A Feldenkrais Blog

HI Students!
“What I love most about Feldenkrais is that after a class or private session the “chatter” inside my head comes to a standstill,” a student shares.

When the fear of the unknown future or when the compulsive thinking stops, you are living in the present moment. Feldenkrais® helps us to get there and I appreciate this wonderful gift we can achieve even when not in class.   To live in the present moment, is as simple and elusive as becoming aware, using any of your 5 senses.

Take a moment and feel your feet on the floor; hear the sounds around you; smell the fragrance of the room; look at the vastness of the sky; or truly taste your food when eating. The present moment allows a person to find peace when being. Living in the past and/or future, can create physical, emotional and mental stress.

Aknowledge your thoughts and let them go as you come to the present.  Remember your thoughts / emotions are not you.  And when in a crisis, living in the present moment will allow you to make the best decisions based on what is currently happening and not based on a fear of what could happen.

Try it, I think you will like it!
~Donna

Hi Students:
I am excited to be teaching CHILD’SPACE classes, starting on Jan. 20, this year.
Please send new parents to my website if you think they would be interested in learning how to support their baby’s development through movement & touch.

I made this video, inspired by requests from students in my Feldenkrais classes. Many have difficulty remembering the lesson after class is over.  This lesson will help jog your memory.  I am confident that if you get down on the floor and explore, you will remember more.  It will also help you to make up some variations on your own.  Have fun!

May you spend lots of time in nature, exploring movement this new year!
~Donna

Happy Holidays,
As a gift to you I have created a new section on my website called, “videos”. If you click on the link you will find all of my videos in one place for your viewing. Since I will not be teaching Feldenkais classes from Dec. 25 until Jan. 1, it will be the perfect time for you to do lessons on your own and stay rejuvenated.

I am happy to announce that I will begin teaching Child’Space classes for parents & babies, in January at the Susquehanna Dance Center.  I will teach parents how to support their baby’s brain development through movement and touch.

I would appreciate it if you could hang a flyer like the one on your left, or forward this post to anyone you think would be interested in Child’Space classes.  Contact me if you want me to mail you some flyers.

Thank you for your support in 2014.  Because of you I feel very fortunate & grateful to share the Feldenkrais Method with you.
~Donna

Happy Thanksgiving!

There will be no Feldenkrais class on Thanksgiving day.  That week I will teach class on Tuesday, November 25 at 11 a.m.  I hope to see you there!

I have for your viewing two new videos: A Walking Lesson with Katherine Part 1&2. I made them with the intention of helping you to better understand what my thinking is like when I am working with a student privately.  If you have any questions please feel free to email me and I would be glad to answer them.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thank you for supporting me! I am grateful for having such wonderful students both near and far!

I will leave you with a quote:
“The work of your heart, the work of taking time to listen, to help, is also your gift to the whole of the world.” ~Jack Kornfield

~Donna

Hi Students:

I will be teaching my last workshop of this year entitled:  Feldenkrais for a Healthy Neck at West End Yoga on Sat., Oct. 25.  Sign up by Oct. 18 to get the early bird special at 717.466.YOGA.

The video below, shows how a Feldenkrais Practitioner in Israel is helping musicians.  I think you will find it enjoyable to watch.

Currently I am working with some children with special needs who have very clever parents.   The parents, in their own unique ways, are organizing fund raising events to help pay for their child’s Feldenkrais sessions.

Because these children are able to see me on a consistent schedule their progress has been wonderful.

Here is what a Father of a teenager dealing with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, has to say:
“I was very skeptical about Donna at first.  After seeing what Donna has done with Carina in the past several weeks versus what PT at Hershey Medical Center has done for her in 6 months – hands down, Donna has my praise!”  ~Jere Flowers

If you are a parent that would like to learn how to fund raise, email me and I will get you in contact with a very resourceful mother that can help you get you started.

~Donna

 

 

 

 

Dear Students:
Improving Through Movement will be closed from August 10 -23, 2014.  There will be no classes during that time.

The video below will get you ready for the Finding Comfortable Sitting Workshop, on Saturday, Aug. 30.  For more information click here.

If you would like to support a teenager in need of Feldenkrais sessions with me, you can do this while enjoying live music at a barbecue. Join Carina and her family at the Mount Joy VFW pavilion, 125 Longenecker Rd. for a Chicken Barbecue Fundraiser on Saturday, August 9 @ noon.

Carina is in a wheelchair and has not be able to walk since developing Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, one year ago. Carina has improved tremendously since I started working with her. Your donations will help pay for more sessions since insurance does not cover my services. Another way to donate is to email Carina’s Father at:  JereFlow@embarqmail.com.  Your support will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Donna

Hi Students:
There are openings for my classes in July on Tuesdays @ 5:15 p.m. and Wednesdays @ 6:30 p.m. at my studio. Call me @ 717.285.0399 to pre-register. My on-going class in Mountville welcomes drop-ins.  And if you sign up for the workshop Feldenkrais for A Healthy Lower Back before July 5th you will get the early bird price.

I made this short video to help you learn how to get out of bed with ease so you can begin your day on a good note. I suggest that you watch the video to the end and afterwards do the movements from start to finish while listening to the instructions on the edge of your bed. Pause the video after each movement and rest as long as you need. Do the movements slowly and gently.

The movements can be modified when needed. Move at your own pace and let yourself explore and have fun. I am confident that you will feel much better through out your day when you begin moving gracefully first thing in the morning.

~ Donna

Hi Students:
In this video I am working with a child with special needs.

The little girl I am teaching is named Keira. This session is eight months after she had surgery on both hips to prevent dislocations.  If you watch closely you can see how intelligent Keira is as she grasps the concepts I am teaching her.

If you know of anyone that can benefit from Child’Space / Feldenkrais sessions please pass this video on.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Donna

Hi Students:
I made a new video so you can explore ways to improve turning.  Stay tuned for part 2 of this lesson next month!

Allow yourself much more time than the length of the video, to do this lesson.  Pause the video often, to find the pace that is best for your learning. Move gently and rest your eyes often.  Refer to the video as a guide and only when you need to figure out a movement.  Have fun!

I am sorry that this post is late.

I have been enjoying the unplanned days off due to the snowy weather.

May this lesson help fill your snowy days (or foggy days) with curiosity!

~Donna

 

 

 

 

Hi Students:

Happy New Year to all of you.   Below is my class schedule and next workshop at a glance.  Click on the event to get more detailed information.

2014 Class Schedule:
Tuesdays @ 11 a.m.
6 week series (2 slots available)
Pre-registration required!

Wednesdays @ 10:30 a.m.
On-going Class @ West End Yoga, Lancaster City

Wednesdays @ 6:30 p.m.
6 week series (this class is full)

2014 Workshop:
Pelvic Floor Health & Control Workshop for Men & Women
Saturdays, February 1 & 8
At:  Health By Design in Leola, PA.

I have included this wonderful picture of a snake beside a skeleton’s spine, to help you imagine using your entire vertebral column to move your head and pelvis.  In today’s society people tend to only utilize the seven vertebrae of the neck to move the skull, which is the heaviest part of the body.  Our bodies are designed to use all 24 vertebrae when moving.  Functioning in this way will place less pressure on the joints of the back resulting in fewer injuries.

I like to think of the discs  between each vertebrae as shock absorbers.  To use more shock absorbers when you walk, simply think that your entire spine can move like a snake, from your tailbone to your head.  And when you lift or lower your head imagine your neck beginning at your tailbone. Pretend that your head is as heavy as a bowling ball, inviting each vertebrae to round, when looking downwards.  When looking upwards imagine the same image in reverse!  Have fun and let me know what you experience from this change of thought.

I look forward to seeing you soon!
Donna