PRISMA Yellow

Introduction: The Workshop Concept

Feldenkrais teachers mainly understand their work as practical implementation of an art.  Nevertheless scientific concepts influence their practice and play a part in determining perception, thinking, and actions – often without this being recognised.  At the 2005 IFF Academy Day in Berlin we offered a day workshop confronting ourselves with the challenge of giving participants an opportunity of exploring in their own bodies how scientific concepts influence “Awareness through Movement” (ATM) and “Functional Integration” (FI).

First steps to a science of the Feldenkrais-Method

Facilitated by Werner Schacker(D), Daniel Clénin(CH) and Barbara Pieper(D)

A dialogue on science and research focusing on the question how to proceed to achieve  an adequate Feldenkrais specific scientific approach providing a theoretical understanding of the Feldenkrais Method and helping to cooperate with other disciplines.
To approach this ambitious and complex matter, we would like to experience exemplary within an ATM lesson
- how different scientific concepts have an effect on the use of the Feldenkrais-Method
- how these differences accordingly can be experienced/ observed/ presented and how the focus is respectively guided
- how we can learn from the different concepts and
- what it could mean to find an own language to express our experiences unreduced and appropriate, being capable for dialogue and connection with the diverse scientific discourses, that are important for us.

IFF Academy Day 31.05.2003 Soesterberg/NL

“Feldenkrais and Science”

First steps to a science of the Feldenkrais-Method

Facilitated by Werner Schacker (D), Daniel Clénin (CH) and Barbara Pieper (D) Local Academy Foot PRISMA
 
Evaluation of the Workshop
Note: At the end of this text you will find the notation of questions, answers given and mind mapped during the workshop.
 

Introduction: What the Workshop is about

We understand our work as Feldenkrais practitioners as a practical art in the first place. However, scientific insights and concepts do play a – sometimes undefined - role in our practice and influence our perception, our thinking and activities. In entering a dialogue with science and research, the question comes up if and how a Feldenkrais specific approach can be developed, which enables a theoretical understanding of the Feldenkrais method and which helps to cooperate with other disciplines. In that dialogue it will be important to develop an own language, appropriate to our experiences.