Moshe Feldenkrais

Moshe Feldenkrais began his career as a mechanical engineer in Tel Aviv before going to France and obtaining his Doctor of Science from the University of Paris. He played semi-professional soccer recreationally and practiced the martial art of JiuJitsu. In France, he studied Judo and was given the title of ‘movement expert’ by his own Judo Master. These focal points of Moshe’s higher education, careers and recreational activities are important to the elders in the Feldenkrais community. I believe it adds credibility and scientific meaning to the comprehensive educational method Moshe tapped into and introduced to the world. It is such an enhanced pattern of learning it creates devotion to this educational system.

_{Author and Founder Renee Lindstrom’s personal note:}

_{In the grid of life areas that are the grounded foundation of Inside Awareness, this functional movement integrational system of learning is in both the health and higher learning (knowledge) areas. The health area reflects the health function of the body, mind and emotion, and higher learning in the knowledge area encompasses cultivating conscious awareness and self-regulation.}

While listening to a Feldenkrais trainer, I learned that Moshe was the first to introduce a Martial Arts Program in the Israeli Army. His focus was on the two principles of minimum effort and maximum efficiency, together with instinctive survival reactions. These later became basic principles in the Feldenkrais Method of Somatic Education. This method was developed after his own experience of knee injuries Doctors of the time deemed unfixable. This was combined with his professional study and career experience as a scientist.

His curiosity while healing from his knee injury had him reading his wife’s professional reference materials in her office. He was inspired by what he observed in the development process of newborn babies and toddlers as they waited for their appointments with his wife. She was a pediatrician. His inquisitive nature led to the study of physical function and relationship in the development of neuroplasticity in the brain. Recently, it has been suggested that his students could call themselves neuroplasticity practitioners.

_{Author and Founder Renee Lindstrom’s personal note:}

_{I have experienced and witnessed dramatic functional transformations due to this system of learning. The therapeutic benefits align with medical care and enhance lifestyles.}

The Feldenkrais® Method is a method of LEARNING. Participants have an opportunity to tap into a deeper felt sense through the patterns of function. These patterns encourage one to set aside pre-existing labels, diagnoses and judgements that mentally interfere with minimum effort and maximum efficiency. This means it redirects one’s attention to the actual patterns and away from thoughts. In a nutshell, it retrains one’s thinking patterns to become more active in the moment, versus having an attachment to old thoughts and belief systems. Moshe expressed it in these three words, “unlearning to learn.” Going beyond what you know activates new neural pathways, resulting in change.

Moshe was curious and explored his interests. When he explored the somatic experience and cognitive function, it was through a process of discovery that balanced out the pre-existing dominant patterns. His focus was not on comparison with other modalities. He studied his own movement as he recreated the movement of newborn babies and their stages of development.

_{Author and Founder Renee Lindstrom’s personal note:}

_{Two modalities that people compare Feldenkrais with are yoga and physical therapy. Yoga can’t be compared as it is a philosophy and faith-based practice. Feldenkrais isn’t about adopting a cultural experience or its self-image. It is about increasing functional capacity and going beyond socially conditioned and cultural constraints. Unlike physical therapy, its focus isn’t a solution to fix a problem. Many people arrive at a lesson with an attachment to finding solutions for problems. This is a cultural phenomena. The focus on finding an outside solution involves giving someone else a higher authority. It interferes with the development of new neural pathways and cells, diminishes personal power and removes the freedom to discover options through the body, mind and emotional connections.}