In the unforeseen stillness of March 2020, as the world paused, I found Feldenkrais. Thus began an odyssey of profound self-discovery, resilience, and change. Now, four years later, I pause to reflect on over 500 hours of dedicated practice.
I've unearthed invaluable lessons that have reshaped not only the way I move through the world but my entire outlook on life, as these two things are never separate. This narrative seeks to distill those insights, offering you, dear reader, a glimpse into the potent alchemy of movement and mindfulness.
I've unearthed invaluable lessons that have reshaped not only the way I move through the world but my entire outlook on life, as these two things are never separate. This narrative seeks to distill those insights, offering you, dear reader, a glimpse into the potent alchemy of movement and mindfulness.
As a professional dancer accustomed to the rigor of performing up to ten shows a week, the sudden halt of the pandemic brought me face-to-face with some long-ignored physical and mental discomforts: persistent lower back and neck pain, Occipital Neuralgia, TMJ, an ever-present cloud of fatigue, general anxiety and intermittent depression.
Traditional forms of therapy offered scant relief, pushing me further into discomfort. Yet, my first Feldenkrais session was a revelation—immediate relief and a newfound lightness of being that intrigued and mystified me.
Traditional forms of therapy offered scant relief, pushing me further into discomfort. Yet, my first Feldenkrais session was a revelation—immediate relief and a newfound lightness of being that intrigued and mystified me.
1. From Pain to Pleasure
My journey began with a struggle against debilitating lower back pain. The "spine like a chain" lesson, practiced daily, not only dissolved this pain but helped me experience a sense of freedom and availability for movement in a place that had been stuck for a very long time. Where I used to feel a sense of pain, rigidity, and strain, I now felt pleasure, ease and lightness.
2. Transforming Dance
This newfound freedom in movement extended beyond physical relief, fostering improvements in my dance technique, coordination, and overall quality of movement. It illuminated the importance of integration, teaching me to move as a cohesive whole rather than disjointed parts.
Pre-Feldenkrais, my dance was driven by intensity and effort, a reflection of a deeper cultural conditioning. No pain, no gain, right?... Wrong. All of those years spent training myself to work harder had actually done me a great deal of harm. The Feldenkrais method introduced me to the option of less effort, working smarter not harder, and in doing so I learned to embody a sense of calmness and serenity that had once seemed alien to me.
Pre-Feldenkrais, my dance was driven by intensity and effort, a reflection of a deeper cultural conditioning. No pain, no gain, right?... Wrong. All of those years spent training myself to work harder had actually done me a great deal of harm. The Feldenkrais method introduced me to the option of less effort, working smarter not harder, and in doing so I learned to embody a sense of calmness and serenity that had once seemed alien to me.
Previously, I would end dance performances sweaty and tireless, and it would often take me quite some time to wind down. Now, I can dance a whole half an hour set without sweating, feeling calm, collected, and breathing freely and easily the whole time. This physical transformation led to a philosophical one, challenging, reshaping, and deepening my understanding of performance and expression.
3. Resiliency is Health
In life, many things happen to us that are beyond our control. Mindful movement provided a sanctuary of relief for me during times of turmoil and despair, helping me cultivate an inner resilience that has fortified my mental well-being. Awareness Through Movement Lessons became one of the most powerful tools in recovering from the grip of anxiety, depression, and the traumas of life. I now face life's challenges with a newfound equanimity and optimism.
4. Harmony of Movement + Mind
As my movements became more organized, so did my mind, and my entire functioning improved. Both Feldenkrais and Dance taught me that the habits of our movements directly reflect the processes of our mind. “Movement never lies,” true words spoken by Martha Graham. When we transform our movement, we are able to transcend mere cognitive strategies, affecting change at a more subtle, unconscious level.
5. Renewed Vigor: Less is More
Daily lessons became a way of cleansing my cognitive pallette, dispelling brain fog, muddiness, and fatigue. What once would have been a groggy, slogging morning turned into a clear and fresh one, akin to the clarity one feels after a rejuvenating nap.
This clarity of mind, paralleled with better sleep quality and improved energy levels, has revolutionized my daily life allowing me to approach each day with renewed vigor and intention. This paradoxical discovery—that slowing down can actually enhance one's energy and productivity—was transformative. You can do less to do more.
This clarity of mind, paralleled with better sleep quality and improved energy levels, has revolutionized my daily life allowing me to approach each day with renewed vigor and intention. This paradoxical discovery—that slowing down can actually enhance one's energy and productivity—was transformative. You can do less to do more.
6. Creative Insights: Recognizing Patterns
Consistent practice has sharpened my pattern recognition, both within myself and in the world around me. Cultivating this superpower of heightened awareness and understanding of patterns has not only enriched my creativity but also deepened my understanding and empathy towards others, enabling me to perceive and engage with my environment in novel and enriching ways. Knowledge is indeed power!
7. Patience is More Than a Virtue
Patience is a learnable skill, and it is a prerequisite for a Feldenkrais lesson. Learning how to go slow and do less is an ever-evolving process of learning and improvement, and a very worthwhile endeavor. In a world that instills on us on a daily basis that more and faster is always better, going slow and doing less is a revolutionary idea.
And yet, the value of patience is profound and multifaceted, affecting every aspect of our lives. Patience is not merely a virtue in the abstract but a practical skill that can significantly impact our quality of life and the depth of our experiences. Patience changes our relationship with time and our expectations, and in doing so changes our relationship to our entire self.
8. From Resistance to Flow
This practice has taught me the art of letting go, allowing me to rewire deeply ingrained habits of resistance, embracing change with grace. Awareness and the ability to let go catalyzed significant lifestyle changes, bringing ease and harmony into my life in areas where there was once tension and compulsion. This process of unlearning and relearning has permeated every aspect of my life, from personal habits to interpersonal relationships, imbuing them with a sense of ease and authenticity.
9. Embracing Freedom
A profound sense of freedom in both movement and life choices has been granted to me through this practice. I now navigate life with a spontaneity and authenticity that I always aspired to but was previously obscured to me by reenacting old patterns. I can spontaneously choose to start or stop a task or a habit at any time because I’m either not interfering with myself, or I’m much more keenly aware of when I am. I act less from a place of enacting compulsive patterns from the past and more from a place of spontaneity and personal freedom.
10. Self-knowledge, Trust + Love
Feldenkrais has guided me towards knowing myself more. Through developing a more clear image of myself, self-trust and self-love have blossomed. This journey of self-discovery has allowed my true self to emerge more fully, enhancing my intellectual curiosity, creativity, and expressiveness. I feel more “me.”
11. The Art of Listening
Feldenkrais has fine-tuned my ability to listen—not just to the words of others but to the language of sensations. The more I practice listening, the more I can tune into ever-deepening subtle cues and whispers of discomfort or ease within myself, fostering a dialogue between movement, sensation and mind.
This attentive listening extends beyond my personal practice, enhancing my interactions with others by promoting a deeper sense of presence and empathy. In learning to listen to sensations in myself and others, I've uncovered a next-level ability to understand and connect.
This attentive listening extends beyond my personal practice, enhancing my interactions with others by promoting a deeper sense of presence and empathy. In learning to listen to sensations in myself and others, I've uncovered a next-level ability to understand and connect.
12. Generosity of Spirit
As my journey with Feldenkrais progressed, I found myself developing a generosity of spirit that I hadn't fully experienced before. This practice has not only been about self-improvement but also about extending the principles of ease, awareness, and compassion to those around me. By embodying the lessons of Feldenkrais in my daily life, I've learned to offer my presence, understanding, and support more freely. This openness has enriched my relationships, creating spaces of mutual growth and shared discovery.
13. Embracing Humility
Embarking on this Feldenkrais journey has been a humbling experience. It has challenged me to confront my limitations, acknowledge my vulnerabilities, and accept that the path to self-awareness is one of continuous learning. This humility has been empowering, allowing me to approach each lesson with a beginner's mind, open to the endless possibilities for transformation. It has taught me to value the process over the destination, celebrating each small step of progress as a victory in its own right.
14. Healthy Relationships
These things I learned through movement—how to be more gentle, how to stop making everything so hard, how to listen, how to trust myself, and how to let go–extend to relationships with others. Improving how we relate to ourselves ripples outwards, enhancing our interactions and connections with others, fostering deeper, healthier relationships.
Conclusion: A Journey Shared
As I reflect on my 500 hours with Feldenkrais, I recognize that this journey is not just my own but one that is shared with a community of practitioners and learners worldwide who are all exploring the depths of their own potential. This practice has woven threads of listening, generosity, and humility into the fabric of my being, enriching my life in ways I could never have anticipated.
After 500 hours, my journey with Feldenkrais is far from over. Each lesson brings new insights, a deeper sense of ease and heightened creativity. The practice continues to offer endless opportunities for growth, improved organization, and a deeper connection.
**Your Invitation**
As I share my story I invite you, dear reader, to consider what the Feldenkrais Method might help you discover. Whether you're seeking to heal, to grow, or simply to connect more deeply with yourself and others, this practice offers a potent pathway.
Let us walk this path together, embracing the lessons of listening, generosity, and humility as we explore the limitless possibilities of our own evolution. Whether you seek physical relief, mental clarity, or a deeper connection with your authentic self, this journey of awareness through movement holds untold possibilities. Let's explore together, embracing the continuous evolution towards a more integrated, vibrant self.
Let us walk this path together, embracing the lessons of listening, generosity, and humility as we explore the limitless possibilities of our own evolution. Whether you seek physical relief, mental clarity, or a deeper connection with your authentic self, this journey of awareness through movement holds untold possibilities. Let's explore together, embracing the continuous evolution towards a more integrated, vibrant self.
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Introduction to Awareness Through Movement®
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