By in Mindfulness

What is Feldenkrais?

When I tell people that I am a Feldenkrais practitioner, they always look really puzzled, as though I’ve spoken a foreign language. I usually follow it up by saying that it is a form of neuro movement education. Some people nod politely, others follow their curiosity by asking more questions.

Less is More

To an observer looking at a Feldenkrais class, it appears that nothing much is happening. The participants seem to be moving slowly as though in a trance. There is no stretching, no lifting of heavy objects, and no cardiovascular activity going on. And yet, when you ask the students after the hour’s class how they feel, many report a sense of lightness, and well-being, and in many cases, places that were hurting or injuries seem to have calmed down.

So, how did this happen?

The short answer to this is that they have reprogrammed their brain for better and easier functioning through using awareness. I quite often call Feldenkrais classes Body Mindfulness or Meditation in Movement. Our brain is wired for learning and change throughout our lives. This ability to form new neural pathways through developing our sense of awareness is called neuroplasticity.

Here is what some students have to say after experiencing a Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement (ATM) class:

For further information on the Feldenkrais Method contact Yeu-Meng Chan at The Body Matters on 01702 714968.

Yeu-Meng Chan
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