Welcome to my pages where you can find out more about the Feldenkrais Method including a case study, testimonials about my work and links to relevant film clips. Please get in touch by email or phone if you would like to talk more about the method and your particular needs and to find out about classes or book a lesson.
About Caroline || About the Feldenkrais Method
The Feldenkrais Method for specific groups and occupations
Infants & children || Older age groups || Performing Arts || Sport
About Caroline
Caroline comes from a background in the visual and performing arts and movement work and has been teaching the Feldenkrais Method for ten years. She has studied movement extensively in Europe and Asia as a medium for personal development and for theatre. She has worked with performing arts students, the general public and children with disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy and Autism. She also currently teaches students with learning difficulties in further education. She has found this approach deeply beneficial, effective and an essential part of her life.
About the Feldenkrais Method
This highly responsive method offers an enjoyable process of exploring movement, which will enable you to move more fully, freely and easily, and is suitable for all ages and abilities. It is even effective with animals. Rather than trying to ‘correct’ movement, the method creates the conditions for learning and many improvements evolve naturally.
It is based on fundamental human movement patterns, especially the early developmental stages and is also informed by its founder Moshe Feldenkrais’s background in science, martial arts and his investigations into psychology, neuro-science and human evolution. He viewed our movement system as dynamic and adaptable.
Dr. Feldenkrais developed the method initially to overcome the effects of serious knee injuries believing that the key was to look at how he was moving in relation to how human beings are designed and wired for movement.
You can benefit from lessons or classes if you -- are curious about movement and enjoy exploring
- would like to feel more comfortable in your body and increase your feeling of vitality and well-being
- would like to extend and refine movement skills in daily life or a particular field
- have stiffness, restriction or pain
- need to recover from an injury and rebuild confidence in your movement
- have a disability, a neurological condition/damage or nervous tension
What is the Feldenkrais Method? view >>
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It is taught in two ways
Awareness Through Movement (ATM) classes and workshops for groups, done lying or sitting on the floor and sometimes sitting in a chair or standing. Here I guide you verbally through a sequence of small movements, which build into a larger one involving the whole body in an integrated way. This could be turning, reaching or rolling. For example, you might explore spiraling to come from lying
to sitting and then to standing. You are invited to observe your movements non-judgmentally, noticing how they feel, where they take you and to give attention to the quality of the movements. The emphasis is on working gently and mindfully, without pushing, which leads to remarkable results. You will increase your range of movement, reduce tension and unnecessary effort and discover new possibilities. There are hundreds of enjoyable lessons ingeniously designed around all the possible connections, articulations and relationships which form the basis for all your movement.
Having fun rolling view >>
Functional Integration (FI) individual hands-on lessons done fully clothed on a table. Here I use touch to sense your body and movement which allows you to sense yourself. I can then make suggestions with my hands which guide you towards new patterns which might be more useful and harmonious. These lessons are not invasive and do not use forceful manipulation. Again you will have more range of movement and feel more supported by the end of a lesson which lasts about an hour.
After lessons you are likely to
- feel lighter, taller, freer and more at ease as well as more grounded
- feel more at home in your body and with yourself
- feel more structural support
- feel more confident
- sit and stand more comfortably
- breath more fully
- find movement and physical activity more pleasurable
- have more awareness of your body and movement
- have better co-ordination and spatial orientation
The Feldenkrais Method focuses on clearly connecting your skeletal structure so that your muscles do not have to work so hard. This means you can move without unnecessary effort and muscular strain. It also teaches you to move from the centre of your body.
The lessons provide a safe place to explore at your own pace, experiencing and gradually absorbing new ways of moving. Positive changes will become part of your movement and how you do things without you always needing to prompt them and you will have useful tools for when you do need to.
Growing awareness of your movement will help you to look after your body and to reduce the likelihood of pain and injury, especially important if you have back or knee problems for example. You will become more adaptable to different circumstances (such as badly designed chairs) by having more choices as to how you can move and position yourself. Feldenkrais will bring you lasting benefits in many areas of your life.
“When you know what you do you can do what you want” Moshe Feldenkrais
What people have said about their sessions with me:
“I always leave the class with an overall feeling of increased well-being and sense of future possibilities.” Damien.
“Caroline helped me gain some genuine insights into my stiffness and pain that really helped.” Emmanuel.
“I gained insights into movement and its bearing on function and dysfunction which complimented my medical knowledge and gave me a new depth of sensitivity.”
Martin.
“I’ve found Caroline a clear, patient and caring teacher and have enjoyed my exploration of movement with her.” Renalda.
“I went to Caroline with neck problems and through her hands-on work and classes my pain is very much relieved.” Sophia. |
The Feldenkrais Method for specific groups and occupations
Working with infants and children
The Feldenkrais Method works especially well for children as it is based on how they explore, develop and learn through purposeful movement. If your infant or young child’s movement is not progressing, there is difficulty with movement or lack of confidence and co-ordination, lessons can make a big difference quickly as children learn easily. They will also aid cognitive development and concentration.
Children (and adults alike) with more specific disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Dyspraxia (for which Feldenkrais is ideal), and Dyslexia respond well. It is possible to create new neural pathways by working with the body and lessons can calm agitation and lessen extreme tension. Parents have particularly reported cognitive differences as a result of lessons.
Case study and testimonial:
“My daughter Bex has Pervasive Developmental Delay (PDD) and is on the Autistic spectrum. Although her first Feldenkrais sessions were challenging mentally, physically and sensorially, with Caroline’s good humoured, playful and flexible approach, Bex’s co-operation grew. Initially she would only work for a few minutes between breaks and play but this grew until she could co-operate for the whole session. Caroline adapts to how Bex is feeling and is perceptive, creative and sensitive. Bex has benefited enormously from her sessions.” Roz Lawson. The pictures show Bex doing an ATM lesson about rolling. These lessons helped her to develop her verbal processing as well as showing improvements in flexion and extension. After working with me regularly for two years she was able to do this lesson easily. |
Healing Quest: Feldenkrais Achieves What Medicine Could Not view >>
Anat Baniel Method - Cerebral Palsy view >>
Applications of the Feldenkrais Method view >>
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Older age groups
When you are older it is important to stay as supple as possible so you can remain active. Feldenkrais lessons will help you do this. They will also help you to improve balance, reducing fear of falling and teach you strategies for using your body which do not rely on muscular strength.
Testimonial:
“I can thoroughly recommend the Feldenkrais Method. It has improved my mobility and stamina and as an ex-professional dancer, who has sustained injuries, the lessons have helped the healing process. I can now take pleasure again in activities like rambling and dancing, and can enjoy life to the full as a very active pensioner”
Brenda.
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Getting in and out of a chair more easily view >>
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Performing Arts
Feldenkrais is particularly well suited to theatre performance as it helps neutralize personal movement habits and enable you to develop a wider vocabulary of movement for characterization and expression. It will also enhance your stage presence.
The dance field is increasingly interested in Feldenkrais where as well as extending movement and versatility it will help to prevent injury.
Musicians can find ways to be more comfortable with their instrument allowing their playing and musical expression to blossom. Yehudi Menuhin had lessons with Moshe Feldenkrais and was very impressed. Singers will find it helpful in placing their voice well in the body and breathing more fully and flexibly.
The method will enhance the skills you already have and allow your creativity and artistic abilities to be more available to you.
A violinist speaks about the benefits of Feldenkrais to her playing view >>
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Sport
Refine your movement skills for more precision, agility and co-ordination and sharpen your mental skills (concentration, strategy). Using your body well with awareness will reduce the chance of injury and the method also offers effective rehabilitation from injuries, restoring confidence.
Running - Feldenkrais Method view >>
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