From the Editor

by Stina Njaastad

The theme of the May 2000 IFF Assembly in Neuburg, Germany was, "Concretizing Our Visions: There Is No Limit To Improvement." In this issue, Cliff Smyth gives an edited version of his opening remarks at the Assembly.

During the four day Assembly, Representatives worked together in groups, each thematically linked to quality and competence. A huge amount of time and effort was put into this work, and it is available for review in this issue's feature of the working group reports.

The new Alexander Yanai lessons and the Gaby Yaron Masterful FI video tape set, which are now available to our community, are introduced in this newsletter.

In case you are unfamiliar with the IFF websites, you will find addresses and information about the two websites in this newsletter. We encourage you to visit and use the practitioner site, and to tell clients and others about the public site.

In the article, "The Feldenkrais Method of Somatic Education?" Yvan Joly presents questions and thoughts concerning our place as Feldenkrais teachers in society, and whether the term "somatic education" could be adopted as generic. This is part of a debate within our international community.

According to the Representatives at the 1999 Assembly in Baltimore, the IFF Newsletter is an important channel for exchange of news and information within the international Feldenkrais world. Many of our members have expressed the wish to receive the Newsletter more often. It is our intention to provide this service to members.

Finally I would like to encourage you to send us material for the next edition. I know that many of us who do not have English as our mother tongue hesitate to write for the Newsletter. If writing in English is difficult, we have the resources to translate. We need to hear from you !

THE NEXT IFF NEWLETTER
The closing date for the next edition is 1 March 2001. Material can be sent to:

Stina Njaastad
Brandhaugveita 3
7012 Trondheim
Norway
Phone: 47 73 51 11 15
Fax: 47 73 51 12 10
email: stina-n@multinet.no
or
The IFF
3611 SW Hood Ave.
Suite 102
Portland, OR
97201 USA
email: iff@peak.org

Editorial Policy: The editor reserves the right to edit any item for clarity of expression and for length. Where possible, the editor will endeavor to return edited items to the author for approval.

The IFF Newsletter is published by the International Feldenkrais Federation, 30, rue Monsieur le Prince, 75006 Paris, France.

Editor: Stina Njaastad. Production: Penny McCornack. © Copyright 2001, International Feldenkrais Federation.

Feldenkrais, Feldenkrais Method, Functional Integration, and Awareness Through Movement may be service marks of the Feldenkrais Guild or Association in some countries.

Photographs are used with the kind permission of Michél Silice-Feldenkrais. The photos in this issue were taken by Bob Knighton at the San Francisco Training in 1976 and 1977