Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais
Designed for Movement is an organic approach using your whole brain to find better balance and coordination within movement. We cannot separate the function of our body from our mind and as scientific research has discovered with early childhood development, learning to move well in our bodies translates to better brain development. Learning through movement how to train our minds to function optimally is the most fundamental, powerful learning available to us.
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Our approach uses sound scientific principles including the laws of Physics, the weight of Gravity and the design of the human structure (skeleton) to facilitate optimal movement for every activity. Physics tells us that the most efficient movement through space is rotation. Our skeleton is a long, tall, flexible cylinder that is designed to rotate and counter rotate as we move through space to keep us centered in the structure. We take advantage of the weight of gravity for all movement.
The difference between what we teach and other modalities is that we do not try to train which muscles to use for any given activity; we train awareness of what muscles you don't need - what restricts or constrains movement. None of our practices are exercises of rote repetition, but rather a progressive development of awareness that teaches you to be fully conscious of what you are doing and how you are doing it at any given moment during your day - in short being totally present in your body. With the development of total awareness your brain becomes less distracted with trying to keep your body in balance as you move. As you move more efficiently your brain functions more effectively.
It's a simple approach yet difficult to implement because most movement patterns are habituated by our brain, meaning we are not conscious of them. You run, walk, sit, lie down spontaneously without thinking about it. However if you want to change how you run, walk or do any activity you must become conscious of how you are doing it in order to change. Training yourself to become aware of habits you want to change is what we facilitate. To change you must weaken the neurological brain connection of your habit and strengthen the new connection.
Do I see you for the rest of my life?
The power of this approach is that you can change your habits and patterns once you are aware of them. As you become more aware and fully conscious in your body you will spontaneously make better choices in movement and will eliminate the need for our guidance.
How fast can I change?
It depends on you! How motivated are you to practice the movements you learn; how quickly do you shift your mental paradigm of what muscles to release in any given movement versus what muscles you are using. For example: Turn to look around yourself in sitting. Notice why you stop turning. Is it because your muscles feel great or is it because you feel stiff and tight somewhere. We actually cannot feel a particular muscle when it is working appropriately but we can feel a muscle that is constraining movement because we feel stiff, tight, discomfort and pain.
