Stand up straight with Feldenkrais
November 8, 2007 8:31 AM Subscribe
My gym offers small group classes in Feldenkrais. Is it worthwhile to participate in group teaching sessions?
I'm healthy and have relatively good posture. Would this be beneficial? What types of benefits are typical?
If it matters, they seem to take this seriously. Classes have an additional fee and participants must enroll in advance for a full month of sessions.
I looked at prior questions, but I didn't get a clear idea if group teaching was the norm.
If it matters, they seem to take this seriously. Classes have an additional fee and participants must enroll in advance for a full month of sessions.
I looked at prior questions, but I didn't get a clear idea if group teaching was the norm.
Best answer: I was curious, never having heard of Feldenkrais, so I googled around a bit, and found that it is in fact typically taught in a group setting, although also in individual classes. The two methods have different purposes. More info here.
It sounds a lot like Alexander Technique to me. I took some AT classes and didn't find it that helpful, but I know people who swear by it. I think a lot depends on how much effort you put into paying attention to these kinds of things. In other words, it isn't like lifting weights or taking a long run, in that the effort is discreet but the benefits extensive, but more something that requires sustained attention. As much as I'd like to be someone who can produce that kind of sustained attention I mostly just find myself thinking about my next long run.
posted by OmieWise at 9:05 AM on November 8, 2007
It sounds a lot like Alexander Technique to me. I took some AT classes and didn't find it that helpful, but I know people who swear by it. I think a lot depends on how much effort you put into paying attention to these kinds of things. In other words, it isn't like lifting weights or taking a long run, in that the effort is discreet but the benefits extensive, but more something that requires sustained attention. As much as I'd like to be someone who can produce that kind of sustained attention I mostly just find myself thinking about my next long run.
posted by OmieWise at 9:05 AM on November 8, 2007
Best answer: I've been doing weekly Awareness Through Movement classes for the past couple of months, and have found it the group format works very well. (Note: my instructor is really good. Quality of instructors will of course vary, wholly affecting the quality of the group-class experience.)
The ATM classes themselves have been fantastic; I leave each session feeling like I've suddenly got a whole new (younger, springier, more balanced) body. I've noticed really striking decreases in the amount of chronic neck/upper back pain I carry around, and an increase in my ability to get rid of such pain when it recurs. My posture's improved a whole lot, but more than "posture" as typically defined, I've noticed that I hold and carry myself in much more comfortable, less strained ways in doing all kinds of daily things (driving, washing dishes, keyboarding, etc. etc.)
So I'm clearly biased in favor, but if this sounds like something you'd benefit from, I sure would recommend at least checking it out.
posted by Kat Allison at 9:45 AM on November 8, 2007 [1 favorite]
The ATM classes themselves have been fantastic; I leave each session feeling like I've suddenly got a whole new (younger, springier, more balanced) body. I've noticed really striking decreases in the amount of chronic neck/upper back pain I carry around, and an increase in my ability to get rid of such pain when it recurs. My posture's improved a whole lot, but more than "posture" as typically defined, I've noticed that I hold and carry myself in much more comfortable, less strained ways in doing all kinds of daily things (driving, washing dishes, keyboarding, etc. etc.)
So I'm clearly biased in favor, but if this sounds like something you'd benefit from, I sure would recommend at least checking it out.
posted by Kat Allison at 9:45 AM on November 8, 2007 [1 favorite]
Best answer: In my experience, with your health and posture, I'd say no. I found it very very low key, and focused on very small movements which drove me crazy. In fact, someone fell asleep in class once and was told that "that's when really deep learning occurrs." It's not aerobic or strength training, and for posture, I'd take Alexander or Pilates any day. Then again, as previously stated, people have different reactions. It's like Alexander on a Tai Chi mentality. Sloooooow.
posted by rainbaby at 11:12 AM on November 8, 2007
posted by rainbaby at 11:12 AM on November 8, 2007
Response by poster: Thanks to everyone for good advice.
I'm going to sit in on a class and I do think I'm going to enroll for a month of classes. Taking rainbaby's comments to heart, I'm not planning to count this as a workout. I think it would frustrate me if I was visualizing this as a workout when it will be a light activity.
posted by 26.2 at 12:44 PM on November 17, 2007
I'm going to sit in on a class and I do think I'm going to enroll for a month of classes. Taking rainbaby's comments to heart, I'm not planning to count this as a workout. I think it would frustrate me if I was visualizing this as a workout when it will be a light activity.
posted by 26.2 at 12:44 PM on November 17, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
My wife is trained as a Feldenkrais practitioner (although she doesn't practice anymore), but not a MeFite, so I'll answer for her. The benefits vary widely, but can be summed up as increased awareness of movement patterns, and change to harmful movement patters and postural habits. ATM classes help more with the former than with the latter.
I'd ask whoever teaches them if you could drop in on a session. My wife's experience was that some people would claim to experience drastic changes after one ATM, and some people would claim they didn't notice anything- I always chalked this up to some people just being more excitable than others.
posted by bobot at 9:04 AM on November 8, 2007