1. Felden....What?

Feldenkrais! The Feldenkrais Method is named after Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, scientist and Martial Arts teacher in the 1950's. Feldenkrais is a system designed to tap into the power of the human brain to improve functioning. Through gentle but powerful movement lessons, we improve physical performance on many levels as well as mental awareness. Feldenkrais has helped many people world-wide to overcome injuries and limitations. The Feldenkrais method is practiced both in a class setting ("Awareness through Movement" classses) as well as one-on-one with a practitioner.

2. Is Feldenkrais like Yoga?

Not at all! Yoga is an ancient form of practice with the goal to attain spiritual insight and tranquility; many forms of yoga practices exist in our western world today. Feldenkrais is a scientifically based movement method that uses the human neuro-developmental milestones as it's source. The way humans develop movement, from infant to mature adult, is the foundation for thousands of different movement lessons that facilitate movements that are more efficient, release unnecessary muscle tension, improve our posture and breathing, re-align the skeleton and allow us to reach our fullest potential as a physical, mental and emotional being.

3. Is Feldenkrais for people with injuries only?

Everyone can benefit from this method: all ages and all fitness levels;people who recover from injuries learn how to move again and healthy people learn how to prevent injuries through better skeletal alignment, improved self-awareness, greater flexibility and more efficient core power.

4. Is Feldenkrais better than yoga, Pilates or Stretching classes?

Feldenkrais is different: it is not a substitute for other forms of exercise. It is a foundation for healthy movement. By learning to move without overusing our bodies, we become more efficient in all other disciplines and tasks of life: when practicing Feldenkrais movements, the body integrates biologically inate healthy ways of moving again. This makes us more efficient with everything else we do in life: from yoga, to gardening. to sitting at our desks, to carrying our grandchildren to playing an instrument or playing basketball.

5. I heard Feldenkrais is very gentle. How can this help me? I usually like fast and intense power workouts.

Like every method or fitness style, people either resonate with the approach or they don't. Some people don't like the idea of moving rather slowly and gently. Yet, this is the only way to re-learn movement and become aware of our own patterns. Moving fast and forceful in a stereotypical, repetitive fashion does not give our nervous system new information. In listening to our movements and observing how we move, awareness sets in and the brain can actually create new neuronal pathways. This is the beginning of learning and manifesting new movement configurations. Once the new information is processed and repeated through a variation of paces, orientations and challenges, the brain creates new "maps". This means movement becomes more easy, effortless, efficient, powerful. And this is the amazing thing: through all these rather gentle movement progressions, our movements become more powerful.

6. How can Feldenkrais support athletes?

The Feldenkrais method bridges the worlds of the mind and the body. As an athlete, our self image is around our goals, our motivations and why we try to stay fit (mind). Then we have our physical condition and the fitness techniques we use to improve it (body). The Feldenkrais Method focuses on exactly that relationship between movement and thought. It teaches us a deeper understanding of what it means to be fit, how to integrate movement lessons into warm-up and full workouts, learning why often, less is more and provides a strong foundation for keeping our bodies and minds active and sound through our life time. This is especially important because our bodies mature and have different needs as we age: and this makes it more so important for high performance bodies to learn new ways of moving in order to improve and keep the performance level at it's fullest.

For further questions or information contact Marion Kregeloh, PT, CFP at 924.6226, Ext. 36 or at 479.1765.

Marion Kregeloh, PT, CFP

If you have any questions regarding exercise routines or want more information, please contact Marion Kregeloh, PT, r at 415.479.1765.

Marin Movement Center - Helping Your Body Thrive

Your source for physical therapy in Marin

Locations in San Rafael and Larkspur