The success stories in the article linked below highlight some of the ways that the Feldenkrais Method of Somatic Education can impact peoples lives. This stretches from profound moments of personal transformation, to more practical changes that have impacted the small details of a persons day to day life.
Each stories showcases the positive impact the Feldenkrais Method can have on the lives of the people that engage with it, whether through one to one sessions (Functional Integration) or group classes (Awareness Through Movement).
In the article we have contributions from a number of Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practioners: Fariya Doctor, Carol McAmis, Brenda Sorkin, Sam Nelson, Ismini Phillips, Jane Johnston and Dorothy Henning.
You can find out more information about each of them, where they practice and how to contact them in the article below.
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Fariya Doctor – https://fariyadoctor.com
Feldenkrais Practitioner in Niagara, ON, Canada
Fariya has over 30 years of experience in dealing with the art and science of healing the body. She is an experienced Registered Massage Therapist and a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner™ and Buteyko instructor.
Nicole’s Story – Spine like a Rod
Nicole came to me with chronic back and jaw issues. Very athletic, tall and confident, she explained that she was regularly stretching and had a routine that involved strength training so that her back would be safe and strong. She has a physiotherapist and Massage Therapist helping her since a concussion 5 years ago from a sports accident.
She was annoyed that she had to be so careful with her lower back and that her work required long hours in front of a computer.
On Assessment:
We did a full assessment in sitting, standing and walking. The first impression was that she had superb posture! However, as the treatment progressed it was very evident that she was working very hard to be upright. Her chest was quite lifted and immobile. We switched to a prone position, so as not to contradict the arching in her back. Nicole also said she would often end up on her tummy during the night. Her breathing style confirmed her preference to be on her tummy.
Approach:
Rotation is a nice way to calm busy spinal muscles and lengthen the back, so the lesson progressed this way and ended on back so that she could sense any differences resting. And she did! Nicole felt better contact with her back and much less pressure at her head and pelvis. I was able to show her how to soften her chest with some movements and how to relax the ribs with some breathing techniques.
We turned to evaluating the breath, her tongue position and also how her mouth falls open at night.
Results and Recommendations:
Nicole felt lighter and more free in her hips, back and neck. She felt like her legs didn’t have to work so hard to walk. I gave her a couple gentle folding/rounding movements to introduce a new way to relate to her back and shoulders. Since she had no preexisting breathing problems, I told her to try night tape, so her mouth would stay closed when sleeping.
Follow-up:
After 2 days Nicole and I chatted. “OMG, my face has never felt so relaxed. I have no tension in my jaw.” She said her face and jaw felt like new since she had been taping her mouth at night. She felt fresher in the morning and her mind was sharper during the day.
So what about her back? We had a candid discussion about how her parents drilled her about good posture. Being tall, she was to keep her back as straight as a rod! She realized she had become quite phobic about bending her back. The one treatment was a revelation to her and changed her self image. Nicole was allowing herself to bend and fold her chest for tasks that required it. Reaching, throwing a ball, tying her shoes became so much more pleasant! Despite getting a very different approach to her situation, Nicole got the relief she wanted in one session.
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Carol McAmis – [email protected]
Feldenkrais Practitioner in Ithaca, NY
Carol McAmis is a trailblazer in understanding the living body as a musical instrument. She has developed a new approach to working with our voice, The MultiDimensional Singer. She infuses classical vocal pedagogy, modern voice science along with the learning theories of the Feldenkrais Method.
One of my success stories as a voice teacher who is also a Feldenkrais Practitioner was JD, a college freshman with a megawatt smile who described himself as “having a slight…a very slight case of Cerebral Palsy.” JD walked with his knees rubbing together and his heels in the air, despite having had surgery to cut the Achilles tendons. He informed me that the “signal goes to my waist and then it scrambles. I know this work will help me somehow.” By the end of his college years, his heels were on the ground…no surgery. At the end of his senior year, I asked him what his big takeaway from his four-year Feldenkrais journey was. He said, “When I was small, many kind people moved me in the patterns of walking. I know I would not be walking today if that had not happened. But what I learned was that it was very painful and that my brain was broken and I needed other people to fix me. I couldn’t do it on my own . What I learned from Feldenkrais is that my brain is capable of learning on its own without needing others to help me. I can do it myself!”
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Brenda T. Sorkin – www.movementdialogues.com
Feldenkrais Practitioner and Senior Trainer for Movement Intelligence in Charlotte, NC
Brenda Sorkin has worked with a diverse group of clients, from infants to adults. An autoimmune disease at an early age led her to discover the movement approaches that help her remain medication free and relieved her of pain from scoliosis. Her approach encourages cognitive development at any age.
“I first went to Brenda seeking relief from a severe case of sciatica caused by a ruptured disc in my back. I hadn’t been into the office in over three months because I couldn’t sit or stand for more than 10 minutes without torturous pain. Doctors recommended surgery which would likely end with a spinal fusion since they had no other options after therapy, three epidurals and prescription pain medication which all failed to provide relief. I tried physical therapy, acupuncture, massage, injections, pain medication, meditation, stretching, yoga, and several other therapeutic approaches to avoid surgery. I had nearly given up before finding Feldenkrais.
Within four weeks of working with Brenda, I was back in the office, able to sit through hour-long meetings, to walk freely again and sleep through the night. I could drive and stand in a line without excruciating pain and join friends for dinner. It felt miraculous!
Today, I am pain free and living life with ease. It’s all thanks to this work. It’s what inspired me to partner with Brenda to create the website 3-Minute Miracles.com for those who want to experience the wonder of this work with easy access.”
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Sam Nelson – www.samhnelson.com
Feldenkrais Practitioner in Rochester, NY
Samuel H. Nelson is a graduate of the Toronto Professional Feldenkrais Training Program (1987). He has offered Awareness Through Movement classes to the public since 1985. He held a seminar on the Feldenkrais Method each semester at the Eastman School of Music for many years and has presented seminars at music schools in Indiana, Ohio, and Virginia.
There was a woman in one of my ATM classes who was having sufficient trouble with her right thumb that she was going to have corrective surgery. Her problems stemmed from rheumatoid arthritis, which she had been dealing with for about 30 years.
Observing her gnarled hands I wondered is there an ATM that would help?
This stimulated the creation of a lesson involving interlacing the hands, putting them against the belly and moving the arms. My hope was that it would make everything a bit easier for her as she faced surgery.
After I taught the lesson and she put her a hand on the floor, I and the person on that side were astounded. I’d never seen that hand that open. When she moved the hand she was amazed at the pain free range of the thumb. And she never had or needed surgery.
P.S. The lesson is available as ‘Mobile Wrists’ aka Mel’s Lesson in our latest book, The Feldenkrais Method for Instrumentalists.
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Ismini Phillips – www.isministudios.com
Feldenkrais Practitioner based in Tonbridge, United Kingdom
I have been teaching The Feldenkrais Method® and been giving Functional Integration® lessons for three and a half years, having graduated in October 2021 after a delay due to lockdown. Alongside my Pilates teaching it has been invaluable. I have been able to introduce it to my clients as an alternative to other modalities.
Here are some of my students’ success stories.
“I’ve been visiting Ismini weekly for about 1 year now and cannot believe the impact it’s had on my life. I suffered with chronic back pain and severe acute pain episodes for around 10 years – numerous different therapies and medications, even hospital procedures, but Functional Integration is the only method that’s ever truly helped me. Ismini’s teachings have enabled me to lead a more enjoyable life, I’m able to do more with my family, go to the gym, relax easier, and generally feel a lot happier, and it’s all down to Ismini’s Feldenkrais lessons. It’s a unique method and I’d recommend it to anyone who suffers pain, Ismini is a true hero!” David Blackman
“Being exposed to the Feldenkrais Method through functional integration I have notice immediate and long-lasting benefits. Straight after each session, I immediately feel a release of endorphins and increased blood flow in problematic muscles/body areas. During the week after, I gain increased flexibility and seamlessly recover from sports (squash/golf/cycling); which in some cases before being treated, could take at least a couple of days to recover. The great thing I have found is that the increased flexibility and better recovery endures for a long period of time. The long-term benefit is the better appreciation I have of how the body works and truly how all parts are connected. This allows to be to stretch in a more thoughtful way allowing me to exercise for longer with more intensity. I have only had two sessions over a year because they have truly been that effective. It is good to know that this kind of non-invasive treatment is available equipping me with a better thought process to deal with stress on the body. It is very hard to describe what actually happens during a FI session, as the treatment involves minor manipulations of the body. Nevertheless, the benefits are far more tangible than those received from visiting a physio/osteopath. Me and my wife are very lucky to have found the Feldenkrais Method through Ismini.” – Mark Cordwell
“Dear Ismini, I would just like to thank you for the Functional Integration Session we had last weekend. I was not sure what to expect but I would like to say I was delighted. The room you used was a lovely light space tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Lewes High St. I came away feeling very relaxed and calm. The two issues that I attended for; my wrist and back felt so much looser and more mobile with less pain after the session. All my joints felt as though they were oiled, and I almost felt as though I was rolling back to my car after the session. A really pleasant feeling, one that I would definitely like to revisit. This continued for several days and my wrist and back pain has certainly not returned to how they were before the session. I am continuing with the gentle movements as advised. Looking forward to my appointment in June. Best wishes, Amanda”
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Jane Johnston – https://fitoverfortyvirginia.com
Feldenkrais Practitioner in Berryville, Virginia
Jane Johnston has been teaching group fitness classes on land and in the water since 1977. Jane has a particular interest in working with aging clients, those in a post-rehab situation, those with joint replacements, those with special needs and preschoolers. She would like to work with you to determine your wellness and fitness goals and to develop program that will benefit you and enhance your life.
Marie, a friend of 50 years, began attending my online Awareness through Movement classes in March 2025. She has had many big life changes in the last few years, has several physical challenges and currently uses a cane and Rollator. In the few months that she has been attending, she says that it is much easier for her to get out of bed, roll over, and to get up from a chair. Here is what Marie had to say after a recent class:
“Jane, I just wanted you to know that these exercises have made a difference in my posture. I notice when driving that I am sitting up straighter and immediately think thank you for the exercises. Also when walking with my rollator my thoughts swing towards i am walking straighter. I’m so glad I joined your classes!”
Carol is a long time student of mine who has attended Awareness through Movement classes sporadically for many years. She is a 25 year + yoga student who regularly attends yoga classes several times a week. After an absence of 5 years, she has returned to a weekly Feldenkrais class. Carol has said that Feldenkrais is a great complement to her yoga practice and that rib flexibility from Feldenkrais makes her yoga breathing practices more accessible. Here is what Carol had to say after class last week:
“After today’s class I felt not only much taller, but straighter, with my head in a much more upright position. My shoulders were relaxed but at the same time flat, and my collar bones wide. I am aware that my tendency is to sit and stand with my head forward due to too much reading, sewing, and also because I lean in for conversation due to somewhat impaired hearing. As I have mentioned before, I feel that my neck is weak, but today it feels less creaky and very strong! Yay Feldenkrais, and thank you”
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Dorothy Henning – https://integrativemovement.us
Feldenkrais Practitioner in Louisville, KY
Dorothy blends Feldenkrais and neuroscience with radical self-kindness to help you discover your own superhero inside. A practitioner for over 25 years, she’s known for her playful, science-savvy, and deeply encouraging style. Dorothy’s passion is helping people recover their zest for life — even after injury or illness. She is founder and creator of My Move worldwide online community. With Norton Neuroscience Institute she collaborates to bring Feldenkrais to those with movement disorders such as MS, Parkinson’s Disease, post-stroke, and neuropathy.
“Every morning I wake up knotted like a pretzel—I’m half afraid to get out of bed,” Sarah Jean was telling me a couple weeks ago. She missed the easy mornings, the way she used to swing a saddle onto her horse without thinking. Now, pain was her shadow, dogging every step.
She paused, gathering herself, before she went on to describe how her lower left sacral lumbar is chronically tight and painful. Because of old fractures and a partial hip replacement, she lives with roving discomfort—just pain, especially in her left leg.
Sometimes, she told me, she stops at the stable door, watching her beautiful pony, knowing it will hurt to even groom and care for him, and wanting so much to ride him with ease again.
Then Sarah Jean and I had a meeting online the day after class. She showed up just grinning ear-to-ear. “Dorothy, after our class yesterday I walked out to the paddock and for the first time in years, my left leg wasn’t fighting me. It felt like my body remembered what to do.” Then she laughed—really laughed—and said, “It’s like the rest of me finally got the memo, ‘Hey, let’s help her out!’”
Her eyes brightened as she explained, “It was as if parts of me were saying, ‘I’m helping you. It’s OK, you can do this.’ I’m walking and guess what? There’s no pain! It’s so fantastic!”
Watching and hearing Sarah Jean made it crystal clear yet again why I do this work. I’ll admit, there are times I feel unsure of myself—it kind of sneaks up on me. But there’s nothing like watching someone come home to themselves, to see hope flicker back on in their eyes.
Every time a student finds their own strength, I’m reminded: the real magic happens when people realize they have more resources inside them than they ever thought possible. It’s not about fixing. It’s about coming home.
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Find a practitioner near you!