How to Breathe Comfortably and Fully

Working with the DIAPHRAGM figured prominently in Dr. Feldenkrais' work. As you watch this lovely offering by Feldy Donna Bervinchak, try to sense your own anatomy; this study is for anyone who needs breathing work and softening of the chest, expansion of the lower abdominal cavity, increased connection between shoulders and hips, pelvic floor. Diaphragm work does so much to enhance these areas, and thus connect you to yourself more wholly. All Feldenkrais work has a direct de-stressing effect on the nervous system. Please contact me if you want to find out more about Feldenkrais healing and work. Classes, workshops and private lessons can make a huge difference.

PAIN RELIEF and SELF-SENSING

Relieving strain in your movement - It is a way of moving through life that has immeasurable benefit, and is a primary principle taught by Dr. Feldenkrais. Here is a wonderful recording of this principle from Dr. Feldenkrais's last training in Amherst NY in the early 1980s, as he works with students in Awareness Through Movement training.

Apply it to all your activities and it WILL IMPROVE YOUR LIFE, immeasurably.

These are Dr. F's spoken words:  

"Go slowly, slowly.
Make the movement easier and simpler,
until you feel that you are doing the right thing.
In other words, that you have eliminated
all unnecessary strains and pressures
and tensions and intentions to do things...
Do it slowly and gently, and you will all get there."

This is the essence of the Feldenkrais work.




Eliminate All Unnecessary Strains - Dr. Feldenkrais from Rob Black on Vimeo.

WHY and HOW:
Unconscious tension and muscle contractions contribute hugely to the lack of comfort we feel in our bodies.  This is so much true that our brains must tell our bodies this is our 'normal' state, and we begin to accept pain and discomfort as part of our everyday experience. Nothing could be further from the truth. The first step in a path toward feeling better in our bodies is self awareness.  My friend Michelle Turner says, "Take time to see how you feel, how you move." You must begin here.  And then the miracles follow!

TAKE CONTROL of YOUR STRESS LEVEL - just in time for the holidays (holiDAZE?)

The Feldenkrais Method works directly with your nervous system. Because of this, you will notice an almost immediate improvement in breathing and relaxing of chronic tensions and muscular contractions. These releases create more capacity to feel the movements of your body, follow and track the transmission of force through your whole system, and gravitate toward more stable, efficient and comfortable movement. You will also notice an improved sense of self and feeling of well-being.

JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!  I teach four classes each week as well as individual Functional Integration lessons.  Please see the information below and contact me if you have questions or would like to learn more.

Reno Feldenkrais and EQuus Insight (Equine Therapy, Equine Guided Learning)

Post by Reno Feldenkrais Integrative Movement and Health.

Feldenkrais and Equine therapies are a powerful combination. On Weds, at EQuus Insight, we work with incarcerated teen boys, a program Melinda has been offering for 10 yrs. I joined and brought in Feldenkrais work 6 months ago. Today a wonderful boy (actually they are all wonderful in their own ways) graduated from the 3 yr program and we were so moved by his progress, his new sense of himself, his prospects, hope. But most of all, we felt our caring and concern for him upon his departure, worried for his future. It was a very touching day; the animals felt it too, as they participated in his Hero's Journey. He rode a horse through the last sequence, and there were many metaphors to study. We also had 2 visitors yesterday, caring, kind and involved horse and body awareness folk, who added to the high energy of the day.

Creating Stability in an Unstable World with Feldenkrais

Life deals us a hand and we need to respond to it as well as we can.  Dr. Feldenkrais clearly based his work on the premise that no matter what our physical, emotional or mental status, we can always optimize our function. This optimization begins with self-sensing. Self-sensing leads to profound self-knowledge that comes from a more whole and neutral part of us, not our critical, fault finding selves.

So how to begin? Feeling your feet on the ground, locating your skeleton internally, realizing that your head is more or less parallel to the sky, will bring a new internal experience to you.  And from here, we begin to stabilize, improve and recover our natural selves, our natural movement and humanity.

(The sign above was created by Buffy Owens, Feldenkrais Practitioner and teacher in New York, who is a wonderfully expressive creator.)