The Feldenkrais Method

Dr Staffan Elgelid PT, PhD, GCFP, RYT-500 is an Associate Professor of Physical Therapy at Nazareth College in Rochester NY. Staffan is a Physical Therapist, Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner and Yoga Therapist. He teaches in yoga therapy programs, conducts workshops nationally and internationally and sees private clients. His main approach with clients is to use smart exercises, movements and lifestyle changes to help them build a nervous system that is robust and agile. This in turn allows them to learn new activities, enhance athletic performance, and withstand the stresses of daily life no matter what their level of activity, age or situation. Staffan is the co-author of Yoga for Stress and Anxiety and Yoga for Active Adults. He has also produced DVDs on topics such as core training and yoga for sports. Staffan is on the Advisory Board of the IAYT and is a board member of the Yoga Alliance.   Chrish Kresge GCFP is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais® practitioner who works with people of all ages and backgrounds, using movement as the primary tool for improving function, self-awareness, self-image, posture, voice, and overall health.  Chrish is also an actor, producer and director. She is passionate about using her diverse skills and background to help people find their optimal selves and innate dignity.  Chrish has been teaching the Feldenkrais Method® across the world for over 21 years in places such as the USA, Ghana, Morocco, France, and Nepal.  During her teaching of the Feldenkrais Method, Chrish offers her students an enriching experience consisting of mental and physical improvement through natural, easy, and pleasurable ways of moving, using the brain’s amazing neuroplasticity to reorganize the body.  In both her individual client work and group classes, Chrish employs techniques and principles of the Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education. In addition to working with performing artists and business executives alike, Chrish specializes in working with children with disabilities, and is a graduate of the Anat Baniel Neuromovement® Method for Children, based on the work of Dr Moshe Feldenkrais. A long-time actor and theatre director, Chrish has performed in and directed numerous musicals and plays, both in the USA and internationally. She has lived on 4 continents and is fluent in French, German, Italian and Arabic.  She is passionate about the rehearsal process. Chrish has served 3 terms on the national Board of Directors of the Feldenkrais Guild® of North America and has chaired numerous annual Feldenkrais Annual Conferences in North America. Chrish maintains an active private practice and teaches 5 weekly group Feldenkrais classes in her studio in Northwest Washington DC.   She is also currently studying at the cutting-edge Feldenkrais Training Academy in Seattle with Dr Jeffrey Haller. Chrishkresge.com

About the Editors

About the Contributors

Foreword by Jerry Karzen

Preface by Staffan Elgelid

Preface by Chrish Kresge

Acknowledgments

Introduction



Part 1



Who Was Moshe Feldenkrais? Chrish Kresge and Elinor Silverstein



Feldenkrais® as a System of Learning Jeff Haller



The Importance of the Brain, Nervous System, and Body in Learning Susan Hillier



Training Feldenkrais® Teachers Larry Goldfarb



Function, Differentiation, and Integration Lisa Burrell



The Feldenkrais Method®, Science, and Spirituality: A Historical Perspective Matthew Zepelin



Part 2



Moshe Dō: From Martial Art to Feldenkrais® Art Moti Nativ



Anat Baniel Method® NeuroMovement®: Transforming the Lives of Children with Special Needs Anat Baniel



Integrating the Feldenkrais Method® into Scholastic Learning Eilat Almagor and Dorit Aharonov



Movement Intelligence® for Bone Health and Graceful Aging Ruthy Alon



My Path from Feldenkrais® to the Tellington TTouch Method® Linda Tellington-Jones



Stress, Anxiety, and Trauma Donna Ray



Creativity: Thinking While Moving Lavinia Plonka



Feldenkrais® for Music and Voice



A Behind the Music Andrew Gibbons



B Voice/Singing Marina Gilman



The Feldenkrais Method® and Dance Paul Pui Wo Lee



The Feldenkrais Method® and a Theater of Enaction Thomas Kampe



Moving to Learn, Training to Win Dwight Pargee



Feldenkrais® to Enhance Yoga Staffan Elgelid



Somatic Education: Feldenkrais® and Pilates Stacy Barrows and Matthew Barrows



Part 3



The Feldenkrais Method® in Orthopedics Staffan Elgelid



The Feldenkrais Method® in the Rehabilitation of Neurological Conditions Karol Connors



Pain and Curiosity Deborah Bowes



Practical Maturity: The Feldenkrais Method® and Human Development Cliff Smyth



A Future Vision of the Feldenkrais Method® Chrish Kresge



Further Resources



Permissions



Index