About the Feldenkrais Method®

What is the Feldenkrais Method® of Somatic Education?

The Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education is a practice, a process, and a system for self-improvement. It is a form of “somatic education,” which means it uses movement and real-time awareness of your own body sensations to guide you toward the positive changes you seek.

The Feldenkrais Method® is not a treatment, adjustment, or exercise program. Instead, it is based on decades of research in physics, neuroscience, biomechanics, learning theory, and human development to give you the means to help yourself.

What can the Feldenkrais Method® do for me?

The Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education offers a wide range of benefits, as diverse as the individuals who explore the Method. We hope you will find yourself in some of the articles on this website, and can get an idea of how others like you have experienced: whether you are seeking pain relief, dealing with conditions of the central nervous system (multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke), or extending your abilities, improving skill, and enhancing creativity.

How does the Feldenkrais Method® work?

Your own body awareness and attention stimulates the brain to create new neural pathways that enable optimal movement patterns and function. This brain activity is called “neuroplasticity.” Neuroplasticity is what allows all learning to take place. As you learn better ways to move, you experience improvements in balance, breathing, coordination, flexibility, cognition, and outlook.

Where does the name come form?

The Feldenkrais Method® was developed over 40 years of research by Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais. He was a scientist and an athlete, as well as one of the first Europeans to earn a black belt in Judo. He applied his rigorous scientific approach to the study of movement in order to explore how we learn and how to improve our lives.

How is the Feldenkrais Method® different from Yoga?

Unlike yoga, the Feldenkrais Method® does not require you to be flexible, nor does it involve stretching or holding any positions. It also does not involve any practice to perfect positions. Instead of repeating and holding set poses as in yoga, in a Feldenkrais® class you explore gentle and innovative movements as you learn to become aware of habits that may be causing you movement difficulties, inefficiencies, or pain. Many yoga devotees explore the Feldenkrais Method as a way to achieve postures that previously eluded them or that caused discomfort.