"It is not flexible bodies we are after, but flexible minds." (Feldenkrais, The Elusive Obvious). I had the opportunity to attend a workshop yesterday presented by Dr. Mark Erickson, P.T., DScPT, Orthopedic Physical Therapy Specialist, and Certified Feldenkrais Practioner. Dr. Erickson is the Director of the Carroll College Physical Therapy Department as well as an instructor, experienced practioner, and also a husband and father. The Feldenkrais certification alone is a 4 year process of more than 800 hours of in class training. Clearly, Dr. Erickson maximizes his day and education!
Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, D.Sc (1904-1984) was an Israeli physicist, Judo master and athlete, author, and educator, developed the Feldenkrais Method as a result of a disabling knee injury. After teaching himself to walk without pain by improving his kinesthetic awareness--and thus, his ability to sense, feel and coordinate easy, effective movement--he began teaching others his unique method of "relearning how to learn." Feldenkrais teachers (also called practioners), who trained and certified in the Feldenkrais Method help individuals discover their innate ability to direct their own improvement.
The workshop was presented at the Pewaukee Movement Center where I have been fortunate to learn from a variety of instructors--some like Dr. Erickson who call Wisconsin home, and others who travel to share their expertise in all forms of movement, therapy, and athletic training. Ronda Arndorfer is the owner of The Movement Center and does a wonderful job networking to recruit experienced practioners to share and teach. In addition to his work at Carroll College, Dr. Erickson owns Insight Physical Therapy where he specializes in the treatment of pain relief and body awareness training.
Dr. Erickson is calm, intelligent, fit and has a sensitive dry-wit that permits the novice client to laugh, relax, and experience a new way of learning and moving. The Feldenkrais Method has hundreds of simple to complex movement patterns. The directions also involve awareness of breath and visual fields, i.e. "Rotate your arm to the left while turning your head to the right." This cue might be advanced to, "Rotate your arm to the left, while turning your head to the right, but have your eyes gaze to the left." Just try turning your head to the right while tracking your eyes to the left--it's tough! The movement patterns require concentration and reflect the theory that "less is more." To accomplish the verbal instructions the client often has to relax their efforts as learning can't be optimal when there is frustration.
Besides Awareness Through Movement (A.T.M.) there is also the Functional Integration (FI) division to Feldenkrais. This is a hands-on strategy by the practioner with the intent of enhancing a person's awareness. The typical outcomes of the hands-on techniques may include greater range of motion, feeling "looser," "more grounded," "relaxed," "centered." It is the "feel good" section of the Feldenkrais workout; especially if you are like me and appreciate the benefits of therapeutic touch in the form of massage, pressure, rolfing, stretching, joint mobilizations etc.
Another beneficial component to Feldenkrais is it recognizes the influence of our mental state in relation to our physical presentation. If the client appears tense and anxious there is a posture or "body pattern of anxiety" associated with this emotional state. The chest might appear collapsed (as if protecting ones heart), shoulders may be rounded, muscles may feel tight. Feldenkrais recognized we can't separate the emotion from the physical state--the emotion is reflected in the physical body. In addition there is freedom in the method; each person "reorganizes" their patterns of movement differently with the intended outcome of increased skill (whether it be with your tennis serve, lay-up, dribbling, or getting dressed!) A Feldenkrais practioner would not say, "No, that is wrong, do it like this." But rather the practioner would gently suggest the possibility of other options thus enabling personal self-exploration. Dr. Erickson commented that in the course of his 4 year intensive Feldenkrais training he noticed improvement in his posture, basketball game, running, basically all his daily living activities just from practicing the multitude of movement patterns within The Feldenkrais Method training. The patterns may not have direct relevance to the activity however by getting to know your own body so well the performance of the nervous system is enhanced and is carried-over to all of our functional tasks. Similar to Joseph Pilates belief that it is the mind that builds the body, Feldenkrais emphasized personal awareness, analysis of motion, and a freedom to "play" with movement patterns until movement and posture is enhanced with a reduced sense of effort.
During the course of a few movement patterns I reflected on its application to sports...particularly since we are in the heart of NFL playoffs, basketball leagues, and tennis lessons. When I noticed how my visual gaze tended to "jump" rather than scan smoothly it reminded Dr. Erickson of a Cheers episode. Cliff and Norm were watching a tennis match on tv and Cliff would vigorously turn his head side to side watching the points. Norm finally comments, "All you have to do is move your eyes." This seems to be a premise to the Feldenkrais method; organized, elegant movement exists within our nervous system and yet for a variety of reasons we have resorted to more rigid, inefficient movement patterns. Aaron Rodgers will likely demonstrate a smooth, visual scan of his playing field today against the Giants, he can probably look left and throw to the right with ease. Not because he has learned the Feldenkrais method, but as a professional athlete he has developed expertise in organizing his brain to direct his body, even with complex movement patterns. Well developed, organized, efficient athletes do appear "elegant" on the field.
Anyone can benefit from private lessons with a Feldenkrais practioner. Enhanced awareness of the way the body moves rather than just focusing on the "problem area" helps teach the body to sense what is right and as a result the body begins to change. The Feldenkrais Method awakens our awareness to our body, energy, and habits and also helps us to sharpen our athletic skills. As someone who has worked in healthcare and fitness for years I tend to get "stuck" that there is a right way and a wrong way to do things. I want to "fix things" for my clients rather than letting them enjoy the freedom that comes from experiencing a variety of choices. Feldenkrais is refreshing in that the learner discovers what they need through being both verbally and manually encouraged to play with movement. The client discovers they have options as they learn to know themselves better. The more you know yourself the more we realize we have a multitude of choices--there is not a "right way" to move but rather a way to move that allows for efficiency and ease within our body and life. A Feldenkrais practioner can help direct you to discover this intelligent, integrated movement that will assist you in achieving your personal best.
Please refer to the Movement Center of Pewaukee for additional information regarding upcoming workshops presented by Dr. Erickson. Thank you for reading!
http://www.feldenkrais.com/method/frequently_asked_questions/
http://www.movementcenterpewaukee.com/
Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, D.Sc (1904-1984) was an Israeli physicist, Judo master and athlete, author, and educator, developed the Feldenkrais Method as a result of a disabling knee injury. After teaching himself to walk without pain by improving his kinesthetic awareness--and thus, his ability to sense, feel and coordinate easy, effective movement--he began teaching others his unique method of "relearning how to learn." Feldenkrais teachers (also called practioners), who trained and certified in the Feldenkrais Method help individuals discover their innate ability to direct their own improvement.
The workshop was presented at the Pewaukee Movement Center where I have been fortunate to learn from a variety of instructors--some like Dr. Erickson who call Wisconsin home, and others who travel to share their expertise in all forms of movement, therapy, and athletic training. Ronda Arndorfer is the owner of The Movement Center and does a wonderful job networking to recruit experienced practioners to share and teach. In addition to his work at Carroll College, Dr. Erickson owns Insight Physical Therapy where he specializes in the treatment of pain relief and body awareness training.
Dr. Erickson is calm, intelligent, fit and has a sensitive dry-wit that permits the novice client to laugh, relax, and experience a new way of learning and moving. The Feldenkrais Method has hundreds of simple to complex movement patterns. The directions also involve awareness of breath and visual fields, i.e. "Rotate your arm to the left while turning your head to the right." This cue might be advanced to, "Rotate your arm to the left, while turning your head to the right, but have your eyes gaze to the left." Just try turning your head to the right while tracking your eyes to the left--it's tough! The movement patterns require concentration and reflect the theory that "less is more." To accomplish the verbal instructions the client often has to relax their efforts as learning can't be optimal when there is frustration.
Besides Awareness Through Movement (A.T.M.) there is also the Functional Integration (FI) division to Feldenkrais. This is a hands-on strategy by the practioner with the intent of enhancing a person's awareness. The typical outcomes of the hands-on techniques may include greater range of motion, feeling "looser," "more grounded," "relaxed," "centered." It is the "feel good" section of the Feldenkrais workout; especially if you are like me and appreciate the benefits of therapeutic touch in the form of massage, pressure, rolfing, stretching, joint mobilizations etc.
Another beneficial component to Feldenkrais is it recognizes the influence of our mental state in relation to our physical presentation. If the client appears tense and anxious there is a posture or "body pattern of anxiety" associated with this emotional state. The chest might appear collapsed (as if protecting ones heart), shoulders may be rounded, muscles may feel tight. Feldenkrais recognized we can't separate the emotion from the physical state--the emotion is reflected in the physical body. In addition there is freedom in the method; each person "reorganizes" their patterns of movement differently with the intended outcome of increased skill (whether it be with your tennis serve, lay-up, dribbling, or getting dressed!) A Feldenkrais practioner would not say, "No, that is wrong, do it like this." But rather the practioner would gently suggest the possibility of other options thus enabling personal self-exploration. Dr. Erickson commented that in the course of his 4 year intensive Feldenkrais training he noticed improvement in his posture, basketball game, running, basically all his daily living activities just from practicing the multitude of movement patterns within The Feldenkrais Method training. The patterns may not have direct relevance to the activity however by getting to know your own body so well the performance of the nervous system is enhanced and is carried-over to all of our functional tasks. Similar to Joseph Pilates belief that it is the mind that builds the body, Feldenkrais emphasized personal awareness, analysis of motion, and a freedom to "play" with movement patterns until movement and posture is enhanced with a reduced sense of effort.
During the course of a few movement patterns I reflected on its application to sports...particularly since we are in the heart of NFL playoffs, basketball leagues, and tennis lessons. When I noticed how my visual gaze tended to "jump" rather than scan smoothly it reminded Dr. Erickson of a Cheers episode. Cliff and Norm were watching a tennis match on tv and Cliff would vigorously turn his head side to side watching the points. Norm finally comments, "All you have to do is move your eyes." This seems to be a premise to the Feldenkrais method; organized, elegant movement exists within our nervous system and yet for a variety of reasons we have resorted to more rigid, inefficient movement patterns. Aaron Rodgers will likely demonstrate a smooth, visual scan of his playing field today against the Giants, he can probably look left and throw to the right with ease. Not because he has learned the Feldenkrais method, but as a professional athlete he has developed expertise in organizing his brain to direct his body, even with complex movement patterns. Well developed, organized, efficient athletes do appear "elegant" on the field.
Anyone can benefit from private lessons with a Feldenkrais practioner. Enhanced awareness of the way the body moves rather than just focusing on the "problem area" helps teach the body to sense what is right and as a result the body begins to change. The Feldenkrais Method awakens our awareness to our body, energy, and habits and also helps us to sharpen our athletic skills. As someone who has worked in healthcare and fitness for years I tend to get "stuck" that there is a right way and a wrong way to do things. I want to "fix things" for my clients rather than letting them enjoy the freedom that comes from experiencing a variety of choices. Feldenkrais is refreshing in that the learner discovers what they need through being both verbally and manually encouraged to play with movement. The client discovers they have options as they learn to know themselves better. The more you know yourself the more we realize we have a multitude of choices--there is not a "right way" to move but rather a way to move that allows for efficiency and ease within our body and life. A Feldenkrais practioner can help direct you to discover this intelligent, integrated movement that will assist you in achieving your personal best.
Please refer to the Movement Center of Pewaukee for additional information regarding upcoming workshops presented by Dr. Erickson. Thank you for reading!
http://www.feldenkrais.com/method/frequently_asked_questions/
http://www.movementcenterpewaukee.com/