Feldenkrais Awareness & Movement Classes
What to expect
If you've never been to a Feldenkrais class, you may mistake it for some very quiet yoga. Most of the time you will be laying on a mat on the floor, exploring small movements with the teacher's verbal guidance. Your comfort is your greatest friend in these classes. You won't be sweaty or exhausted at the end of a movement class, and it's suitable for all ages and physical conditions. You only need yourself, comfortable clothes, and an hour of your time.
Refine your abilities
Movement classes are for anybody wishing to become more excellent in what they are already good at: you don't need to be sick to participate.
Can you brush your teeth better? Lift boxes easier? Sit in an airplane's cockpit more comfortably? Play the piano lighter? Make the bed with more ease? Mow the lawn with less effort? Dance more freely?
You can find more lightness in every action.
Use your whole self
A lot happens when we don't involve our whole selves in our actions. You could play ping-pong just with your arm, with the rest of your body stuck in one place: your shoulder will soon ache. You could pick things up from the floor by just bending your back, without involving your hips and knees: your lower back will soon be unhappy. You could be cutting hair with your fingers and wrist alone, forgetting your arm, shoulder, torso, and hips: your wrist will soon burn.
In movement classes we learn to use ourselves both in isolation and as an integrated whole, to protect from injuries and be more comfortable in our bodies.
No pain, huge gain
Some people come to classes because they are in pain, or because of some other physical difficulty. It would be pure magic if a single group class could heal you, so I recommend you don't come with that expectation.
Whereas other disciplines suggest you to work through the pain, or that feeling pain is a sign that your body is working, in Feldenkrais you learn to feel your limits, to respect them, to work around them, and to use yourself better. You will be looking for your own comfort and pleasure, and to move in a way that feels good.
Experience the present
These classes are an invitation to feel your body the way it is right now, right here. To step away from what you know and what you expect, and give yourself the gift of being there for yourself. Like a musician playing a piece or a dancer performing a coreography, I invite you to be the movement you are making.
How do you like moving?
Most of us have a favorite color, prefer the mountains or the sea for holidays, know exactly which pizza toppings they wish for dinner ... but movement? Do you know how you move, and how you like to move?
Getting to know your movement patterns and preferences broadens your self-image, showing you parts of yourself you were not aware of. I will invite you to try different movement variations for you to discover what, right here, right now, works best for you.
Group vs Individual lesson, which to choose?
If you are new to the method, I recommend both at the same time. Individual sessions are tailored to you, and will help you understand what you are looking for, how to avoid straining yourself without noticing; group classes put you in your process and are best experienced when you know already how to take care of yourself, by yourself. Some people take a few individual sessions while they also start participating in group classes, and then continue with the group and sporadically with 1:1 lessons; some people only ever get individual sessions.