It is simply not true that pain and increasing loss of movement and function must always come with age. Too often this belief becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, as people restrict activity to avoid pain, and then become stiff.

In the 1930s, a form of exercise called, The Feldenkrais Method®, was created by Moshe Feldenkrais, a Russian physicist and mechanical engineer.  Feldenkrais designed specific exercises to improve human functioning by increasing self-awareness through movement.

Moshe Feldenkrais often worked with older bodies, and his goal was not only to increase mobility, decrease pain, and increase independence, but also to help bodies to “get growing again.” He emphasized that the Feldenkrais Method often produced surprising results and was particularly well suited to those with older bodies. While younger people, when trying to learn something new, may use too much effort, people with lots of life experience have the wisdom to go slowly and learn well.

“Reaching, bending, turning, getting up and down from the floor, and in and out of a chair are everyday functions that the Feldenkrais Method® helps to address,” shares Barbara Leverone, who has been a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Teacher® since 1994 and holds a Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of South Florida.

“Through quiet, gentle and exploratory movements, you learn to recognize habitual patterns that you have developed over the years and explore options that can lead to improved posture, function and flexibility.  These lessons, called awareness through movement, emphasize mindfulness, curiosity and repetition of enjoyable action.”

Barbara has been a movement teacher in private practice in Sarasota, Florida since 1996.  In addition to her work with babies and caregivers, she helps active seniors, performing artists, fitness and sports professionals, and those in rehabilitation from a variety of orthopedic, neurological and chronic pain conditions.

She was introduced to the Feldenkrais Method® of Movement Education in Los Angeles in the late 1970’s, looking for ways to rehabilitate from injuries sustained as a professional dancer.  She taught for Florida State University for over ten years in the graduate acting program in Sarasota, where her integration of the Feldenkrais Method and Movement for Actors gained her national recognition.

Plymouth Harbor residents will get their first of Feldenkrais with Barbara Leverone in a workshop on Tuesday, May 27 from 10:00 am to 11:15 am in The The Wellness Center (N-313)

This is a FREE CLASS!   No Sign-Ups

This class consists of floor exercises performed on a mat (mats provided, of course).