Feldenkrais Method: Origins, Lessons and What Research Shows

What it is

The Feldenkrais Method is described by its North American professional body as somatic education that uses gentle movement and directed attention to help people learn new and more effective ways of living the life they want. [1] The Guild's FAQ says it is not a treatment, adjustment or exercise program. [2] It is taught in two ways. In Awareness Through Movement group lessons, students follow the teacher's verbal instructions. In Functional Integration one-on-one sessions, a fully clothed student is guided through touch, movement and verbal instruction. [1]

Origins

Moshe Feldenkrais was born on May 6, 1904, in Slavuta, in what is now Ukraine. [3] He graduated in 1933 with specialties in mechanical and electrical engineering and received a judo black belt in 1936. [3] He had hurt his knee in 1929, and knee trouble recurred during his escape from France in 1940; he began working with himself on it and later gave lectures and taught experimental classes. [3] During his London period he studied the work of George Gurdjieff, F. M. Alexander and William Bates, and he published his first book on his method, Body and Mature Behavior, in 1949. [3] Around 1954 he moved permanently to Tel Aviv and, for the first time, made his living solely by teaching the method. [3] The author of the Guild's biography says dates and places could not be fully verified, and no independent biography was checked. [3]

How it is proposed to work

The Guild says your own body awareness and attention stimulate the brain to create new neural pathways, which it calls neuroplasticity. [2] This is a proposed explanation from the method's own organization. The sources read do not show that it is the mechanism behind any measured benefit.

What a lesson involves

Awareness Through Movement classes and Functional Integration lessons are described as slow, gentle explorations of movement. [2] The Guild says that, unlike yoga, the method does not require you to be flexible, nor does it involve stretching or holding any positions. [2] If you cannot lie down, the Guild says you can sit. [2] That is the organization's own statement, not trial evidence. For comparison with yoga see what is yoga.

What research shows

A 2022 systematic review included 16 studies across many populations, so each finding rests on only a few trials. [4] Participants know when they are taking part, so expectation and attention may contribute. Labels: promising but limited, insufficient evidence.

1. Older adults: gait, balance, mobility

   promising but limited

   In three of the four selected trials the Feldenkrais group significantly improved gait, balance, mobility and quality of life; the pooled analysis showed significant differences in the Timed-Up-and-Go test. [4]

2. Chronic low back pain

   promising but limited

   Improvements in pain, disability, quality of life and interoceptive awareness (awareness of body signals) in three trials. [4]

3. Neck, upper-back or shoulder pain

   promising but limited

   Improved pain, functional balance and perceived exertion in three trials. [4]

4. Spine pain compared with other physiotherapy

   promising but limited

   The review concluded effects were comparable to other physiotherapy techniques. [4]

5. Multiple sclerosis

   insufficient evidence

   Two studies; pooled results showed no significant group differences on a self-efficacy scale. [4]

6. Parkinson's disease

   insufficient evidence

   Two studies showed significant effects on quality of life and functional tests. [4]

7. Creativity, performance or "rewiring" the brain

   marketing claim

   Proper evidence not found. I read the 2022 review and the Guild pages; neither reports trials of these claims.

Teachers and training

The Feldenkrais Guild of North America says graduates are eligible to become certified after 160 days of training spread over at least 36 months. [2] The sources read did not say whether any state or country regulates the work, so ask about a teacher's training and how long they have taught.

Related

See Feldenkrais Method for Pain and Mobility, Alexander Technique, adapted yoga and movement and the overview Yoga & Movement.