I am curious…

…What is Kinesthetic Awareness?

Often described as a person’s sixth sense, kinesthetic awareness is our perception and interpretation of internal sensations that inform where we are in space (proprioceptive awareness) and the space that is within ourselves (interoceptive awareness). Think of kinesthetic awareness as a sort of internal barometer, informing our responses to the environment.

Some basic examples of interoceptive awareness would be noticing changes in your heartbeat when you run, sensations that you need to go to bathroom or signals that you are hungry. Feldenkrais refines our interoceptive senses to include the coordination of our facia, muscular, skeletal and nervous systems in relationship to each other while in movement

An example of proprioceptive awareness would be walking on uneven footing and you spontaneously adjust yourself while maintaining your balance and pace. This is the benefit of Feldenkrais that sneaks in. “Learning grows until it dawns on you,” Moshe Feldenkrais, Body Awareness as Healing Therapy: The Case of Nora (p. 56). It was my own personal experience that after practicing Feldenkrais, I could catch a football with my son, run longer, mountain bike with my daughter and balance on rocks on my hikes with my husband so much easier, longer and with more coordination than ever before. None of this took a preplanning, it happened spontaneously as a result of more and more choices of movement and organization became a possibility. What you pay attention to…grows. Contact me to learn more.

…How many individual (Functional Integration) sessions do I need?

It depends. The number and frequency of FI sessions needed will be determined as we work together towards a common goal or intention. The Functional Integration sessions may become the student’s entry point to joining a group (Awareness Through Movement) class or the reverse could be true where the group (Awareness Through Movement) student is seeking greater clarification and guidance with an individual (Functional Integration) session. Self-agency is fundamental to Feldenkrais and ultimately it is following your own experiences that will determine how you navigate these educational options. If you are curious, try both and try each more than once. Contact me to learn more.

…Is the children’s program, Nature Detectives with Ms. Jessica, a Feldenkrais class for kids?

No. The kinesthetic awareness component of my children’s program, Nature Detectives with Ms. Jessica, is Feldenkrais inspired and influenced but it is not to be considered either a group (Awareness Through Movement) class or a (Functional Integration) session. If you are curious to have me work with your child, an individual (Functional Integration) lesson is what you could consider. Contact me to learn more.

…Is Feldenkrais a form of somatic experiencing, reiki, yoga, meditation, tai chi, qigong?

No. Feldenkrais is somatic education but not somatic experiencing. Each is its own distinct discipline, practice and experience and separate from what Feldenkrais is. Please read how I describe Feldenkrais in the What is Feldenkrais tab, read about Feldenkrais in the press or better yet, attend a class or individual session to find out for yourself how you would describe it and the impact you felt following the experience. Contact me to learn more.

…Could Feldenkrais compliment my current medical treatment or rehabilitation?

Feldenkrais deepens a person’s self-awareness and as such can complement but should not be in place of your current medical treatment plan. Please make sure to notify me of any concurrent medical treatments of any kind. Contact me to learn more.