Felden…what?: What is the Feldenkrais Method™ and how can it benefit you?

I have a confession. The hardest part of my job is explaining what I do. I’ve lost count of the number of confused looks I’ve gotten when telling people that I am a Feldenkrais practitioner™. “Felden…what?” They often ask me. 

I love teaching the Feldenkrais Method™. What’s better than helping folks get to the root of their movement patterns to feel more comfortable in their bodies?

But it’s tricky to sum up such an experiential modality in a single sentence. Even after completing a four-year professional Feldenkrais® training program and practicing for years, I still don’t have a perfect answer.

As Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais described his method, “It’s like telling somebody what's the taste of mango. Unless you eat it, you don’t know what the taste is.” 

How does Feldenkrais work?

Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais developed the Feldenkrais Method™ after sustaining a debilitating knee injury. His research into biomechanics, human development, and the nervous system led him to rehabilitate himself and create his innovative method. 

He found that we develop neuromuscular movement habits in response to our environment. As infants, we learn to sit, stand, and move in ways that require the least amount of effort. Our brains are wired to select these biomechanically efficient movements to help us conserve energy and reduce strain on our muscles and joints. 

Many of our neuromuscular movement habits benefit us into adulthood. They allow us to bike to the grocery store, reach for things we need, and complete daily tasks without much thought. But some of our habits work against us. As we mature, injuries we sustain, training we receive, and how others tell us we should act can all affect our movement patterns and our perception of ourselves. Sometimes this results in the formation of new habits that cause pain or injury and even negatively impact our mood.

Using his knowledge of human development and the nervous system, Dr. Feldenkrais designed a series of exercises to help people change their habits. He called his exercises lessons to refer to the learning process our brains go through when we change our movement patterns.

Feldenkrais® lessons combine mindfulness practices with early developmental movements. By moving slowly and gently and paying attention to our sensations, we can learn to identify our neuromuscular movement habits. Once we become aware of how we are moving, we can explore alternatives and replace our old habits with new ones that better serve us.

How can I benefit from the Feldenkrais Method™?

Feldenkrais® lessons have many benefits. I love helping folks: 

• Manage dysphoria

• Regain mobility after gender-affirming surgeries

• Reduce anxiety

• Improve breathing function and reduce pain when binding

• Manage chronic pain

• Release muscle tension

• Enjoy easier and freer movement 

What can I expect during a session?

The Feldenkrais Method™ is taught in two forms. Awareness Through Movement® (ATM™) classes are verbally guided group movement lessons. They focus on broad functional themes such as reaching, walking, breathing, or improving your mood. ATMs consist of a series of gentle movements that are often done lying down or sitting in a chair. 

Virtual private sessions, sometimes called Functional Integration® (FI™) lessons, are focused on the individual. They are similar to lessons done in ATM™ classes but are tailored to your specific goals. 

The best way to learn about the Feldenkrais Method™ is to experience it for yourself. Check out my classes on or book an alignment appointment on to see if we are a good fit for virtual private sessions.

I’m excited to share this amazing method with you!