The Feldenkrais Method^® of somatic education uses gentle movement and directed attention to help people learn new and more effective ways of living the life they want. You can increase your ease and range of motion, improve your flexibility and coordination, and rediscover your innate capacity for graceful, efficient movement. Since how you move is how you move through life, these improvements will often enhance your thinking, emotional regulation, and problem-solving capabilities.

The Feldenkrais Method is based on principles of physics, biomechanics, and an empirical understanding of learning and human development. Moshe Feldenkrais said, “We move according to our perceived self-image.” By expanding your perception and increasing awareness, you will become more aware of your habits and tensions and develop new ways of moving. By increasing sensitivity, the Feldenkrais Method assists you to live your life more fully, efficiently, and comfortably.

More information may be found at http://feldenkrais.com.

Awareness Through Movement Classes

Feldenkrais group classes are known as Awareness Through Movement^® (ATM^®) lessons. Similar to Tai Chi or gentle yoga, Awareness Through Movement classes use slow, mindful movements to achieve powerful effects in terms of strength, flexibility, and holistic integration of body and mind. Unique to the Feldenkrais Method^® of somatic education is that these lessons tie directly into functional movements of daily life, such as walking efficiently, safely lifting objects, and improving one’s posture in sitting or standing.

You can expect classes to last somewhere between 40 and 60 minutes. You might walk, stand, or sit in a chair, although usually, you will lie on the floor in a variety of comfortable positions: either on your back, front, or side. The teacher guides students through a sequence of movements, encouraging them to move with gentle attention within a comfortable range. You may become aware of unexpected and interesting connections within and between the movements. As you attend to the improving quality of movement, unnecessary muscular tensions throughout the body can reorganize and release. Students are often amazed at the quick and clear changes that occur through the neuromuscular repatterning that happens in an Awareness Through Movement lesson!

I currently teach the only online Awareness Through Movement classes based in Suffolk County on Tuesday afternoons at 12:00 PM (ET) via Skype. Classes are $20 each and open to all, regardless of age, experience, or ability. Great for musicians, dancers, athletes, the elderly, those with chronic pain, those recovering from neurological or muscular injuries, or anyone wishing to improve themselves. To RSVP, confirm class schedule and cancellations, host an Awareness Through Movement class or workshop at your home or business, or ask any questions, please contact me via email or phone.

Functional Integration Lessons

Feldenkrais private sessions are known as Functional Integration^® (FI^®) lessons. In Functional Integration, the teacher guides an individual student in movement lessons using gentle, non-invasive touch as the primary means of communication.

In a Functional Integration lesson, the Feldenkrais teacher’s touch reflects to the student how they currently organize their body and actions. They suggest, through gentle touch and movement, expanded possibilities for new movement patterns which are more comfortable, efficient, and useful. Functional Integration lessons are flexible in their approach, determined by the student’s needs. The student may lie comfortably on a table designed specifically for the work, or do some of the lesson sitting or standing. As needed, the teacher may also use various props to support the student’s comfort, to make certain movements easier, or to clarify a movement.

Each Functional Integration lesson relates to a desire, intention, or need of the student. The learning process is carried out without the use of any invasive or forceful procedure. Through rapport and respect for the student’s abilities, qualities, and integrity, the teacher creates an environment in which the student can learn in safety and comfort. The lesson is developed, specifically for the student, custom-tailored to the unique circumstances of that particular person, at that particular moment. The student learns how to reorganize their actions in new and more effective ways through the experience of comfort, enjoyment, and ease of movement.

For more information about individualized Functional Integration lessons, or to set up a session or series of lessons, please contact me via email or phone.

Feldenkrais for Musicians

As a musician, I incorporate the Feldenkrais Method in my teaching both implicitly and explicitly. To share this knowledge with fellow educators and performers, I regularly teach Feldenkrais for Musicians workshops throughout Suffolk County. These workshops typically include discussions on the pertinent concepts of the Feldenkrais Method, its application to our well-being as musicians, and its methodology as applicable to improving one’s teaching. Participants leave feeling relaxed, revitalized with a greater sense of agency, and with the resources needed to continue improving oneself as an individual and as a teacher. Past workshops have been held at Stony Brook University, NYSCAME-Suffolk Symposium Day, and for the NYSCAME Professional Development Series at the Middle Country Central School District.

To inquire about hosting your own Feldenkrais for Musicians workshop, or for individual Feldenkrais sessions tailored towards musicians, please contact me via email or phone.