the Feldenkrais Method with Emma Alter

Our dictionaries say its the absence of disease. But what if that isn’t enough?

Moshe Feldenkrais talked about health as our ability to act and move towards our goals: 

That “health is the ability to realise our avowed and unavowed dreams.”

What do you think of when you think of Itzak Perlman? If you have heard of him, what’s your mental image of this person?

Itzak Perlman is one of the world’s finest violinists.  If you’ve seen Spielberg’s film Schindler’s List, you may also have an audio picture of him playing the mournful theme tune in his habitual lush and beautiful violin sound. He does this from a wheelchair and crutches. That he has a disability is not near the top of the list for most musicians when they think of Perlman.

If you’ve seen Itzak, the biographical film, as I have (you should watch it if you haven’t!), you may well have a mental picture of him as a dedicated, extraordinary musician and a kind and generous man.

Assuming what Perlman wanted was to be a violinist (rather than being a ballet dancer) he is a picture of health from our Feldenkraisian vantage point. That he’s in a wheelchair doesn’t make him unhealthy. We don’t need to be physically perfect to follow and fulfil our dreams. I always think Itzak Perlman is a perfect example of this. 

And if we look at health through a lens of succeeding in our goals, the need to be perfect dwindles. Good for all of us! I have yet to meet a perfect person after all! I have clients who want to be able to get down to the floor to play with their grandchildren, or to be able to walk more comfortably so they can travel. Or others that want to be without pain whilst working at their computer. Their goals to improve have to do with allowing them to live their lives more easily or more completely.

Other people would like to improve their sense of self in a different way and work on emotional rather than musculo-skeletal health.-To feel more comfortable in their skin in another kind of way. 

The transferable skills that we learn whilst practising Feldenkrais allow us to re-learn to learn, to improve what we’re doing, no matter our age or mobility. All you need is an open mind, and to set a little time aside each week.

Movement is universal- we all do it. It’s why it’s such a a great medium for learning full stop. We start the learning process with movement. We all know when a baby or toddler says yes or no, words or not. Our first language is movement. How much attention do we put on body language rather than the actual words? How often have you had an argument with a loved one, where it’s the tone, not what you’re saying that rubs them up the wrong way!

We start learning through explorative movement, and as such it’s the best vehicle to continue our evolution as humans when we reach adulthood, and learning requires a little more consciousness. Awareness is our learning super power, and that’s something we’re improving each week, in every lesson.
We’ll be continuing the theme of easy walking this month.

Would you like to work with me? Contact me for a free short discovery consultation. Send me an email,  or phone (07939277189). If I can’t pick up, leave me a message with some times to reach you.