Moshe Feldenkrais was an engineer, physicist, teacher and master of the oriental martial arts. Due to a knee injury he became interested in the mechanics of movement and the role of the nervous system in this. With this knowledge he taught himself to walk again.

© International Feldenkrais® Federation Archive

The rest of his life he invested in further researching ways to optimize thinking, feeling and movement both physically and mentally. This is how the Feldenkrais method came into being: a practical and effective form of ‘experiential and exploratory’ learning.

The method is based on an intriguing combination of bio-mechanics, neuro-science, motor development, psychology and oriental martial arts.

The method consists of two fascinating and versatile teaching methods: Awareness through Movement and Functional Integration (1 on 1 sessions). Both forms appeal to the nervous system’s ability to reorganize itself in order to create well-functioning patterns of movement. The basis of both forms of teaching lies in awakening our consciousness to the way we think, feel, move, and use our body.

If you change what you think, you will change how you move. And if you change how you move, you will change how you feel. (Moshe Feldenkrais)

Moshe Feldenkrais wrote some very interesting books about his philosophy:

Becoming conscious by moving

The Elusive Obvious

The Master Moves

The Mature Self