The Feldenkrais Method was developed by Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, who had a PhD in Physics and was a black-belt Judo instructor. Through his training and experience, he had a deep knowledge and understanding of the physics of movement. This, coupled with his interest in brain research, forms the scientific basis of his method.

The Feldenkrais Method has two ways of improving your ease of movement: Awareness Through Movement lessons and Functional Integration lessons.

In Awareness Through Movement lessons, you will be verbally guided to explore how your body moves and is organised. This is usually done lying on the floor on a mat. The movements are gentle, small and slow. Each lesson is based on a movement or movement sequence(s) that you would perform in everyday life. This will be explored in many variations. 

In Functional Integration lessons, your practitioner will work with you to explore how your body is organised. This is usually done lying on a low table, occasionally in other positions too. Here, too, the movements are gentle, small and slow. Each lesson is based on a movement or movement sequence(s) that you would perform in everyday life. This will be explored in many variations. 

You will work with your practitioner, who will guide you to sense yourself in a new way; in Functional Integration lessons, we work by touch and words. Awareness Through Movement lessons are verbally guided.

By working with a Feldenkrais practitioner, you'll become aware of your patterns of self-use, (re-)discover ease of movement and change learned habits that hold you back. The benefits can include reduction or elimination of pain, improved motion, enhanced artistic or sports performance and greater wellbeing in general.

The lessons will be done in a gentle, slow and individualised way, taking into consideration pre-existing pain or injuries. At no point will there be stretching to the point of pain or repetitive movements. Rather, the Feldenkrais Method aims to enhance your awareness of yourself by tapping into your innate capacity to learn, change and improve throughout your life.

You will discover greater ease of movement, agility, flexibility and joy!

As the Feldenkrais Method works with your own nervous system and its capability to change everything in you, Feldenkrais lessons can have a wide range of applications for you.

Awareness Through Movement and Functional Integration lessons can benefit you by improving issues that affect you in daily life like postural habits causing you pain or loss of balance; they can help you with injury recovery or if you have chronic pain or musculoskeletal issues. The lessons are of value if you suffer from any neurological or other movement conditions or from stress and anxiety. You can also benefit from the lessons if you wish to improve your artistic performance or just wish for a better quality of life.

As the Feldenkrais Method works with your own nervous system and its capability to change everything in you, Feldenkrais lessons can have a wide range of applications for you.

Feldenkrais lessons can benefit you by improving issues that affect you in daily life like postural habits causing you pain or loss of balance; they can help you with injury recovery or if you have chronic pain or musculoskeletal issues. The lessons are of value if you suffer from any neurological or other movement conditions or from stress and anxiety. You can also benefit from the lessons if you wish to improve your artistic performance or just wish for a better quality of life.

By working with a Feldenkrais practitioner, you'll become aware of your patterns of self-use, (re-)discover ease of movement and change learned habits that hold you back. The benefits can include reduction or elimination of pain, improved motion, enhanced artistic or sports performance and greater wellbeing in general.

The lessons will be done in a gentle, slow and individualised way, taking into consideration pre-existing pain or injuries. At no point will there be stretching to the point of pain or repetitive movements. Rather, the Feldenkrais Method aims to enhance your awareness of yourself by tapping into your innate capacity to learn, change and improve throughout your life.

You will discover greater ease of movement, agility, flexibility and joy!

Yes, the Feldenkrais lessons are suitable for people of all ages and abilities, from newborn age onwards. The movements are very small and gentle and will be adapted to each individual.

As a student in Awareness Through Movement and Functional Integration lessons, you can rest and pause whenever you feel the need to do so.

In order to do an Awareness Through Movement lesson, you need a mat/ blanket for the floor and comfortable clothing.

In order to do a Functional Integration lesson, you need no special equipment, just wear comfortable clothing. 

You can wear whatever keeps you warm and allows you to move arms and legs comfortably.

If you're choosing to do an Awareness Through Movement lesson online, it would be helpful (but not essential) to have a phone/ tablet/ computer equipped with a camera, so the practitioner can monitor your movement. Be assured that in group classes, attention will never be drawn to individuals. For online classes, you might need some head support (a cushion, folded towel, books) for side lying positions.

There is no need for any special clothing for either Functional Integration or Awareness Through Movement lessons. 

When you are meeting your practitioner for Functional Integration lessons, wear any loose fitting clothing in which you can comfortably move and keep warm. Jewellery, shoes and belts will be removed before the lesson. Ideally, wear a jumper or jacket without a hood, as this will allow better access to your neck area.

For Awareness Through Movement lessons, any comfortable clothing is suitable, ideally without a hood or belt. 

Your Feldenkrais practitioner works with your whole body everytime you do a lesson. All of you, your body and mind, is at the centre of each lesson, for Feldenkrais essons access the brain's innate capacity of perceiving differences between which movement is easy, and which one is not.

In Feldenkrais lessons, movement patterns that you use in daily life are explored, for example better turning, lifting of arms, balance etc. Movements that are not easy or cause pain are avoided.  There are no exercises, no repetitive movements, no stretching movements and there is no strain.

Your physiotherapist works in the medical field and uses targeted exercises and manual therapy to improve ailments you might present with. You might experience hands-on treatment and will often be prescribed targeted routines. 

Feldenkrais lessons can be done in conjunction with and complementary to physiotherapy.

In many movement systems, such as Yoga or Pilates, movements can be done repetitively many times, stretches can be held for extended periods and the implicit or explicit aim is to enhance the range of movement and flexibility as well as strength.

In Feldenkrais lessons, all movements are kept small and within the range of ease and comfort. There is no repetition, but rather an attitude of sensing yourself as you are moving.

The aim of the movements done in Awareness Through Movement and Functional Integration lessons is to find a path to your nervous system and greater awareness, so you might experience a change in habits that don't benefit you and/or lead to pain or discomfort.

In these lessons, a particular theme or movement function which is relevant to you in daily life (for example turning, side-bending, reaching etc) is explored in detail and with many variations.

Among many other benefits, this can also lead to an enhanced range of movement and flexibility, but that is not the aim of - or motivation for - doing a Feldenkrais lesson.

No, the Feldenkrais Method is unlike any other form of movement system. A Feldenkrais lesson is not an exercise class. You will not be exerting yourself or even be out of breath at any time.

The aim of the movements done in Awareness Through Movement and Functional Integration lessons is to find a path to moving better by working with your nervous system. Therefore, all movements are slow, small and non-repetitive, there is never any stretching to (or through) the point of pain or holding positions.

At the centre of Feldenkrais lessons is an attitude of sensing yourself as you are moving. It is by sensing and becoming more aware of yourself, that you will see a profound change. This way of learning is not goal-oriented. By moving with awareness, your brain perceives differences between which movement is easy, and which movement is less easy, opening up the possibility of changes in your movement habits.

The Feldenkrais lessons aim to enhance what you can do, rather than focussing on what you can't do.

As a student in an Awareness Through Movement lesson (group or individual), you can rest and pause whenever you feel the need to do so.

Both the Feldenkrais method and the Alexander Technique address movement patterns, but the key difference is that the approach to learning and movement is different.

The Alexander technique modifies inefficient movement habits through conscious, mental control, whereas your Feldenkrais practitioner uses gentle touch aimed at letting your brain (which regulates the muscles and nervous system) discover better movement patterns organically.

The aim of the movements done in Awareness Through Movement and Functional Integration lessons is to find a path to moving better by working with your nervous system. Therefore, all movements are slow, small and non-repetitive, there is never any stretching to (or through) the point of pain or holding positions.

At the centre of Feldenkrais lessons is an attitude of sensing yourself as you are moving. It is by sensing and becoming more aware of yourself, that you will see a profound change. This way of learning is not goal-oriented. By moving with awareness, your brain perceives differences between which movement is easy, and which movement is less easy, opening up the possibility of changes in your movement habits.

The Feldenkrais lessons aim to enhance what you can do, rather than focussing on what you can't do.

As you are doing the lesson with an attitude of listening to yourself as you are moving, relaxation can be one of the benefits of a Feldenkrais lesson.

No, there are no particular physical requirements for these lessons.

All movements are kept small and within the range of ease and comfort. There are no repetitive movements, there is no stretching, no position is held for extended periods of time. The lessons cultivate an attitude of sensing yourself as you are moving. 

In Feldenkrais lessons, you can rest and pause whenever you feel the need to do so.

You cannot do anything "wrong" in a Feldenkrais lesson, as it is individually tailored to you.

The aim of Feldenkrais lessons is to start where you are and focus on what you can do, avoiding movements that are uncomfortable or painful.

In Awareness Through Movement lessons, you will follow the practitioner's instructions with an attitude of sensing yourself. You will learn to adapt those instructions to the sensations and limitations of your own body and avoid movements that cause you any pain. 

In Functional Integration lessons, your practitioner will work with you in a very gentle way, most often while you are lying on a table. 

As with all types of movement (including everyday life movements), injuries can happen. They are, however, very avoidable if you stay within the range of comfort and ease for yourself.

Yes, your Feldenkrais practitioner is experienced in working with existing pain and injuries. Each lesson can be adapted to you individually to circumvent injuries or painful movements.

Feldenkrais lessons will benefit you, whether you work directly with a practitioner on your own, or in a group class. Each lesson can be individually adapted to yourself.

You can book a lesson by contacting me. Feel free to also ask me any questions you might have that are not answered in this FAQ section.

Contact details can be found on this website under "contact".

To find out more about Functional Integration lessons, please consult the "services" page on this website.

To find out more about Awareness Through Movement lessons, please consult the "services" page on this website.

A Feldenkrais lesson is usually around 45-55 minutes long, but the length can vary depending on your needs.