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Reality Check LIVE! we report ... |
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Feldenkrais The Feldenkrais Method was developed in the early 20th century by Russian-born Moshe Feldenkrais, a physicist, and judo black belt, originally to help him overcome soccer related knee injuries. It involves using movement and attention to increase awareness of our own body in space, and so enhance our ability to learn, and grow, through this heightened awareness. Feldenkrais is used widely, with uses ranging from stroke and neurological rehabilitation, to being part of the training regimen of elite athletes, dancers, and circus performers. Similar to other movement based concepts, such as the Alexander Technique, and Yoga, Feldenkrais focuses on concentration and breathing, in addition to directed movement. Feldenkrais sessions can either be individual, hands-on sessions, known as “Functional Integration” (often used in a rehabilitation setting), or larger, class based “Awareness Through Movement” lessons (of which there are thousands), involving vocally directed movements, within a client’s own comfort level. The RC Live session involved two “Awareness Through Movement” lessons; a short lesson in standing focussed on trunk rotation, and a longer floor lesson, based on investigating “normal” gait. Many “Awareness Through Movement” lessons involved performing a certain movement, breaking it down into component parts, then revisiting the original movement. For example, the first lesson involved standing with our eyes closed, and turning as far as we could to one side (within comfortable limits, then opening our eyes to take a “landmark” from our original movement. This was then broken down into isolated head rotation, then trunk rotation (without head movement), then finally put back together – re-enacting the original rotation, opening our eyes at the end of the movement to compare our “new” landmark with the original landmark from the first movement. In addition to the increased range of movement that all the participants
experienced, the session also left everyone with a sense of increased
body awareness, and relaxation. Daniel |