Moshé Feldenkrais
The Feldenkrais Method was developed by Dr. Moshé Feldenkrais (1904–1984), physicist, engineer, martial artist, educator and researcher. See www.feldenkrais.com/method/ a_biography_of_moshe_feldenkrais/.
The Method is a unique and revolutionary approach to the understanding of human learning, movement and function. Its focus is on the practical development of one’s own individual potential and ability. The Feldenkrais Method is practiced by using two techniques: Awareness through Movement and Functional Integration.
In Awareness through Movement (ATM)
the teacher/practitioner leads a group of people through verbally directed movement lessons. The movements are done at one’s own pace with enough time to explore individually for one’s own understanding and comfort.
The effects of the lessons are profound and give an increased sense of well-being and spontaneity. People learn to improve the way they organize themselves for action. These lessons cover a wide range of human movement; from infant development to high level performance abilities.
Functional Integration (FI)
is an individualized, hands-on, mostly non-verbal, one to one process. The student is guided by the practitioner through sequences of movements that bring the student to learn a more efficient use of him/herself in daily life. The touch is non-invasive, sensitive and precise.
“The exercises are ingenious and so simple.”
Yehudi Menuhin
“This is the most sophisticated and effective method I have seen for the prevention and reversal of deterioration of function.”
Margaret Mead
“Moshé Feldenkrais was a great friend of ours. His work, in our times, is extremely important. He evolved the study of body movement more precisely and more scientifically, I think, than any other of the schools of his contemporaries. It remains very important, because the basis of all theatre work is the body. The body is the instrument.”
Peter Brook
“Moshé Feldenkrais was a genius in creating situations that are unusal, novel for adults. This wakes up the brain, the self for more interest in yourself, which results in being more interested in other people - which leads to being more interested and in touch with life”
Jeremy Krauss, A new way of learning, public workshop, Vienna, April 2008