And whilst it might not seem it, greater kinaesthetic sense of ourselves, a clearer relationship to ourselves and to the environment around us, can help us find more calmness, more sense of what is us, and what is outside of us. It shows us the possibility of giving ourselves the mental space to respond rather … More Improve your mental health
I took part in a plenary session today of Specialist Music and Feldenkrais teachers today, after our successful week’s event- Daily Feldenkrais for Musicians. One of the questions that came up was an interesting one. How do we as musicians incorporate or involve Feldenkrais in our instrumental (or singing) practise? Even if you’re not a … More Feldenkrais and Practice Part 1
Last week, in the last few days in the UK before lockdown, I found myself in the local supermarket with my partner, hoping to get some toilet roll. We were down to our last few rolls. I saw some apocalyptic looking shelves in that week, all vegetables having left the shop in the within half … More Reconnect with your body and breath:
I have a had various clients in the last few years who have been professional violinists. Some come hours before a concert, wanting me to fix them so they can play the concert without excruciating pain. Others come because they have had an issue for a while that they haven’t managed to deal with on … More Violinists and Shoulders
One of the things I remember from some of my first Feldenkrais lessons was to “do less”. Which in the beginning, I wasn’t sure how to do. But over time, I learnt to require less of myself, in a movement sense to find the skeletal path. Try it: Pick up a pen or pencil. Hold … More Reduce the effort…
Often, at some point when my clients come to see me, we talk about shoes. We don’t think about shoes causing or preventing back pain, but when our feet and ankles can’t perform as intended, the strain gets transferred up the skeleton to the knees, hips and/or back and neck. Sadly, most shoes aren’t fit … More If the shoe fits…
Most people, if they know a little about Feldenkrais think about it about becoming flexible, or moving more easily, and its true, and an important part of what Feldenkrais can do that you might find useful in your life. But its more than that. Feldenkrais famously wrote: “What I’m after is not flexible bodies, but … More Peace of mind & Feldenkrais:
I had an urgent phone call from a friend whose physio had given up on him. Literally, whilst he was on her table. She said she couldn’t do anything whilst he was so tense. She had told him to do something to help him relax, and he thought of me. He had a diagnosis of … More Tension and Feldenkrais
The other day I bought some nail varnish, (in a sparkly purple, for those interested in the details). Obviously not such a notable event, except I don’t wear nail varnish. Well very rarely. In my childhood, nail varnish wasn’t something we did at home. My mother came from the generation where “nice girls” didn’t paint … More Change begins with small things.
Vera’ – a musician re-discovers herself by Emma Alter (as written for the FGUK newsletter) Musicians (with some exceptions) spend their life moving their fingers very precisely, whilst often contorting themselves in very unnatural ways. We often start when we are very young, and before we are really aware of the effects of repetitive movements … More ‘Vera’ – a musician re-discovers herself
