Welcome!

Welcome to the site!  It contains information about the components of my practice and other related interests.

My practice currently includes my work as a Clinical Social Worker and as a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Teacher^®.  The learning, insights and sensibilities of each discipline informs and strengthens the other, even though I do not generally mix the two.

The practice comprises the private practice in psychotherapy, the Feldenkrais® practice and a consultancy on disability/health issues.

My first professional training was as a Social Worker.  I earned my Masters degree at Fordham School of Social Services in 1972 and went on to be certified, then licensed by New York State and earned a diplomate from the National Association of Social Workers.

My experience has been gained in a variety of settings; medical, mental health, child welfare, family and community, working with individuals, groups, families and larger community groups.  

In the process of dealing with disability and health issues in my own life and those of family members and clients, I became an experienced consumer advocate on those issues .

In 1994, I completed my professional training and became a Feldenkrais Practitioner^®, certified by theFeldenkrais Guild of North America^®. 

I believe that movement is a useful metaphor for the work I do, and for some time, used MovementMatters as the name of my practice.  There are, however, a number of entities on the internet who have assumed that name and so I now place the practice clearly and proudly under my own name.  

However, the metaphor still applies.

Movement is a characteristic of living things. The movement's size, velocity, frequency and quality might vary widely from one living thing to another; but, from the whale moving through the ocean, to a single cell of the body moving its cell walls, all living things move.

Thus, to us, as living beings in search of enhancement of whatever aspect of our lives, movement does, indeed matter!

Movement out of depression or a dysfunctional relationship; learning how movement can be graceful and easy; learning how one's movement may influence the experience of pain and discomfort and how to change them; moving on after diagnosis of an illness or disability; moving toward managing one's life more easily...All these are aspects of the work that my practice encompasses.

Feldenkrais®

 What is Feldenkrais®?

The Feldenkrais Method^® is a system of sensory motor learning which uses gentle movement

sequences and focused but mobile attention to increase awareness,improve function, increase grace

and ease of movement and reduce pain and stress.

It is named for its originator, Moshe Feldenkrais. 

Although his academic training was in engineering and physics, his interests were wide-ranging,

including a mastery of judo. As a result of a sports injury, he suffered severe knee pain. Feldenkrais developed his Method® to learn to move without pain, and then went on to teach it to others.

The trainings continue around the world, as do classes in AwarenessThrough Movement^®,
the verbally guided aspect of the Method^® and in Functional Integration^®, the hands on, one-to-one aspect
of the Feldenkrais Method^®.

What can I expect at a lesson?

At an Awareness Through Movement^® lesson, the student usually lies on the floor on a mat (though there are some lessons given sitting or standing), dressed in regular, unrestrictive clothing. The practitioner guides the student verbally through a sequence of gentle movements which relate to a variety of functions, such as bending, turning, reaching, walking. The student does the movements in his or her range of comfort and begins to notice the way he or she usually does the movement and what makes it easier or more difficult. Gradually, by means of many variations, other options for movement are introduced and incorporated making the individual movements easier and the overall functioning smoother and easier as well.

In a Functional Integration^® lesson the student usually lies on a padded table while the practitioner uses his or her hands to move the person and, through touch, to provide information to the student on posture and movement which might be unfamiliar.

What kind of people "do" Feldenkrais^®?

Singers, dancers, plumbers,

writers, computer operators, actors, corporate managers, homemakers,

moms, dads, health care professionals...

 People who want to improve their ability to move gracefully

  People who want to enhance their self-awareness

People who want to increase their energy and reduce fatigue and stress

 People who want to perform better

 People who want to move without pain

People just like you !

Where and When can I come to class?

Feldenkrais^® Center of Park Slope

374 Fifth Avenue (between5th and 6th Sts.)

Brooklyn, NY 11215

718-499-5238

                            
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There is currently one scheduled Awareness Through Movement^® class

held at the Feldenkrais^® Center of Park Slope:

Tuesday 3:00PM to 4:00 PM

Classes are added as required.

(Other practitioners have classes on other days and times)

However, class days and times are subject to change, so please call or email before coming to class for the first time.

Awareness Through Movement^® and Functional Integration^® lessons are arranged by appointment.

                                 
Call: 347-471-0175