After my little romantic interlude with the dance floor on the second day of my Feldenkrais(R) training, I started to loosen up a little. My nervous system was ready for the next learning experience. Or so I thought.  We were told to partner up, and just gently feel along each other’s spine. We were instructed to explore the shape of our partners spine, without judgment, but with a spirit of interest and curiosity, just like I did with that remarkable floor earlier in the day. I got down on the floor first. My partner, like myself, was a physical therapist. She was really smart, and she had a lot of experience. Apparently she also had her own interpretation of this exploration, because she had a lot of judgment about my spine. And, she found a lot of things wrong with it. “You...

Swiss Ball for Strength & Stamina Tell a Friend about this Course Do you have a Swiss ball rolling around your house that you hardly use? This quick and fun one-session class will introduce you to a variety of easy, strength building exercise that you can do in just a few minutes a day. Build your core, balance, and muscle strength while sitting, bouncing, and using weights in creative ways on your ball. Even 5-10 minutes a day can make a big difference in your overall fitness. Take home handouts with descriptions of exercises so you can repeat them easily at home. Cheryl Ilov is licensed physical therapist, Pilates instructor, and certified Feldenkrais practitioner. She specializes in therapeutic exercise and has been teaching clients of all ages how to improve their strength, fitness,...

Since I had survived the first day of Feldenkrais Training, I decided to show up for the second day. I still kept an open mind. Which meant that I could leave anytime I wanted to, and quitting was always an option, even if it was in the middle of the segment. Heck, even if it was in the middle of the day. Anyway, I walked into the dance hall that doubled as our training venue, and did a mental eye roll as I walked past the large poster proclaiming “This is the first day of the rest of your life.” Sheesh. I picked a spot on the floor, unrolled my big purple mat and set up my camp site for the day. Then I heard those magic words…”Lie on your back.” Ahhhhh, now you’re talking! “Sense your contact with the floor.” We began to sweep our arm slowly...

By the time my Feldenkrais training was about to begin, I was a nervous wreck. After all, 2 weeks of training, every 3 months for the next 4 years seemed like one heck of a commitment. Besides, I was overwhelmed by all of the pre-training discussions and email communications. On top of that, I was feeling pretty apprehensive about the “touchy-feely” sense I was getting from the training group. I didn’t want to bond with anyone. I didn’t want to share my feelings. I had no desire to change my self  image, and I certainly didn’t want to challenge my belief system. Most of all, I didn’t want to release anything I may have repressed over the years. I just wanted to learn Feldenkrais. I didn’t like the glowing faces and dewy eyed look my teachers and...

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...