I heard about The Feldenkrais Method(R) over the years, but it took a long time for me to finally try a class. However, after my first class, I wanted to become a practitioner. I didn’t just want to become a practitioner, I had to become a practitioner. I had no idea what was involved, but how hard could it be? I was stunned to learn that it involved an intense 4 year long training program. But, that didn’t discourage me. After all, I had recently gone through a brutal twenty four months of graduate school to become a PT, so I figured I was up to the challenge. Then I discovered that the trainings were few and far between. As much as I wanted to become a practitioner, I did not want to have to travel to another city for two weeks every three months for four years to complete...

As a Feldenkrais Practitioner, I feel that one of my responsibilities to the Feldenkrais community and to the general public is to help spread the word of this remarkable Method. After all, why should those of us who have experienced it have all the fun? I want to share it, with as many people that I can reach and that are willing to listen to me. As a result, I never pass up an opportunity to give presentations regarding Feldenkrais. I include a brief description of the Method followed by an Awareness Through Movement lesson. After all, you really have to experience a lesson to get a feel of what Feldenkrais is about. However, in my enthusiasm to spread the word, I have found myself in some very strange and sometimes challenging situations. I gave a presentation to a professional group...

 

Have you ever felt like you were stuck in a rut? Perhaps you have a certain habit or pattern that you’ve tried to change, but you keep repeating it, even when you don’t want to. The old pattern comes creeping back, like an unwelcome guest in spite of your efforts. You try harder to change, put in more effort. and you fail again. So, you try even harder. That doesn’t work, either. Tired and defeated, you may just give up. Maybe you even think that the problem is all in your head. In a way, it is. It’s in your brain, your nervous system, and your neurons.  Your neurons communicate with your brain through complex connections. They tell your brain to respond a certain way to a particular stimulus.  Neural connections that cause a specific response to a stimulus grow stronger...

Issac Newton knew what he was talking about. You know, a body in motion tends to stay in motion and a body at rest….well, you get the point. Here we are, already at the end of January, and those New Year’s Resolutions to work out more and get fit are staring us in the face. Our resolutions may have sounded quite reasonable during the festivities of the holiday season, but now it’s almost February. The cold bleak weather, demands of work, family and the reality of time constraints may sabotage our efforts to achieve our goals. Perhaps we are even overwhelmed by our goals and have already given up. But here’s another idea: why not change your strategy to make your goals more achievable? Start with small, simple changes at home and at work that could easily be incorporated...

Meet my new niece. Isn’t she adorable? Nothing like a puppy to make me feel all squishy inside!

I have always had a passion for the biological sciences, but when I experienced my first course in neuroscience, I knew I found my niche. My brain almost squealed with delight. I guess you could say I’m nuts about neurons. I even considered pursuing an advanced degree in neuroscience, but I just couldn’t wrap my brain around it, so to speak. I couldn’t see myself working in a lab all day. I’m more of a people person. But I sure did love the subject, and I still do; it’s like candy for my brain, only a lot healthier. I gobbled up every course I studied and found myself looking for more. Even though I didn’t get my advanced degree in neuroscience, I resigned myself to knowing that as a physical therapist I could still work with people and have some exposure...

I used to have headaches. Blinding, incapacitating, vice-gripping, put your life on hold for three days kind of headaches. I don’t have them anymore, but they used to be unbearable. For some reason, when I was in my Feldenkrais Training, my headaches got much worse before they got better. However, it’s interesting that eventually they went away completely. One of the worst headaches I’ve ever experienced was in the middle of my second Feldenkrais Training segment. I woke up with the familiar pain gripping my head, neck and shoulders. I couldn’t turn my head, and I wondered how I was going to drive to class that morning. I had stabbing pain deep in the middle of my thoracic spine, and I thought blood was going to shoot out of my eyes. Even my hair hurt. It was promising...

One of the most valuable things I have learned from my Feldenkrais Training is that what we tell ourselves really does matter. Our mind (our brain and our nervous system) is constantly listening and processing the information that it receives. What we tell ourselves is what we believe. What we believe is what we become. This became quite obvious during ballet class a few days ago when I listened to several of my ballet friends beat themselves down with negative self talk. Our teacher had just given us a challenging and complex combination. A group of dancers stood around discussing their limitations, their short comings, their injuries, the reasons why they wouldn’t be able to do the combination and what would happen when they tried. It was fascinating to see all of their dire predictions...

One of my favorite ballet teachers is quite the task mistress and really keeps us on our toes, so to speak. I just love her, and I love her classes. If your ballet technique doesn’t improve after studying with her, you might as well hang up your toe shoes and go home. She teaches a professional level class, and I have to work pretty hard just to keep up. This means thoroughly engaging my mind as well as my body, which brings me to the point of exhaustion at the end of an hour and a half, but it’s fun. I love challenging myself. I often write down my corrections in a small note pad I keep with me at all times. Some of the younger dancers have remarked what a good student I am when they see me scribbling madly in my book. I smile sweetly and thank them, but the truth is, I can’t...