Introduction:
The Feldenkrais Method is a somatic, or body-oriented, intervention designed to help people reconnect with their bodies and learn ways to move with greater effectiveness it may help a person increase vitality, coordination, and achieve overall enhanced well-being.
How Does the Feldenkrais Method Work?
The Feldenkrais Method uses improvement of one’s awareness to address dormant areas of the self and promote larger and more graceful motions, utilizing the nervous system’s own ability to create change and improve movement. The purpose of the approach is for those utilizing it to realize potentially constricting habits and movements and learn ways to expand their range of movement. By becoming more self-aware, people frequently become better able to involve more of their body in their movements and may experience an enhanced sense of physical and emotional functioning.
Uses of the Feldenkrais method:
The Feldenkrais method is considered appropriate for any individual, of any age, and has been shown to offer the following benefits:
- Improved health and well-being
- Improved attention and concentration
- Reduced pain
- Completing tasks with less effort
- Improved posture, movement, coordination, and balance
- Easier breathing
- Better control over muscular tension
Criticisms and Limitations of the Feldenkrais Method
The Feldenkrais Method does not try to either treat underlying concerns causing limited motion and pain or create lasting or permanent change in the body’s structure. Instead, the approach’s primary goal is to provide relief to those experiencing limited movement and/or physical discomfort, related or otherwise, and teach strategies to help individuals get used to to and more easily live with conditions that cause lasting pain. This may be a benefit to some, but others may see it as a limitation.
Conclusion:
The Feldenkrais Method was specifically designed to treat those experiencing restricted or limited range of motion due to injuries, chronic pain, or other physical or neurological concerns. Sessions may however relieve pain, muscle stiffness, and fatigue, but the increased ease of movement and higher levels of energy that may be experienced by participants can also have the effect of facilitating relaxation and easing stress.