A Feldenkrais
practitioner has two ways of sharing the work. Awareness Through Movement®
(ATM) lessons, taught in large classes to groups of people, are preset lessons
created by Moshe Feldenkrais designed to teach certain types of movements. The
lessons range from the most basic, such as rolling the head with ease, to the
most accomplished, such as rolling or coming up gracefully to stand from the
floor. Often the ATM's are taught in series, and deal with various types of
issues, such as balance, alignment, vocal production for singing, and so forth.
The lessons, while often challenging, are done with the understanding that
individual students are to go slowly and gently, and are not to cause
themselves any pain or discomfort. The best learning happens in an environment
which is pleasant, and this is the environment fostered by a Feldenkrais
teacher.
The other way a Feldenkrais
Practitioner works is in a private session called Functional
Integration® (FI). These are hands-on, one-on-one lessons done in a
private setting in which a practitioner is able to tailor a lesson to an
individual based on their wishes and needs. While anyone can benefit in some
way from an ATM on any subject, FI's allow practitioners to go at a speed which
is more appropriate to the recipient. Some people may require more time to
integrate the information in a single ATM. Functional Integration lessons are
done in a gentle, non-intrusive manner. The client remains fully clothed, and
the practitioner does not bring the client into pain or discomfort.
The Feldenkrais Method is not a spiritual discipline, nor
is it therapy. Unless they have a degree in more than one discipline, Feldenkrais
practioners are not qualified to advise people spiritually or emotionally. On
the other hand, many spiritual and emotional issues can be dealt with very
successfully by addressing movement alone, and this is what Feldenkrais
teachers do better than anyone. You may be able to experience powerful personal
growth as a result of having more options in the way you move.
The
Feldenkrais Method
is for you if you want to learn to move better than you ever have in your life;
if you want to be able to do things you always assumed were impossible; if you
want to improve in your area of expertise; if you want relief from problems
that have been difficult for traditional medecine to assess or diagnose. Moshe
Feldenkrais believed, as all Feldenkrais Practitioners believe, that
there is no limit to human potential. This flies in the face of nearly
everything we have been taught since we were children. This is why Feldenkrais
is unlike anything you have ever done, and exactly what you have always wanted.