Functional Integration®
Functional Integration (FI)® is the hands-on version of the Feldenkrais Method®. Using a very gentle touch, the practitioner calms the nervous system of the student and connects with movement patterns that are available to that person. Slowly, blind spots in the student’s movements patterns are revealed through the practitioner's skilled hands. This reorganizes the student’s habitual patterns, and allows for improved ease in their neuromuscular movements. People often express that it feels “magical” to get up off the table and feel so different, especially after such a gentle and non-invasive touch.
Awareness Through Movement®
Moshe Feldenkrais created the verbally guided library of Awareness Through Movement (ATM)® lessons over the course of the later part of the 20th century. These 500+ lessons are the verbal pair to Functional Integration lessons. ATM lessons allowed Moshe to teach dozens, and eventually hundreds, of people at a time. The multi-pronged approach to somatic learning allowed PhD students and disabled children to benefit and learn equally through this enriching method.
What Now?
Due to the pandemic, all hands-on work has ceased. The silver lining in this situation is that Moshe’s dream of reaching and helping to educate as many people as possible is coming to fruition more than ever before. In the 70’s, Moshe’s ATM lessons were broadcast over Israeli radio every Monday evening. Zoom is the 21st century equivalent of a radio broadcast, only now we have the added benefit of seeing people visually, and dialoguing throughout the lesson.
Private Sessions
I am happy to report that many of my FI students have switched to the Zoom platform, and have received great benefit of continuing their somatic education during this time. Musicians bring their instruments for added input on how to play with greater ease, something that is more challenging to address during the normal playing season. Additionally, this is an excellent way to stay connected with yourself on a deep level, while gaining more education about how you function. The multi-pronged approach to somatic learning allowed people from all walks of life, from PhD students to disabled children, to benefit and learn equally through this enriching method.
Feldenkrais Thinking
One of the strengths of the Feldenkrais Method is its ability to reveal a way of thinking non-habitually, in order to gain more freedom over your situation. Feldenkrais developed this method in part to help survivors of World War II find joy, and function in their lives again. Feldenkrais is a multi-faceted approach to learning, moving, and living. In private sessions, we also discuss new ways of approaching particular situations that might be in a stuck or stale pattern.
Resume, Start, or Continue Your Learning
I am offering online private sessions on a sliding scale, or pay-what-you-can basis. To schedule, email Erin at info@erinfinkelstein.com
I am offering FREE 5-minute skeletal warmups for your practice, sign up at erinfinkelstein.com/contact.
Monday evening ATM classes at 7:30 PM PST in August will be all about breathing rhythmically and coordinating movements with your breath
Thursday 9:30 AM PST ATM classes in August will be more active and all about spiraling in different directions and orientations to gravity, in order to move up and down in your space more freely.
Drop in to any of these ATM classes for $15, or send me an email at info@erinfinkelstein.com if you can’t pay. No one will be turned away.
Monthly Subscription of $40 includes class attendance and access to my library of ATM videos.