• Need to lower the impact of stress on your body?
  • Do you have chronic physical mobility and tension issues?
  • Is your movement impaired in any way?
  • Want to enhance your ability to move and reduce stress?


    • Where can you get relief?

              THE FELDENKRAIS METHOD®

    What is the Feldenkrais Method and how can it help you?

    The Feldenkrais Method® developed by physicist and mechanical engineer Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, provides a safe, non-invasive, low impact way to feel better, reduce stress and move with increased comfort and ease. Taught in groups or private lessons, Dr. Feldenkrais developed over 1000 movement sequences that are designed to give you:
    • New options for movement with reduced strain or pain.
    • An improved sense of self that will help you in everything you do.
    • Lessons to improve your posture, balance, breathing, and the way you feel.
    How is it taught?

  • The Feldenkrais Method is taught either as verbally directed movement sequences, called Awareness Through Movement® lessons, or individually, in hands on sessions called Functional Integration®.
  • Awareness Through Movement classes are available in groups of any size. Most, but not all, of the lessons begin lying on the floor. Over 1000 lesson sequences ensures variety in the lessons. Movements are slow, gentle and non-aerobic. The attention is on the quality and ease of the movement, not on the range or speed as is found in many other movement methods.
  • Functional Integration lessons are given with the client lying on a table, sitting in chair or standing. Unlike some manipulative therapies, Feldenkrais lessons are always given with the client fully clothed. The Feldenkrais Method is not a medical treatment. However, it has proven effective in reducing back, knee, neck pain, and discomfort resulting from poor posture, stress or poor use of body mechanics. Teachers, performers, athletes and just ‘plain folk’ find that Feldenkrais lessons have helped them feel better and improved their ability to handle the stress of daily life with fewer distractions.

    • Is the Feldenkrais Method necessary for singers and/or actors?

  • As a singer /actor you are aware that tension interferes with optimal voice production. General stretching exercises such as head rolls, jaw and tongue stretches release tension in the moment, but do not change the underlying pattern that causes tension.
  • In order to truly effect change something more than just stretching exercises is necessary. The Feldenkrais Method teaches awareness of movement and holding patterns that cause tension. Lessons provide new learning to change those patterns and release tension.
  • Voice production is dependent upon posture, breath, and balance. Subtle changes in balance and weight bearing change breath patterns. This releases holding patterns along the spine and ribs, allowing the larynx to become freely suspended in the throat.
  • Vocal color, flexibility and range are then impacted by these minor adjustments. You’ll discover new freedom of vocal production and color when you become aware of the relationship of the feet to the pelvis, spine, ribs, and head.
  • Singers and actors often assume that postural and balance changes can only happen when upright. Yet by positioning the body in such a way as to be fully supported, the movement sequences help us to discover skeletal connections. These changes then become even more apparent when we return to the upright position.

    • The Feldenkrais Method teaches unique lessons to explore subtle changes in body posture and alignment to improve voice.

    It will help you to achieve a new body awareness and understanding as well as power and range of movement.



    TRY THIS

        All movements should be done SLOWLY and with attention to the movement: Sit comfortably in a chair that allows movement of the     shoulder and neck. Notice how your shoulders feel. Tense,     relaxed, short, wide, or anything else you notice.

    1. Lift and lower SLOWLY your right shoulder. Keep repeating this     movement for about a minute. Notice how smooth or jagged the     movement is, keep the range small. How easy can you allow this     movement to be? STOP AND REST the shoulder. Be sure it is in     “neutral”.

    2. Bring your right ear TOWARDS, in the direction of, NOT TO, your     right shoulder and back to the neutral (head straight) position.     Move slowly sensing the ease of the movement. Range is not     important – repeat slowly for about a minute. Notice how this     feels in the neck and stay well within your comfort zone. Notice if     there is any supportive movement in the ribs of any shift of     weight over the pelvis. STOP AND REST

    3. Bring your ear TOWARDS the shoulder and the shoulder     TOWARDS the ear, and then back to neutral. Make sure you fully     relax your shoulder and bring your head to upright position each     time – repeat slowly and with attention for about 1 minute.     Notice the quality of your breathing. Is there a point in the     movement during which the easy in and out of the breath     becomes irregular or stops? See how smooth and easy the     movement can become.

    STOP AND REST
    4. Notice the difference between the shoulders. Is one lower than     the other; feels more relaxed; wider or more “open” than the     other?

    Take a moment to notice the change.
    5. Repeat steps 1-3 on the left side. Make sure that all movements     are slow and gentle.

    Notice how your shoulders and neck feel now. Walk around. Do you notice anything different about the way you are standing or walking? Has your breathing become quieter or deeper? You might notice as you go back to work, that you hold your shoulders or your shoulders are tense. Something you never realized before. Let them go. This is just a small sample of what you can learn
    What's possible for YOU? Let's find out! Call or email to schedule a lesson or
    get information on our current classes and workshops.
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