“Functional Patterns”

Speaking of body-mind connection, and the way the mind controls the body, we set out with a preconception that the mind is “above” the body and so controls it. This is wrong in fact.

The idea of a 2-way equal relationship between body and mind was brought up by Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, who turned this into a working tool. According to him, the body can tell the mind new things and create a learning process. This process is rich in trial and error, registering its findings into our sensory brain, serving our subconscious. The way exactly that babies and infants accumulate knowledge. From this work he also stated the principle of “functional patterns”, compiling the dictionary of our basic daily life functions. The richness of this dictionary will set the quality of the functional solutions we have, and it is further enriched by the treatment session. The practitioner, while moving the patient, registers new options of functioning through the patient’s body, directly into his mind. The human mind can then turn this information into knowledge, and make use of it.

The Idea of Pain

Pain is not an enemy. It is the body’s way of announcing a problem or damage. Like frustration, it reveals incompatibility of solutions to needs. This is the “fine” we pay for compromising between what we need and what we know is possible for us. Most pain phenomenons originate from functional issues. Through The Method we are able to solve most of the functional issues. Broadening the tool box brings possible and needed closure, putting new possibilities in our daily life and resolves both pain and frustration. The treatment brings solutions and these cancel pain.

Pain therefore has a main role in the direct conversation between body and mind.

Movement through our bodies is a source of life and a tool for treatment in one.

Movement as Life Value

A moving body is alive, energetically active. The words movement, energy, life, are actually saying the same thing. Movement is not just another “Tool” in life, it is life itself. We know movement which directs our body through the surrounding space, but unaware of it being a flow of information we need to survive each moment. This information is the full set of codes for creation itself, us being a part of. Movement is as fundamental to us as water for the thirsty man in the desert. It is the foundation of our existence. It is equal to energy, and both mean life. Movement updates our knowledge bases, fitting them to the ever-changing needs of our environment. It is the fuel for our body, and as oxygen fuels the physical dimension, movement fuels the energetic one. The body needs it, it is a life source. These elements form the basis of body-movement relationship, and direct the dialogue of patient-practitioner.

The liveliness grows parallel to movement improving in our body, and better movement flow improves our capabilities.

The Role of Movement in Treatment

Sending movement, lights-up our body. As if we sent bright light beams to light up dark areas. It improves the blue-prints of unresolved body areas, and lights up functional issues.
Movement is like radar waves re-sketching the surface and functions.
As such, it is a unique treatment tool. There is none more effective.

Difficulties Recognizing Movement as an Independent Form, and Measuring It

Movement for itself is impossible to measure. It moves bodies, but we cannot see movement itself in them. We recognize its existence on and into our bodies and its influence on all that’s around us, but we have no idea how it looks or how to measure it.

Because its important function in our existence is clear, we must continue to investigate all its effects and embrace each finding, to be used as leverage to bettering our life.

“Movement Sleeves”

Movement crosses our body through what I call- “Movement-Sleeves”.

These are two “highways’ ‘ crossing the body diagonally, from toe to head. Starting at our feet, through ankles, pelvis, spine, shoulders and all the way to the opposite palm. Within there are many connecting routs and turns, as in any road net-work or tunnel system.

Good usage of these sleeves opens a new understanding of how our body works: concepts of effort are replaced by “riding”. We are invited to “ride” the movement, as migrating birds, sail boats, surfers and jockeys do.

“Riding the movement” doesn’t involve great effort.

It utilizes a movement originating outside the body, such as the vibrations of the earth. Compared with the effort it takes to create a movement from within the body, “riding” offers a clear advantage. This can be calculated with functional mathematics, based on understanding physical-motorical processes. I won’t elaborate on this function here, but the difference between inner-body production and outer-body production of movement is so profound, we must go deeper into it. Through treatment sessions we discover new knowledge in this matter and the human functions practically transform themselves.

Characterizing movement and its main function in our physical and mental levels is a unique and valuable contribution of the treatment with my method.

In practice – how is it done?

Manner of Treatment

The session is therapeutically oriented to the skeleton. This direction is utterly different from the Orientation of other pressure or massage therapy, which focus on circulation or muscles.

Sessions are held fully dressed, the patient lying or sitting on a proper therapy bed, and the practitioner  moves them slightly in different practitioner fashions and directions. The process requires great listening skills by the therapist, as he searches for the natural beating of the patient’s body. This beating would be the only one which doesn’t bring the patient to any conflict during the session, and gives him new information regarding his body and functions. It serves as a better basis for his decision making system and his performances dramatically improve, in a way he never knew before.

The process is friendly and open, with no pre-judgment or dictation. It is like walking hand in hand towards the unknown and its endless revelations. It is curious, ever-investigating and brings true and deep learning. Such a process is welcoming and supporting clear and meaningful development.

The Treatment

A session takes place between 45 min to 1.5 hours, depending on the patient and the characterizing of the treatment needed. As a starting point the practitioner focuses on the breaking-down of movements, while discovering and relieving pain, cleaning trauma “spots” which weigh on the body. This stage characterizes “differentiating” body parts, getting to know their functions as they work.

Later on we focus on connecting the body parts as they work, arriving at the full length connection of the whole body. This is the “integration” of the full body functions, acting as one whole organic unit.