After a Lifetime of Back Trouble

I’ve had back problems most of my life. I had tried a number of different things to overcome it – yoga; Alexander technique and ordinary exercises — but nothing really helped. Then, two years ago, I had a disc prolapse. It was incredibly painful and (because a nerve had been damaged), my leg went numb. I had an operation which helped with the bad leg — I could at least walk — but I still had a great deal of pain in my back.

Six months after the operation, things hadn’t improved much, despite physiotherapy.    

Then a friend recommended that I see my local Feldenkrais practitioner, Vreni Booth.

I hadn’t heard of the Feldenkrais Method® before, but I was willing to give anything a try. At my first session, we did a lot of gentle movements, working through the body, really thinking about what we were doing and how everything was connected. After just that one session, I knew that Feldenkrais was the thing for me. I really felt that parts of my body were coming alive that I just hadn’t been aware of before.

I’ve been going now for about a year and a half to a group and occasionally a private session and I feel so much better. I am still somewhat stiff, but Feldenkrais has got rid of my back pain — and that’s wonderful. It has also taught me to think about my body in a different way and to have more confidence in it. Before, I was terrified that if I made one false move, I’d have a dead leg again. I now realise how strong the spine is.