Feldenkrais w/ Juan Martinez & Tara Appriou

1. You suffer from chronic pain or discomfort

2. You have physical or psychological limitations you want to over come

3. You want to move more freely and enjoyably in daily life

4. You want to find a space where you can feel supported and learn with pleasure

5. You're looking for a way to improve your skills or break through a ceiling in a particular area

6. You wish to aquire new strategies to help you learn or teach more effectively

During Feldenkrais Awareness through Movement (ATM) lessons, you are guided verbally, without role models, through a sequence of movements. Lessons take place in lying on the floor, standing or sitting on a chair, and you are invited to explore easy, varied, unusual movements. They allow participants to improve both the range and quality of movement. The lessons exist in an extraordinary varied repertoire, but essentially are governed by two fundamental principles. First of all, you move in your comfort zone, the idea being to advocate intelligence rather than effort. Thus, the lessons take you beyond your limits while making you discover a new way to organize your movements. Second, you should only cary the instruction to the extent that you are able to pay attention to what you are doing. If the mind begins to wander, if the movement becomes mechanical, you stop. Using these principles, Feldenkrais' lessons often produce unexpected and dramatic results. Although for Moshe Feldenkrais, all results are trivial compared to the importance of guiding your own learning. The method was invented by Moshe Feldenkrais, whose many hats included engineer, physicist and judoka. Following a knee injury, he began studying everything from anatomy to psychology to avoid having to undergo surgery. As a result, he developed a neuro-somatic approach that has helped thousands of people overcome mobility difficulties, as well as psychological and emotional ones.

Participants can expect to improve their mobility, relieve pain, adopt better posture and increase the fluidity and comfort of their bodies. Emphasis will also be placed on identifying and modifying body habits and on cooperation between the different parts of the body.
Overall, you will improve your ability to feel, adapt to circumstances or find resilience resources. Paying attention to your movement and developing your awareness will enable you to be more attuned to your intentions.

Themes include improving daily mobility, understanding the link between movement and mental well-being, identifying and modifying body habits, and harmonizing different body parts for better coordination.
We have a special focus on understanding the underlying importance of the skeleton. A more skeletal use tends to bring about a more congruent use of oneself.

Lessons last from 50min to 1h and cover a wide range of topics. Lessons can highlight specific body parts, or focus on imagining movement. Lessons can feature an exploration of sensations, movement initiation, transmission feel, coordination, breathing and more.

No specific prerequisites are required to participate. Classes are open to all, regardless of age, gender, background or previous experience with the Feldenkrais Method.