Yesterday I went for my first Awareness Through Movement (ATM) Class at a nearby Feldenkrais practitioner’s office (Suellen Bartel at www.revitalizeyourself.net). I contacted Suellen after I heard about the Feldenkrais technique from a fellow blogger and Mom (at www.sticksandrocks.blogspot.com) Anyway, after hearing how her 5-year-old son got results after just one session with a Feldenkrais instructor, I thought it would be beneficial to look into it. I was VERY surprised that there was a practitioner within just a half hour from my remote location. It takes that long to just get to a grocery store, so this was very good news to me. And, she was offering a week of free classes, so it was the perfect opportunity for me to go and find out what it was about before I get my kids evaluated.
When I got to downtown Bay City, I had a bit of trouble finding the studio, but knew it was near the Jimmy John’s sub shop, so I spent some time walking around a bit. I noticed that it was also next to a YMCA. I saw two very fit women walk by and figured they were going to the Y. Then I saw a woman walk by who was clearly having trouble – she was bent over and she walked with bent knees. I figured she might be headed where I was headed, but I looked around a bit more before I located the building and found the small studio on the third floor. Inside, the area was very calm – there were mats on the floor and the lights were low. Suellen greeted me at the door and we shook hands. I knew from a previous email conversation with her that she overcame a lifelong, crippling struggle with Arthritis, and that the Feldenkrais technique helped her get moving and get her life back. While I noticed a few signs of the arthritis, she was vibrant, happy, and moved around very well. And, as I looked around, I noticed not only the one woman that was struggling on the street, but the two fit women that I thought were going to the Y, as well as some other people relaxing on pads on the floor.
After Suellen gave us a brief history of the technique (which I’ll get into in a minute), and after we introduced ourselves, we spent the next hour exploring our bodies in a way I thought was very simple at first. Frankly, I half-slept through most of it. But, when we got done, boy did I notice a difference! Suellen purposefully left us uneven – we only worked one side so we could see the difference that the technique made. I wish I could tell you what that difference was, but although it was apparent, it is difficult to put into words. I do a lot of yoga, and Suellen said that some studies show that people are more elongated after a session of Feldenkrais than after a session of yoga. I have to say that is true for me. However, there are many, many more benefits to yoga than elongation, but I could see her point – I felt extremely relaxed, yet more revitalized at the same time. My right side felt freer, my breathing was much deeper and more natural, my anxiety from the week diminshed greatly. And, the lone woman from the street – the one that was having trouble walking – she asked to talk to us “newbies” when she introduced herself. She asked us to take a good look at her, and then look at Suellen so we could see the “before” and “after” shots. She has hope that she will be that “after” shot one day, and I hope that for her, too.
The basics of Feldenkrais: the Feldenkrais Method is an educational system that connects learning with human health and function. Yeah, what does that mean? Well, what it meant to me is that there are many, many lessons put together by Moshe’ Feldenkrais (the founder of the technique) – more than a 1,000, to be specific – and the purpose is to explore everyday actions (reaching, turning, bending) through those lessons, and re-learn what we learned as children – how to use our bodies to do these everyday motions at peak efficiency. The technique involves a lot of concentrating on intricacies of the skeleton and muscles and how it all works together. Still, it doesn’t seem that clear, but it’s one of those things you truly have to experience to believe.
Now, in relation to Scoliosis, I will have to keep you posted – I will be setting up a consult that my husband and I can both go to where Suellen will discuss what she feels can be done with our kids. There are You Tube videos to watch, a DVD to research, a book I can read – all these things will take precious time, but I feel we may have stumbled onto another therapy for our arsenal. The good thing is that Feldenkrais practitioners prefer to work with younger people – to overcome poorly learned habits earlier. Whereas, the Schroth Therapists perfer NOT to work with younger kids because the therapy can be too confusing. So, it may also be something to do sooner rather than later until the kids can handle a more intense therapy. Either way, I will, of course, keep you posted.
If you have experiences with Feldenkrais, please share a comment so we can all learn from you as well!
Thanks!
