The Feldenkrais Method Today

 

 

Both public and scientific recognition of the Feldenkrais Method are growing. It is becoming better known because of its remarkable ability to improve life, helping people to move better, and more gracefully and develop better posture, coordination and breathing.

The Method is being mainly applied in the fields of health (rehabilitation, physical and occupational therapy, psychology, child development, gerontology, massage), arts (music, dance, theatre), sports and education.

Today there are more than 6.000 Feldenkrais Practitioner in the world and more than 65 Feldenkrais Training programs taking place in Europe, America and Asia.

There are three Feldenkrais Training Accreditation Boards which administer the International Feldenkrais® Training Accreditation Policy and help to guarantee the quality of the training programs: the North American Training Accreditation Board (NATAB), the European Training Accreditation Board (EuroTAB) and the Australian Training & Accreditation Board (ATAB). The coordinating organization of most Feldenkrais Guilds and Associations around the world is the International Feldenkrais Federation (IFF).

The growing interest for the Feldenkrais Method can also be noticed by the increasing number of academic researches devoted to it. Besides public approval, academic studies begin to demonstrate in their level the effectiveness of the Method.

"The Feldenkrais Method is the most sophisticated and effective method I have seen for the prevention and reversal of deterioration of function."
—Margaret Mead, Ph.D., Anthropologist

"Feldenkrais has studied the body in movement with a precision that I have found nowhere else."
—Peter Brook, Film and Stage Director

 

Academic Studies

A partial list of some academic studies related to the Feldenkrais Method:

 

The Feldenkrais Method: A Dynamic Approach to Changing Motor Behavior.

Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport; Dec 2001
By Buchanan, Patricia A; Ulrich, Beverly D

 

Effects of Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement on Balance in Adults With Chronic Neurological Deficits Following Stroke: A Preliminary Study.

Complementary Health Practice Review. October 2005.
By Batson, Glenna PT, MA

 

Exploring the role of somatic education in experiential well-being.

Dissertation-Abstracts-International-Section-A:-Humanities-and-Social-Sciences. Oct 2002
By Lord,-Darcy-Lynne.

 

Pilot study of the clinical and physiologic effects of Feldenkrais movement therapy for back pain

American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. March/April 2000.
By Schmitt, Susan MD; Nichols, Jesse CFP; Haig, Andrew J. MD; Yamakawa, Karen MS; Geisser, Michael PhD; Michel, Britt BS

 

Somatic education as an approach to the conceptualization and treatment of anxiety.

Dissertation-Abstracts-International. Jan 1987.
By Levy,-Barbara-G.

 

Feldenkrais sensory imagery and forward reach.

Perceptual-and-Motor-Skills. Dec 2000.
By Dunn,-Poss-A; Rogers,-Douglas-K

 

The Physics of Feldenkrais

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies (2000)
By John Charles Hannon DC

 

Qui va la? Point de vue de la methode Feldenkrais d'education somatique; Corps, Culture, Identite

PRISME-Psychiatrie,-recherche-et-intervention-en-sante-mentale-de-l'enfant. 2002;
By Guimond-Odette; De-Plaen-Sylvaine, coord; Garael-Patricia

 

Body-Image, Movement and Consciousness: Examples from a Somatic Practice in the Feldenkrais Method

Journal-of-Consciousness-Studies. F-Mr 99;
By Ginsburg,-Carl

 

Feldenkrais intervention in fibromyalgia patients: A pilot study
JOURNAL OF MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN 2001

By Kendall SA, Ekselius L, Gerdle B, Soren B

 

Feldelkrais versus conventional exercises for elderly

JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY 1977
By GUTMAN GM, HERBERT CP, BROWN SR

 

Mood alterations in mindful versus aerobic exercise modes

By Netz Y, Lidor R.
School of Physical Education, The Zinman College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Wingate Institute, Israel.

 

A comparative outcome study of body awareness therapy, feldenkrais, and conventional physiotherapy for patients with nonspecific musculoskeletal disorders: Changes in psychological symptoms, pain, and self-image

Physiotherapy-Theory-and-Practice. 2001; 17(2): 77-95
By Malmgren-Olsson,-Eva-Britt