The Feldenkrais Method, and the true measure of flexibility.....

    It's Feldenkrais Awareness Week, and a special time to celebrate this remarkable man and the Method that he created.

    Moshe Feldenkrais never intentionally set out to develop this unique method of learning through self education. Instead, it slowly and gradually developed from his own personal experience and frustration from trying to heal from a recurrent knee injury. Every time he thought his knee was healed, he would inadvertently re-injure it, often just by stepping off of a curb and landing wrong.

    After consulting with several physicians, he was advised to have his knee surgically repaired, with about a 50% chance of full recovery. He decided the odds were not good enough for him to go under the surgeon's knife, and he chose a different path. That path was the road to self education and self healing, through movement.

    His method is based on the scientific principle of neuroplasticity, which means that our nervous system is inherently malleable and flexible. This flexibility means that we (specifically our brains), are capable of changing and learning new patterns during the course of our entire lifetime. These new patterns are not limited to just physical patterns, but include thinking, sensing and feeling as well as moving.

    One major philosophy of Feldenkrais is that the measure of flexibility does not lie with the flexibility of one's muscles or joints. The true measure of one's flexibility lies within the core of every living being's existence: their nervous system. The ability to adapt to our ever changing environment, to interrupt habitual patterns that are not serving us well, to understand human nature, and the ability to recover from trauma is more than the true measure of flexibility. It is what brings us to the full measure of our human dignity.

    I feel incredibly honored and humbled, to be a Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner and to carry on his legacy and the gift of his remarkable Method. Thank you, Moshe! Happy Feldenkrais Awareness Week!
     

Be healthy!
Cheryl Ilov, PT, GCFP

Evening prayers, insomnia, and world peace....

   When I was a little girl, evening prayers were part of our bedtime ritual. From as early as I could remember, my mother would kneel with me and my sisters at our bedside and lead us in prayer. "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take." Well, I guess that explains my insomnia. If there was a chance that I may die before I wake, I wasn't about to fall asleep.

    Then we learned "Our Father, who art in Heaven...." When I asked my mother who "Art" was, she explained, "You know, like your father, who art in the mill." Oh, well, that made sense since our dad worked in the steel mill. She was really good at explaining things. I swear she had a glint in her eye when she said that. My mother often had a gleam in her eye, especially at bedtime.

    One night she looked visibly upset when she led us through our prayers. When we were finished, she told us we were adding one more prayer, "And let there be peace, all over the world." We recited those words and crawled into bed.

    It was obvious she was worried, and scared. I could hear her and my father talking in the next room, and I struggled to hear what they were saying. After all, if I wasn't going to take the chance of falling asleep, I might as well be productive. I couldn't make out their words, and in spite of my efforts I fell asleep.

    The next few days were pretty tense. Not only were my parents solemn and preoccupied, all of the adults were as well. Our teachers were so distracted that they forgot to yell at us, and they gathered together in clusters to whisper among themselves. You know, the kind of behavior that always got us in trouble.

    It took a few years for me to understand the tumultuous times in which we were living. Words like the "Cuban Missile Crisis" meant nothing to me except that it upset grownups. Once things began to return to normal, a young President was assassinated, and violence seemed to be all around us. "Let there be peace, all over the world."

    Here we are, many years later, and still living in tumultuous times. But, peace is a choice that each of us make; in our own lives, our thoughts, our hearts and our actions. It may not be the kind of peace that my Mom had in mind the evening she made up that prayer, but it's a start. And it gives me the peace to sleep at night.
                                       

Be healthy!
Cheryl Ilov, PT, GCFP

The green machine and driven to drink....

    I work hard to keep up with the current trends in health, wellness, fitness and nutrition. It's more than my  profession; it's my passion. However, I'm a natural born skeptic, and I question everything. My skepticism is coupled with an adventurous spirit and a desire to try new things. Especially when it comes to the subject of health, wellness, fitness and nutrition. I know, it's a conflict, but maybe you can appreciate my confusion.

    I heard about green juicing several months ago from an acquaintance online. The scientist in me could understand the value of drinking raw vegetable juice. The skeptic in me wondered if it really would boost my energy and my immune system. The dancer in me wondered about the calorie content in the juice. The practical part of me wondered how much it would cost, how much work it would be, and if it was worth the effort. After balancing the pros and cons, I decided it wasn't for me.

    However, I couldn't stop thinking about it. A friend of mine told me she was juicing and feeling remarkably better, but I still wasn't convinced. I wasn't sure I could drink something that looked like the pond water behind our house where we went looking for tadpoles each spring when we were kids. It wasn't until a client of mine walked into my office after being gone for a month. She looked fabulous! Her eyes were bright, she had a spring in her step, and her skin positively glowed. She was juicing. Bring on the tadpoles!

    The skeptic in me got in my own way, and instead of buying the high quality juicer that was recommended, I bought a cheaper brand. The motor blew out four days later. Sheesh! I returned it and tried a different brand, but still a less expensive one than the one everyone raved about. I am not only a skeptic, I am also frugal, and I didn't want to invest in a high quality Goodwill donation.

    The new juicer worked just fine. For the first week. Then, one afternoon I had it loaded with vegetables and hit the "on" button. Nothing happened. I checked all the connections, made a few adjustments and tried again. Nothing. I unloaded it, reloaded and tried one more time. Still nothing. Frustrated, I walked away, thinking that ordering a pizza and opening a beer might not be as healthy, but it certainly would be easier. After a few minutes, I tried one last time. Viola! It worked.

    From that moment on, my juicer had a mind of it's own. It decided when and under what conditions it would work, until it finally gave it's last gasp. In two weeks I had gone through two juicers. Time for another one. Still not ready for the high end yet, my third juicer is the cheapest one I can find, but it's been working beautifully for the past month.

    I have been juicing every day since then, and I have graduated to green smoothies. I even bought a new blender, but I didn't go for the high end quality blender. I figured that would be far too extravagant considering how much money I was spending on juicers. Besides, in case I didn't like smoothies I didn't want an expensive blender sitting in my pantry collecting dust.

    I've noticed a few changes in myself since I started juicing. Instead of moaning for coffee as I crawl out of bed in the morning, I now gleefully tap my fingers together and wonder what I can pulverize for breakfast. I get giddy grinding greens, and I love watching those liquid phytonutrients come spewing out. I have more energy, my eyes are brighter, clearer, and less puffy. I even have a nice glow to my skin.

    I suppose it's time to upgrade to the high end juicer now, but I'm still not quite ready to make that leap. after all, I may not keep up with it. In the meantime, I better sign off. I have some greens to grind.

Be healthy!
Cheryl Ilov, PT, GCFP

The Feldenkrais Method(R) and the born again Pilatean.

    After my first Feldenkrais workshop, I knew I wanted to become a practitioner. I wasn't exactly sure what was involved in the four long years that it took to get through a Feldenkrais training, and I really didn't care. At first.

    However, once I made the decision, I started to have second thoughts. After all, four years is a long time, and I was feeling uncomfortable with all of the touchy-feely communication coming from my instructors and my classmates. I was also getting pretty nervous anytime I heard how a training transforms you. I didn't want to be transformed.

    Before I started the training, I worked with two clients who did Pilates together. They both had some experience with Feldenkrais. As a matter of fact, both of them had more experience in the Method than I did at the time, and they often shared their perspective with me, whether I wanted it or not.

    One of them had considered taking the training herself. However, she told me that she wanted the information, but didn't want to go through the process of getting it. She wiggled her eyebrows at me in a knowing way. Her friend laughed and said, "No kidding! Who would want to go through that?"  I had no idea what they meant, but I didn't want to appear uninformed, so I just nodded my head and pretended I understood.

    They began to discuss the pros, cons, perils and pitfalls of going through a Feldenkrais training. In an attempt to change the subject, I redirected their attention to their Pilates workout. I guess it didn't work, because they continued, "Speaking of Pilates, it's going to be real interesting how you feel about this after the training." Once again, they wiggled their eyebrows and exchanged knowing looks. Sheesh!

    They explained to me that Pilates violated all the principles of Feldenkrais. According to Feldenkrais, Pilates was the anti-'Krais, so to speak. I don't know how they knew this, but according to my clients, I couldn't possibly teach both Methods, and I would have to choose between the two. They wondered what I would do. So did I.

    I soon found out. After my first training segment, Pilates just wasn't the same, and neither was I. I had more fun teaching Pilates than I ever had before. I had my clients sense their contact with the Reformer. I encouraged them to move from their skeleton instead of their muscles. I coaxed them to experience the sensation of each movement pattern. I had a renewed interest and enthusiasm for Pilates. I loved it, and so did my clients.

    The truth is, Feldenkrais doesn't replace Pilates, or any other physical activity. Feldenkrais makes everything more interesting, more fun and more pleasurable. It also makes everything easier and effortless. Feldenkrais makes the impossible possible, the possible easy, and the easy effortless. And that's how Feldenkrais turned me into a "Born Again Pilatean."

Be healthy!
Cheryl Ilov, PT, GCFPeasy and effortlesseasier and effortless

The power of words, and permanent damage....

    I love working with people, and I love helping them recover from injuries and chronic pain. It's actually not that complicated, and my clients are often amazed (and delighted) to experience how easy and effortless it is to heal from pain.

    I recently worked with a young woman who was experiencing persistent neck pain after a car accident. After just a few weeks, her pain dramatically decreased, her cervical range of motion improved, her energy increased and she was able to return to work full time. Even better, she got a spark in her eye, a spring in her step, and her remarkable wit and sense of humor returned. 

    I was stunned when she came back to my office two weeks after we both decided that she didn't need any more help. She was in tears, extremely depressed and in severe pain. Alarmed, I asked her what happened. She told me she had returned  to her physician for a follow up assessment which included more cervical x-rays. Her physician looked at the films, showed them to her, and informed her that she may have permanent damage as a result of the accident. Yikes! Even my neck began to hurt.

    I wanted to scream and pound my head against the wall in frustration, but I figured that wouldn't do either one of us any good. Besides, my own neck was starting to hurt and I knew that would only make it worse. I kept my expression as neutral as possible, and reminded her that she had been pain free for weeks, had regained her strength, range of motion and had returned to all of her functional and recreational activities. She burst into tears and wailed, "But that was before I knew I had permanent damage!" Uh-oh.

    I pointed out that her doctor said that she may have permanent damage; he didn't say that she definitely did have permanent damage. Through her tears she explained that she saw the x-rays herself and they looked "pretty bad". Surprised, I asked her if she had ever seen an x-ray before. She hadn't, but she assured me that it looked awful. Sheesh!

    I know her doctor and I have a great deal of respect for him. However, as a practitioner, I believe that we have to be careful how we choose our words. An unfortunate choice of words can transform you from someone who is healing into someone who has no hope of ever recovering. I know, I've been there myself. A poor choice of words can take away your power and render you helpless. Words matter; they can heal or harm, encourage or destroy, empower or devastate. They can even cause permanent damage. Choose them carefully.


Be healthy!
Cheryl Ilov, PT, GCFP

The Feldenkrais Method(R), and spreading the word....

    As a Feldenkrais Practitioner, I feel that one of my responsibilities to the Feldenkrais community and the general public is to help spread the word of this remarkable Method. After all, why should those of us who have experienced it have all the fun? I want to share it, with as many people who are willing to listen to me. I want to give everyone the opportunity to experience the magic and reap the benefits of Feldenkrais.

    As a result, I never pass up an opportunity to give presentations on The Feldenkrais Method. I include a brief description of the Method, but since Feldenkrais is experiential and difficult to describe through words, I follow with an example of an Awareness Through Movement lesson. However, in my enthusiasm to spread the word, I have found myself in some very difficult, challenging, strange and uncomfortable situations.

    I recently gave a presentation to a professional group during their breakfast meeting. I found myself teaching a lesson to forty people who were taking turns ordering, receiving and eating their breakfast. My attention was divided between the lesson, the participants, their breakfasts and dodging the servers flying past me carrying huge platters of food. But, I spread the word.

    I gave another presentation to a group of student personal trainers. It was a beautiful summer day, and they chose to experience their lesson outside, next to a small lake. It seemed like a good idea at first. But, I underestimated the competition from the heat, the mosquitoes, and the bellowing voices of other students directing their clients through their workouts right next to us. But, I spread the word.

    I gave a presentation to a psychologist, his partners and his horses. Yes, I said horses. As a result of that presentation, I was invited to teach a workshop to his training group that specialized in Equine Therapy, applying the principles of Feldenkrais to their psychology practice and their horses. I taught the workshop in a beautiful meadow surrounded by mountains, wildflowers and horses. What a lovely environment to spread the word!

    I am fond of horses, but I never had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with them. I'll admit, I was a bit nervous and apprehensive at first. I was amazed to learn that horses are the most gentle, sensitive creatures I have ever been around. I also discovered that a horse is a powerful teacher, but that is a story for another day. The point is, it would have been a shame if I had missed out on such a glorious and rewarding learning experience. Sometimes you just have to put yourself out there, even if it's challenging or uncomfortable. You never know what wonderful new learning experience may unfold for you as well as your audience. All you have to do is spread the word.



Be healthy!
Cheryl Ilov, PT, GCFP

The Feldenkrais Method(R) and the effortless movement of the skeleton....

    As a Feldenkrais Practitioner, one of my greatest challenges is trying to describe what the Method is, how it works, and what Feldenkrais can do to help you. At first, it seems quite complicated. In reality, it's actually very simple.

    In Feldenkrais, we focus on moving from our bones and our skeleton, rather than pushing from our muscles. Our skeletal structure supports us, our bones move us, and our nervous system is the computer which functions as the control center. Our muscles simply contract and relax as a result of the messages they receive from the very sophisticated, highly developed and extremely intelligent nervous system.

    I know, it's a different way of approaching movement, and it may be contrary to your current belief system about the science of movement. However, once you learn to move from the skeleton instead of pushing through your muscles, you experience how movement becomes easy, elegant and effortless.

    The truth is, when you move from your skeleton, magic happens!


Be healthy!
Cheryl Ilov, PT, GCFP