Breathing 101
Our breathing reflects every emotional or physical effort and every disturbance.” – Moshe Feldenkrais. Moshe Feldenkrais wrote extensively about the importance of breath and breathing, emphasizing the importance of awareness and self- discovery in breathing, rather than adhering to one “right” way to breathe. In the fitness world, the common practice is to exhale during the […]
Walk backwards and challenge your brain
In recent weeks, I have come across articles in the media highlighting issues near and dear to my Feldenkrais heart! Everyone knows that walking is one of the best, safest, cheapest and easiest forms of exercise. Regular walking has many positive health benefits. Until recently less has been written about walking backwards. A couple of recent […]
Different ways to reach for something
This past week I taught a class called “arms to your hips” but, as with many of the names of the Feldenkrais lessons the titles are not always a true reflection of the functional outcome of the lesson. It was, in my mind, about reaching, turning and transitioning from lying to side sitting. While teaching the lesson, […]
Do less and learn more
Moshe Feldenkrais wrote a small seminal pamphlet on learning called “Learning to Learn” which he developed as a guide to accompany recorded and published Awareness Through Movement lessons. In each class that I teach one or more of the elements he discussed surfaces. Probably none is more important, and a part of each and every […]
Living our avowed and unavowed dreams
COVID-19 has changed our lives as we knew it. As John Lennon said, “life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” When the pandemic was called last March it effectively derailed any and all plans we had made for the remainder of this year and likely for part of next year. […]
Taking care of ourselves
Summer was fashionably late but has finally arrived in BC! Summer was fashionably late but has finally arrived in BC! In any season, we live in one of the best places but summer here is my favourite (apologies to those of you who live elsewhere). Warm, sunny and often breezy but generally not too hot and humid. What more […]
Between stimulus and response
Sixteen weeks and counting This week I looked back at my calendar and realized that this upcoming week (June 30) marks the 16th week I have been teaching Awareness Through Movement® classes virtually, on Zoom. Sixteen weeks! I am very grateful to everyone who has been joining our weekly classes including current and former students […]
Managing pandemic weariness
We are all getting a little weary. I “googled” the word weary and one of the definitions offered was “reluctance to see or experience any more of something.” That is a good description of how many of us feel. We are “done” with the pandemic and the resulting restrictions imposed on our lives. Everyone wants […]
We live in interesting times
Life is changing daily. The global pandemic has changed our lives, likely permanently. This week I moved to teaching on Zoom. So far response has been positive. It is a win-win for all. I can continue to do what I love doing which is teaching classes. Students can continue to boost their well-being through mindful movement, and we all […]
Is it correct?
At some point in any group fitness or movement class a participant will ask, “am I doing it right?” In referring to efforts to correct someone’s movement patterns, Moshe Feldenkrais said, “to correct is incorrect”. What did he mean? The Feldenkrais Method® is an educational method using a learning framework. The Feldenkrais teacher/practitioner, sets the […]
