A Feldenkrais Blog

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

 

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone,

Understanding the difference between doing something hurried compared to doing it faster can change your life! Take a moment to picture a person in a hurry, walking down the street compared to a person walking at a fast pace.  Which person would you try to avoid?  Now imagine someone washing your brand new dishes while rushing.  Would you want them to continue?  And lastly imagine watching a hurried dancer compared to a dancer that has increased their velocity of movement.  Which dancer would grab your attention?

As you can see by these examples a hurried person is not very graceful because they are not fully present in the activity they are engaged in. The hurried walker is probably thinking about where they are going or what they are going to do when they get there.  Whereas the fast walker is thinking about walking.  Because of this the hurried walker may bump into you; the hurried dish washer will most likely break a dish; while the hurried dancer would probably not interest you enough to watch her performance.

During this holiday season you may find yourself rushing around more often than not. There are a few simple things you can do to take care of yourself and to prevent accidents or injuries from occurring.  To start, take a moment to first recognize that you are hurrying.  Then acknowledge whatever ordinary activity you are engaged in, such as, doing the dishes or driving your car.  By doing this you will create a chance to sense if you are breathing or not and if you are holding the dish or steering wheel tighter than necessary.  By stopping needless work like this you can save your energy to enjoy festive activities with the people you love instead of collapsing when the moment arrives.

Enjoy the season and take care of yourselves!
~Donna

P.S.  As many of you know the studio where I currently am teaching my classes, Core Wellness Yoga, is closing on Dec. 21, 2013.  I will teach my last two classes there on Dec. 17th & 18th.   Starting on Jan. 8th I will begin teaching  an on-going class on Wednesdays @ 10:30 a.m., at West End Yoga.  I will teach on Tuesdays @ 11 a.m.  and Wednesdays @ 6:30 p.m., at my studio, Improving Through Movement, beginning on Jan. 7th for 6 week pre-registered classes.  

Finding Comfortable Sitting

I created a chair lesson for you to explore at your computer. When you find skeletal support in sitting your muscles can remain soft and supple. As a result, at the end of your work day you will be ready to engage in your private life with vigor and energy.

Sitting in this way takes practice and this video will give you wonderful tools to use throughout your days. Listen to my voice and only refer to the video when you need to figure out an instruction. Modify movements when necessary and move gently throughout the lesson. Enjoy!

Is Military Posture Hurting You?
I find that many people are very confused about how to attain a healthy posture. A common assumption in our culture is that a good posture is achieved by holding the shoulders back and tucking the belly in, much like a military soldier standing at attention. When I inform people that holding the muscles in this way can lead to back pain and stiffness, they become scared and skeptical by my words. Luckily their skepticism goes away when they experience how much better they feel and move after letting go of a military posture.

This video explains very clearly that when people achieve “bone deep strength” they can move powerfully and easily at any age. Watching this video will help you understand better what good posture looks like.

If you want to learn how to attain skeletal support like this, I am available for private sessions. To reach me click here.

Donna

Hi Students:

I am excited to teach my next workshop because once a person finds more ease of movement in the upper back they feel so much better!  I have found that even ballerinas have trouble keeping their upper backs flexible and are grateful when they learn ways to release the tension in that area.  Ease into the Wheel Yoga Pose by Improving Upper Back Flexibility  will be on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 11:30 a.m.- 1:30.  The early bird special ends on Sat., Oct. 12.  Click on the workshop to get details about how to register.

I made the following video for the many students that requested it.  During this short Feldenkrais, Awareness Through Movement lesson, move at your own pace and within your comfort level. Use the video as a visual to help you understand the lesson better. Pause the video throughout so you can explore each movement longer.

The lesson is designed so that each position will allow your diaphragm to expand in more directions. For example when you do this diaphragm movement while lying on your chest and belly, the constraint of the floor requires your diaphragm to expand more towards your upper and lower back areas. Each position will help the diaphragm find more movement options.

When you finish the lesson, notice if your lungs are able to expand more like balloons without thinking about it.

Forget about this lesson entirely during your day. Notice that with each moment in life, breathing changes. A person breaths differently when meditating vs. when debating. And he / she breaths differently running vs. when lifting heavy boxes. Notice how your breathing changes throughout your day without any thought required on your part. Enjoy!

Donna