In the past four years of my Feldenkrais training, I’ve learned how to stand on my head, do judo rolls, balance books on my hands and feet while rolling on the floor, and stand and sit more comfortably. On occasion, I even enjoy walking. But more importantly, I’m learning how to think and feel differently not only about my body, but about my life.
In his book, Awareness Through Movement, Moshe wrote:
“Each one of us speaks, moves, thinks, and feels in a different way, each according to the image of himself/herself that he/she has built upon over the years. In order to change our mode of action we must change the image of ourselves that we carry within us. What is involved here, of course, is a change in the dynamics of our reactions, and not the mere replacing of one action by another. Such a change involves not only a change in our self-image, but a change in the nature of our motivations, and the mobilization of all the parts of the body concerned.”
And that’s exactly what I feel I’ve gained, a new way to see myself. As I’ve become aware of my body and learned that I can move in many different ways, I have simultaneously become aware that I can move my life in many ways too. I don’t have to be trapped by my habitual thinking and movements. And through my training, I’m learning to help others feel themselves move in whole new ways.
Feldenkrais also said this about physical movement, “... make the impossible possible, the possible easy, and the easy elegant.” I thought it was impossible for me to be a physical person and enjoy it. I still don’t consider myself an athlete, but there have been times when my movements feel easy, free, and even elegant. I graduate from the training in August 2007. Where my learning will move me, I don’t know, but I’m excited to move forward. Who knows, maybe I’ll even join a dance class. Wow, there’s something I never thought would happen! Things can change—my Feldenkrais work has shown me that.
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