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The FELDENKRAIS® Method of Somatic Education

What is Feldenkrais® and how does it help our riding?

​​"The Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education uses slow, mindful movements to achieve powerful effects in terms of strength, flexibility, and holistic integration of body and mind. These lessons tie directly into functional movements of daily life, such as walking efficiently, safely lifting objects, and improving one’s posture in sitting or standing"... (from Feldenkrais.com)

 

...as well as riding your horse! The integration of the Feldenkrais® work into my teaching and my work with horses will enable me to help you and your horse move better individually and together.  

Are you interested in learning...

How the nervous system uses pain to protect and why it is harmful to "work through the pain" and what to do instead?

Why strengthening your core is not necessarily the answer to back pain or a better seat? 

Why practice makes permanent rather than perfect - for our horses and us?

How our habits are influencing how we move, learn, and live? 

 

Then find out more about our Feldenkrais® & Riding clinics, individual Functional Integration® lessons, and group Awareness Through Movement® lessons with Freya.

 

Freya completed her training in 2024 and is now a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner! 

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She is teaching Awareness Through Movement® classes online via Zoom on Mondays and Thursdays and is now offering individual Functional Integration® lessons both in person in Trout Lake as well as online via Zoom.

 

You can find Freya's ATM lesson library on Patreon here: 

https://www.patreon.com/freyasturm

This is a great little illustration produced for the Australian Feldenkrais Guild on how Feldenkrais helps people. Please watch!

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What is Awareness Through Movement® (ATM)?

The Feldenkrais® group classes are known as Awareness Through Movement® lessons. In these lessons we use slow, mindful movements to achieve powerful effects in terms of strength, flexibility, mobility, and awareness. The lessons tie directly into functional movements we do every day, like walking, sitting, lifting things, reaching for objects, engaging in sports like riding horses etc.

A lesson lasts 45 to 60 minutes. Usually you will lie on the floor on a mat or blanket on your side, back, or front. Some lessons will be in sitting, some in standing, or walking. As the teacher I will guide you through a series or sequence of movements, encouraging you to move gently in a comfortable range while spreading your attention throughout the whole of yourself. You may become aware of movement patterns and habits and find new and interesting connections between movements. Unnecessary tension in your musculature can release and your system can reorganize as the quality of the movement improves.

My students are often surprised about the quick and profound changes that occur through the neuromuscular reorganization than happens in these lessons. They get up feeling lighter, more grounded, calm, with less or no more pain and a new sense of freedom. 

What is Functional Integration®?

The private sessions in the Feldenkrais® work are called Functional Integration® lessons. 

As the teacher I guide you in this movement lesson with gentle, non-invasive touch. My touch reflects to you how you currently organize your body and movement. New movement patterns will emerge, new possibilities will expand that are more comfortable, useful, easy and efficient.

These lessons are highly individual and flexible in their approach. Your needs and wishes determine what we will explore together and which position you will be in. Some lessons will be taught in lying on the Feldenkrais table, some will be taught in sitting or walking or even on your horse. You will remain fully clothed during our time together.

Your learning process is guided by my intention of finding more ease and novel movement options for you without the use of forceful or painful procedures. I focus on setting up a safe and comfortable learning environment and your comfort is my number one priority. 

Each lesson is developed specifically for you as the student and designed for you to learn how to reorganize your movement in new and more effective ways through the experience of comfort, curiosity, touch, and ease.

 

Who is this for? The fast answer is: Everyone! Whether you are dealing with things like (chronic) pain, headaches, the occasional back pain, or fatigue in your eyes, neck and shoulders at work, whether you are recovering from injury, surgery, or events like stroke, or you are looking for more effective ways of movement in your hobbies, sports, and workout routines, the Feldenkrais Method of Somatic Education® offers relief, improvement, and new possibilities. 

 

All you will need to bring is curiosity, and something in your life and movement you would like to improve and/or explore!

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Feldenkrais® for Horses

Just like us horses greatly benefit from the Feldenkrais Method. 

The ability of the Feldenkrais practitioner to tune in with the awareness of their own as well as another nervous system makes horses feel seen, safe, and cared for. 

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The gentle touch, the listening hands, the non verbal asking of open ended questions, the suggestion of movement, the timing of rests and all the other wonderful aspects of this work make Feldenkrais sessions a valuable resource for horses. They can let go of old movement patterns, dissolve tension in their system, find comfort, flexibility, and new possibilities in movement that will lead to better performance and longevity. A lot of seemingly incurable behavior issues will dissolve when we address the body and mind as a whole as will dysfunction and lamenesses of unknown origin. 

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My bodywork with horses is a holistic approach that will always include looking at hoof health and balance, dental health and balance, tack fit, the handler's/rider's balance as well as training style and the horse's living situation and the effects thereof. 

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Like Dr. Feldenkrais said: "We cannot change one thing without changing everything."

 

Meaning, if we change one thing there will be ripple effects through all other aspects of our horse's life and we can utilize that for lasting change for the better. 

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Get in touch if you would like to know more or book a session for you or/and your horse!

"Movement is Life. When you improve the quality of movement, you improve the quality of life itself."

~ Moshé Feldenkrais

 

 

https://feldenkrais.com/

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