program for each of her clients.
-Claudia D.
She not only helped alleviate the pain, she helped me regain flexibility and got me back on my center.
-Misti M-K
She gently guide you so that ultimately you understand your body better and are able to move with greater ease and less pain.
-Gwendolyn P.
Some of the numbness around my knees has subsided and I’ve regained some feeling as well as had deep joint pain reduction. Flexibility and overall strength has increased.
-Melinda C.
Her gentle, loving approach is just what my body needs to fully recover from a recent car accident. I leave each session with a slight tingling sensation and movement seems much more fluid.
-Shannon G
Cheryl’s background in physical therapy, dance, Pilates, Feldenkrais, and martial arts make her very capable of not only understanding movement but helping others achieve their goals!
-Sheila S.

Author: Cheryl