Spine

Spine

The natural s shape of a healthy spine has 4 curves and is made up of 24 independently moving vertebrae and 9 fused vertebrae. There is shock absorbing connective tissue in between each vertebrae to support easy and flexible movement. The flexibility and stability of these bones is created by muscles, ligaments, ribs and pelvis.

The spine connects your head, chest and pelvis, and distributes the weight of your upper body through the pelvis to the legs. It also protects the spinal cord and nerves.

Spinal Cord

The spinal cord is a tubular bundle of nervous tissue and it support cells that extends from the brain. The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system.

It starts at the occipital bone and extends down to the space between the first and second lumbar vertebrae. The spinal cord does not extend the entire length of the vertebral column.

In men it is about 18 inches or 45 cm
In women it is about 17 inches or 43 cm.
It ranges from 1/2 inch thick in the cervical and lumber regions to 1/4 inch in the thoracic area.

Protected by the vertebral column it’s primarily function is the transmission of neural signals between the brain and the body. It has neural circuits that can independently control many reflexes and central pattern generators. There are three major functions of the spinal cord:

As a conduit for motor information
As a conduit for sensory information
A center for coordinating certain reflexes

The spinal cord is described in three parts and each has a level of body function as follows:

Cervical Spine

Neck flexors
Neck extensors
Supply diaphragm
Shoulder movement, raise arm, flexion of elbow, externally rotates the arm
Extends elbow and wrist
Flexes wrist

Thoracic Spine

Flexes wrist
Supply small muscles of the hand
intercostal and trunk above the waist
Abdominal muscles
Thigh flexion
Thigh adduction

Lumbar Spine

Extension of the leg at the hip and knee
Flexion of the leg at the knee
Dorsiflexion of the foot
Extension of the toes
Plantar flexion of the foot

Symptoms that have visibly eased in students influences by the somatic movements of Feldenkrais have been in the diagnosed conditions of:

Anxiety, depression & mood disorders
Arthritis
Carpal Tunnel
Chronic Pain
Eating Disorders
Edema
Fear
Fibromyalgia
Injuries
Intimacy
Multiple sclerosis
Muscle Tension
Muscle Pain
Nerve Pain
Parkinson’s
Spasms
Stroke
and more………

Why Feldenkrais?

It’s not a philosophy & there is no guru

The focus is upon a natural learning system & development building blocks that may have been interrupted through one’s lifetime

The wonderful integration focus of micro-movements in this somatic system of learning stimulates confidence and inner-strength. It’s singularly focus is upon activating one’s learning awareness within themselves that increases a more complete and natural system of support. In many students these patterns of micro movements has reduced the conditions and attachment to any diagnosis they have had. It appears that changing movement patterns can decrease years of habits and reaction contributing to the diagnosis.

Feldenkrais is a self-focused learning system uniquely designed to increase ones abilities to function in the world.