The Feldenkrais Method is a movement education approach that trains the brain to find a long term solution for persistent back and neck pain so 
you can regain ease of movement, strength and flexibility. Discover how the Feldenkrais method can empower you to treat your own muscular problems.
Most people have suffered from back and neck tension and pain at some point in their life. If the problem doesn’t resolve by itself and becomes chronic it can be debilitating, limiting your choices and enjoyment of life. If left untreated, this tension can even cause long-term damage.
The most common approach to managing muscular-skeletal pain has typically been to take painkillers and anti- inflammatory drugs, or consult a specialist who can fix the problem. Now though, you can become your own specialist and learn to literally and easily “move away” from your muscular problems.
Most back and neck problems are caused by habitual use of the body, unless there has been a specific injury or damage to the body’s structure and soft tissues. However, like other habits, those of movement and posture are learnt and automatic, often not involving our awareness or intention.
If you are experiencing back and neck pain that limits your enjoyment and choices in life, there is a chance that your own body and movements are creating your problem. Your brain is controlling your muscles in all your activities whether you are standing, walking, sitting or running. This is happening in ‘automatic pilot’ mode, no matter whether these patterns are useful or painful for you.
The good news is that any learnt behaviour can be un-learned if it doesn’t benefit us anymore.
Instead you can learn harmonious movements that allow you to recapture your health and youth, moving with ease and having better range and flexibility.
But you might be wondering why we move in ways that are potentially damaging to us? The brain can only organise movement by using our range of learnt movement patterns. For many different reasons, as adults, we often have a very limited range of how we do things; we are set in our ways and that includes how we move.
The solution is to increase our movement repertoire, exploring and learning new ways to use our body, so the brain can choose the most appropriate movement from a bigger and more sophisticated range of options in any given, future situation.
In this way, Feldenkrais is unique in offering more than a ‘quick fix’, a re-alignment or a relaxing bodywork session. Instead, it teaches you how to undo and prevent postural and movement problems with awareness and movement education that is specific to your needs.
Feldenkrais lessons can be taught in a group situation or on a one on one basis and most people experience improvements during and after each lesson. Improved movement behaviour usually consolidates and becomes “the new habit” after 3-5 lessons, depending on your problem.
If you are looking for more than just short-term relief and are interested in learning how to ‘move out’ of your neck and back problems, contact me now for a free pre-treatment consultation to learn how Feldenkrais can assist you in bringing back ease, grace, comfort, flexibility, range and strength into all your movements.
Ingrid Bryant
@ Lifeforce Health, 87a Te Mata Rd, Havelock North
027 3355673
lifeforcehealth@yahoo.co.nz
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