Practice:
WHO I TEACH - OPEN CLASSES AND ONE-TO-ONES
I teach a wide variety of people of all ages (20s to 90s) and abilities in my open classes and one-to-ones, including:
- people recovering from pain, illness, surgery or injuries
- people wanting relief from stress, anxiety and tension
- professional movers and practitioners (yoga, meditation, breathwork, Tellington Touch) who wish to add another layer of understanding to their own modality
- and those who simply wish to develop themselves to move and live more freely.
WHO I TEACH - IN SPECIALIST GROUPS FOR PEOPLE WITH ADDITIONAL HEALTH NEEDS
I also work with clients and students of specialist groups such as local GPs, social prescribers, mental health charities and pain support groups. I offer them taster sessions, talks with demos and tailor-made courses. It is very satisfying to deliver Feldenkrais to people with long-term pain, movement or anxiety conditions and in a way that makes sense to them and is empowering. These sessions are in very small group sizes, where peer-support can be nurtured and with the option of bespoke support and trouble-shooting for each individual.
MODES - IN-PERSON, ONLINE, RECORDINGS
I very much enjoy teaching and working in-person in the same room!
And (after a bumpy start) I have come to love teaching online too, with its advantages of ease, accessibility, privacy and safety. It can be surprisingly helpful at facilitating open discussions and questioning.
My methods for delivery evolve and I am starting to offer recorded courses for students who may prefer the DIY self-paced approach to learning this method and to focus on one theme at a time.
SMOOTH MOVES LAB - ABOUT MY APPROACH
I have chosen the name Smooth Moves Lab for my practice because I hope the results of my lessons will be smooth, easy movement experiences for the students. And I see the classes as providing a lab for students’ exploration of their whole self (mind and body), with movement as the medium.
in class, students are encouraged to be interested only in their own movement experience. There is no comparing with others, nor even any demonstrations by the teacher. I work with students to find ways for them to be comfortable, no matter what their challenges. Students are encouraged to move in the ways that suit them best and allowed time to develop sensitive awareness of exactly how they are moving.
In Feldenkrais, awareness of movement is the primary tool for improving it. As the originator Moshe Feldenkrais said: “When you know what you are doing you can do what you want.”
FIND OUT MORE
Visit the EXPLORE section of this website to read my article and listen to my lesson - 'Becoming More Balanced'.
You can also sign up for my newsletter on my own smoothmoveslab.org website ;)
Biography:
Almost 20 years ago, I was introduced to Feldenkrais by a former Pilates teacher and instantly enjoyed the feelings of wellbeing and ease that I experienced at the end of class. I attended weekly class ever since.
Feldenkrais suits me very well in a couple of ways. As a ‘non- sporty’ person, I enjoy activities that allow for personal exploration rather than competitive achievement. And my work as a social researcher leads me to enjoy the scientific method of exploration, enquiry, trial, error and improvement that is embedded within Awareness Through Movement lessons.
From his judo days, Feldenkrais had a masterful understanding of how to move effortlessly in the medium of gravity. When I do an Awareness Through Movement lesson, I can experience unexpected similar moments of magic as tension melts away, leaving me feeling free and weightless. This is what has kept me coming back for more!
