Body-mind techniques are powerful learning methods, drawing on movement science and neurophysical development. They help reduce chronic pain and improve performance. They enable us to reshape long-held habits, recover lost abilities, and develop new skills. We gain a wider range of choice about how we use our self.

At the core, these methods ask us to be curious about our self and our possibilities. By exploring our self in different ways, we learn how we do things, and discover different ways of doing.

Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais famously said: “what I am after isn’t flexible bodies but flexible minds”. Although the method he invented is based on movement, its effects can enhance more than our physical ability to move with ease. Commonly reported benefits fall into three categories:

1. Balance, coordination, freedom of movement, and body awareness increase. In the words of Larry Goldfarb, a pupil of Dr Feldenkrais: “We breathe easier and feel relieved, more grounded, more present. We feel at home in our self.”

2. In activating our innate ability to improve, we discover we can change. We come to know we are able to create new possibilities for our self. Again Larry Goldfarb: “This embodied knowledge changes us. We feel capable. We are more hopeful.”

3. We become more resilient and adaptable, open to change, energised without becoming unstable. We pay better attention to those around us. We are more mindful.

In each post I will explore an aspect of practice and offer thoughts and experiences. Please use the comments button to respond and let the bodymind.space community know what you think and feel.

Please also get in touch with suggestions for topics you would like to see discussed on bodymind.space.

The opinions expressed are mine and should not be taken as advice. Always use your own judgement before changing any part of your movement routine.