For many people, September marks a new start. Whether it’s memories of going back to school or the changing seasons, it’s a time of beginnings and shifts. So this autumn, why not invest in yourself and try a new activity? We’re all familiar with yoga and Pilates – is now the time to investigate Feldenkrais?

The Feldenkrais Method is named after its originator, Moshe Feldenkrais (1904-1984), an engineer and physicist as well as a Judo teacher. It’s a practical and unique way to realise your potential, focusing on learning and movement, which will bring improved physical awareness and enhanced functioning.

​The benefits of Feldenkrais include:

Awareness
At the heart of Feldenkrais is the idea of awareness through movement. Becoming more aware of how you move and experience movement facilitates learning about how to move efficiently and gracefully as well as making a clear connection between mind, body and your environment.

Breath
Many people report feeling that they breathe more freely after Feldenkrais by including more of the body in the movement of breathing. This in turn reduces stress levels, increases energy and supports balance in the nervous system.

Relieve tension and reduce the risk of injury
Muscular tension develops when you use more muscular effort than you need to, usually as a result of habit. Tension and contraction increase the risk of injury and can cause pain and fatigue. The Feldenkrais method is an opportunity to relieve areas of tension by learning to distribute effort more evenly throughout the body, often generating a sense of lightness and ease of movement as well as optimising strength and flexibility.

Increased vitality
By drawing all of your body into what you do, you access energy and reserves that are usually left untapped. This gives your body more vitality, allowing you to move through life with more vigour.

Enhanced performance
You’ll move with greater accuracy, speed and efficiency, which will enhance any sports or arts performance. You’re using your whole body, and using it more effectively, in a way that feels more natural than forced. It is often the case that these benefits are accompanied by improved mental health and resilience.

So this autumn, why not try something new with Feldenkrais? It could be the next big thing for you, your body, and your mind.

What’s involved in a Feldenkrais session? Charlie Blowers, Feldenkrais practitioner and founder of Moving Pieces says…

“Participants are guided through a lesson which generally has a theme – at the moment, for example, I am offering a series of classes on the theme of freeing the head – releasing tension in the neck and shoulders. The class is an opportunity to explore different variations of movement and to learn the most efficient and pleasurable way to move. One of the overarching aims of the Feldenkrais Method is to support learning through exploration as a way to recover ease of movement and ways to distribute effort throughout the whole body. Typically this is also accompanied by an increase in emotional wellbeing.”

For more information on classes click here.

READ MORE

The Real Impact Of Stress On Your Wellbeing + How To Reduce It ASAP