Next month, to mark International Feldenkrais Week, the week of Moshe Feldenkrais’ birthday, the UK Guild will launch a new series of free online Awareness Through Movement (ATM) recordings and some free and reduced-rate in-person activities across the country.
Eight ATM lessons focusing on the theme of BALANCE, will be available to download on the Guild website and will be released on a daily basis between 6 and 13 May. Recordings are by teachers Garet Newell; Yeu-Meng Chan; Sophie Arditti; Sabine Blackaby; Alan Caig Wilson; Juliana Brustik; Lars Fischer; Caroline Scott.
During this week Feldenkrais UK is also sponsoring practitioners who are offering free or reduced cost Introductory Feldenkrais workshops. These will be taking place in different locations in: London, Hertfordshire, Somerset, Cheshire, West Midlands, East Sussex, and Devon. Everyone is welcome!
The theme for this year’s recordings and activities is BALANCE. A feeling of stability, whether physical or psychological, is what helps us be more resilient and prepared for life’s challenges. From the moment that, as infants, we begin to move independently, we are learning that balance is not a fixed point but a process of continual adjustment based on what our senses are telling us. The ground may be uneven, a gust of wind might topple us, a loud noise could startle us. And those are only the external factors!
You can read more about how Feldenkrais improves mobility and balance in this scientific study.
Each of the eight audio lessons featured during IFW will bring awareness to the subtle shifts in our movement that enable us to find improved stability. Sitting, standing, or lying down, we will explore again some of the earliest discoveries we may have made about how to manage gravity.
IFW recordings and activities have been coordinated by guild committee members Roberta Perlman, Ian Brener and Rebecca Meitlis. Mo Johnson will be curating the IFW campaign across our social media.
Here is a list of locations and times for the workshops being run across the country. Look out for articles and other events about International Feldenkrais Week on the Guild’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
Ana Stojadinovic will offer a workshop called ‘Balancing act’, which will include an introduction to the method and the person, Dr Feldenkrais, followed by two Awareness Through Movement lessons on the theme of balance in action.
Primrose Hill Community Hall, NW1 8TN on Sunday 11 May, 1.30-3.30pm. Email feldenkraiswithana@gmail.com
(Donation only – pay £10 or less)
Ana is also offering ‘Functional Integration’ (one to one lessons) at The Gestalt Centre, London NW1 0PT, with an IFW offer of 40% off the usual rate – £60 per session for bookings made in May.
Alex Frazier will be leading a ‘Relaxation and Feldenkrais’ workshop on Wednesday 7 May at 7pm.
Enjoy the process of learning through movement – improve how you sense, move, think and feel, all at the same time. This one-hour class will combine gentle exploratory movement with awareness to help you breathe more efficiently and move more easily. Suitable for anyone who would like to experience the Feldenkrais Method and for those with a particular interest in relaxation and finding more comfort, softness and ease in movement and relief from stress.
at Vitruvian Wellness, 78 Haverstock Hill, Belsize Park, London NW3 2BE
Special price – £10. Contact alexandriafrazier@gmail.com or 07714 096 475 for information
Rainer Knupp and Anne Taylor will be hosting a workshop, ‘Improve your Balance’. Through differentiated movements of the upper and lower body in twisting, students develop greater awareness of coordination and enhance their support through the feet.
Saturday 3 May, 2-4pm, at Mycenae House Community Centre, London SE3 7SE. Email rainerkarl390@gmail.com
Zoë Elvin will lead a workshop, ‘Balance in motion’. As part of International Feldenkrais Week, come and experience how the Feldenkrais Method can change the way you feel and move, through gentle exploration. All welcome – newcomers and experienced Feldenkrais movers alike!
Saturday 10 May, 2-4pm at Oru Space, East Dulwich SE22 8HN. Email info@zepilates.com
Cath Greenwood will lead a workshop on the theme of ‘Balance’ on Sunday 11 May, 10am-12pm at Zen Yoga, 24a Camberwell Grove, London SE5 8RE. Email cathgreenwood@me.com
Lars Fischer, Joe Reynolds and Alice Laidler will be offering a series of free 30-minute ATM classes exploring various aspects of balance – attend one class or several!
‘Balance in Motion: Drop-in ATM Sessions’, Moving Pieces Studio, 60A Weston St, London SE1 3QJ
Sunday 11 May, 12-5pm. Email mail@larsfischer.com
Jenny Hill is running a workshop, ‘Balance – To B or not to B that is the Question!’, which will include a talk and presentation, movement exploration, discussion, and tea and biscuits!
Saturday 10 May, 1-3pm at St Mary’s Church Hall, Putney. Email jenny@feldenkrais.co.uk
Paul Wooding is leading ‘An Introduction to the Feldenkrais Method’ on Saturday 10 May.
Venue tbc. Email movementmatters65@gmail.com
Jackie Adkins, Ed Bartram and Heather Stone will be offering a free International Feldenkrais Week event on Wednesday 7 May, 3-6pm at RISE, Wittox Lane, Frome. Each teacher will lead a lesson on the theme of ‘Balance’. Free to attend, but donations invited towards costs. Email adkins.jackie@googlemail.com
Matthias Wurz and Hajnalka Varadi will lead a workshop, ‘Balance Yourself & Balance Your Life: Improve Your Balance with the Feldenkrais Method®’
The workshop will offer a hands-on introduction to the Feldenkrais Method® and is aimed primarily at senior citizens that face challenges in their everyday balance or would like to improve mobility. There will be a short introductory talk about the method, followed by two movement lessons, and there will be opportunity to take part in short individual demonstrations of ‘Functional Integration’ (one to one work).
Refreshments will be available. Toilet facilities are available for those wishing to change, including an accessible toilet.
Thursday, 8 May, 1-4 pm
Christ Church – The Jubilee Room, Church Road, Tettenhall Wood, Wolverhampton WV6 8NQ
Tickets: £15 incl. refreshments – email matthias.wurz@gmail.com
Nikhila Em Ludlow will lead two workshops:
‘Balance with Ease’: Thursday 8 May, 10.30-12.30 at MIC (Moor Imagination Collective), Buckfastleigh, Devon TQ11 0AB
‘Balanced Body for Balanced Mind’: Friday 16 May, 10am-12pm, online
Contact nikhila2mary@yahoo.co.uk for details
Josephine Horder is offering a workshop, ‘Spotlight on Balance’.
Saturday 10 May, 3-5pm at The Iron Room, Tring Station. Email jehorder@aol.com
Ruth Polden is offering a workshop, ‘Finding YOUR Balance – Building stability from inside OUT’
A unique opportunity to experience balance, strength and poise in motion. Discover a gentle approach to feeling steady, moving freely and finding stability without struggle.
Feel at home in your body.
Be unshakable YOU.
Sunday 11 May, 10am-1pm at Venue on the Green, Hartfield Rd, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5DZ
An introductory offer as part of International Feldenkrais Week: £20
The session is for all ages and abilities 15+ please wear comfortable clothing and bring a mat if you have one.
To book your place:
www.ruthpolden.com
ruth@ruthpolden.com