I like to think that Moshe Feldenkrais would be pleased that the Feldenkrais Method is reaching further and further around the globe, 50 years after his passing. And that he would be delighted to know that there’s an International Feldenkrais Federation set up to facilitate communication and discussion between all the national Guilds in the world. Taiwan joined us this year with a new Guild, and Hong Kong last year, so we’re a growing family. The IFF has not only Guilds, but training communities as members too, and we support work between the different Training Accreditation Boards, so that its a global qualification.  Any large changes to the trainings have to be agreed by the 5 training bodies around the world. As one of the UK’s representatives, I got to attend.

This year was hosted in Frankfurt, and we were treated to German sausages and potato salad on the first full evening, before the work began! (No pictures of them sorry!) It looks a little like a mini -UN, just with fewer politics. You can see the French delegation next to me (a very small Channel between us) along with part of the rest of the room! Its a time to share strategies, questions, challenges and successes with our international colleagues. 

I gave a presentation on a project I’m currently part of, working to get the Feldenkrais Method accepted onto the Complementary Health Council, (NHS adjacent) and sharing the research we’ve done along the way. In Israel, Feldenkrais is given often instead of physio, as it’s recognised that many problems come from our movement habits. It’s been part of the furniture in Israel since Moshe’s time, perhaps it helped that he taught Ben Gurion to stand on his head! And in Switzerland it’s also a recognised profession, where many health insurances will pay for Feldenkrais sessions. Elsewhere, it’s a different story. It prompted a lively discussion, which was satisfying!

The sessions are always interesting, but the best thing is meeting the wider Feldenkrais “family” with people coming from as far away as New Zealand, Australia and Argentina, and getting to know them over meals and evenings.  Saturday saw a dance party led by the Spanish rep, who it turns out is also a medieval and renaissance dance specialist, so got us dancing to his tabor and drum, followed by an IFF members’ mixtape, which was an extraordinary array of tastes!