scholarly journals The Feldenkrais Method® of Somatic Education

10.5772/30885 ◽  
2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia A.
Keyword(s):  
Feldenkrais Method ◽  
Somatic Education

Dancing Becomes Walking

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sondra Fraleigh
Keyword(s):  
Self Care ◽  
Alexander Technique ◽  
Community Settings ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Feldenkrais Method ◽  
Craniosacral Therapy ◽  
Personal Transformations ◽  
Somatic Education ◽  
Mindful Meditation ◽  
Walking Meditation

This chapter reflects on the author’s personal transformations in developing Shin Somatics through study of several forms of yoga, the Alexander Technique, the Feldenkrais Method of Somatic Education, craniosacral therapy, and Zen mindfulness. In particular, it explains how dancing became a form of walking meditation for the author. The author also talks about finding ways to introduce somatic concepts into her teaching of dance and yoga in university and community settings, including a simple method of mindful meditation that attends to the breath, non-judgment, self-care, and forgiveness through the lens of Shin (Oneness). Finally, the chapter discusses how the author’s travels in Japan and India inspire much of the “East” in the Eastwest name, along with her involvement in butoh and the ways it has taught her about its somatic basis.

Singing with awareness: A phenomenology of singers’ experience with the Feldenkrais Method

2021 ◽  
pp. 1321103X2110206
Author(s):  
Stephen A Paparo
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Feldenkrais Method ◽  
Choral Pedagogy ◽  
Somatic Education ◽  
Self Discovery ◽  
Music Education Majors

Though methods of somatic education such as the Feldenkrais Method are becoming more widely recognized as complementary approaches in vocal and choral pedagogy, there is little research that examines the experiences of singers who participate in such mind–body approaches. With the intent of exploring pedagogical implications of somatic education in music education, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the experiences of undergraduate vocal music education majors enrolled in an elective, 7-week Feldenkrais course. Specifically, how do singers describe in their participation in Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement lessons, and how do these experiences inform their understanding of how they sing? Data were gathered from questionnaires, weekly journals, and semi-structured interviews. Phenomenological data analysis following Moustakas’s approach revealed three themes reported as textural and structural descriptions: (a) improved quality of movement, (b) heightened awareness of singing, and (c) enhanced practice. The overall essence of participants’ experience may be summarized as a process of self-discovery that provided individualized benefits for singing. Discussion includes pedagogical implications of somatic teaching and learning in PreK through university contexts as well as suggestions for future research.

Musicians as Movers: Applying the Feldenkrais Method to Music Education

2018 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 15-19
Author(s):  
Catherine Lee
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Mental Capacity ◽  
The Body ◽  
Music Instruction ◽  
Feldenkrais Method ◽  
Somatic Education

Musicians’ ability to refine their physical movements directly affects their ability to communicate musically with an audience. A focus on the body is thus an important element of music instruction. The Feldenkrais Method (FM) is a method of somatic education that focuses on teaching the body to move in new ways and with greater efficiency and enjoyment. This article discusses how applying the principles of FM to musical instruction can build students’ physical and mental capacity to express themselves in music.

scholarly journals A New Educational Program to Improve Posture and Quality of Life Among Students by Means of the Feldenkrais Method and a New Program: MAP-Motion and Posture

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Iris Gil
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Educational Program ◽  
Body Posture ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Analog Scale ◽  
Feldenkrais Method ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Physical Exercises ◽  
Emotional Aspects

Newborns possess a natural ability for correct body posture, but most of us lose this ability to the extent of causing damage and consequently a decline in quality of life. Damage can be manifested in pain (mainly in the back), decline in functioning, and damage to emotional aspects of life. To examine the nature of the connection between body posture and quality of life by focusing on the question of whether and how practicing the well-known Feldenkrais method or the unknown Motion and Posture (MAP) method improves quality of life and body posture. The study was conducted among 243 students. An educational program for correct posture was conducted with physical exercises derived from both the Feldenkrais method and the new MAP method. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, and the tools utilized were two questionnaires, a digital inclinometer, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and a metric tape measure. A positive trend of improvement was found both in the participants’ quality of life and posture. The qualitative measurement found a connection between improvement in quality of life and improvement in posture. The participants in the MAP program had an advantage over the participants in the Feldenkrais program. The innovation of the present study is in presenting the importance of posture for quality of life. This study is a new construct for understanding quality of life as a synergy between emotional and physical aspects that draws on improving posture by means of the Feldenkrais and MAP methods.

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