Many surfers have low back pain

I am never surprised at the number of surfers I see with low back pain. Before I began doing Feldenkrais, my back would often hurt me, especially after surfing.  Many of my friends that surf also experience the feeling of pain in the low back. The amount of extension surfing calls for really requires that the entire back be exquisitely organized for movement, something I don't often see.

I am often asked what to do about that pain you get in your back after surfing. For the generally lazy, who want to do essentially nothing to help themselves, there is always something called Static Back: lie on the floor and put both your legs up over the couch or ottoman such that your hips and knees are at 90 degrees. And yes, just lie there, for about 15-20 minutes. If there is any strain in your neck while you lie on the floor, place a small pillow under your head. There you go, much improved quite quickly.

If you prefer to do something a bit more active for your lower back, congratulations, you will get better faster. Visit my Free Feldenkrais Exercises page and do each of the first 4 lessons on the page. This will also take about 20 minutes, except you will fell vastly different and surprisingly relieved. Enjoy your relief and remember, you're not in this alone. Call me in Encinitas, CA for a free phone consultation: 760-436-2403.

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Cycling pain?

Many bikers are riding in chronic pain. Have you already made revisions to your handlebars, seat posts, and pedals?  A Feldenkrais approach to riding focuses on placement of your skeleton's pelvic outlet, especially the sit bones. Be sure to point them down into the seat. Why? Because sitting far forward puts pressure on your pudendal nerve and pelvic floor. Pressure on these areas is what causes genital pain and numbness, and urinary retention. No fun. So, when you ride, you want to always be aware of where your seat is, where you feel pressure - look for the pressure to be felt on your bones, not your soft tissues. Be aware, so that you can continue bike riding comfortably....and safely.   

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Foot Pain Relief

Do you have foot pain? Many people suffer from daily, disabling pain in their feet, especially runners and others who spend a lot of time on their feet. A common type of foot pain is called Plantar Fasciitis. If you have aching heel pain which is worse with your first few steps in the morning, chances are this may be your diagnosis. A Feldenkrais approach would consider changing the way gravity went through the feet with each step. This is easily done by organizing the spine, pelvis and hips to load the feet more effectively, thus taking pressure off the heel. With some simple, painless Feldenkrais exercises, FOOT PAIN RELIEF can be quickly and easily within reach.

Older Golfers Rule

I saw an 83-year old golfer recently with sciatica. After walking around the golf course for several days with a toothache in her behind, back pain, and radiating pain in her leg, she finally called me for help. After 45 minutes on my Feldenkrais table, this very active 83-year old sat up, said she didn't hurt anymore, and that we were done. 

Great! On follow up over the next several days, she continued to play golf and be back pain and sciatica pain free! Go get 'em girl!!!

Want this story to be about you? Call me today for a free phone consultation on how the Feldenkrais Method can help relieve your back or sciatica pain: 760-436-2403.

Why would a doctor get into Feldenkrais?

I am often asked, "why would a Medical Doctor get into Feldenkrais?" Great question!! It started on a surfboard. I was learning to do a drop knee cut back on a longer board, and I felt a pop in my left knee. My knee swelled up and hurt for a few weeks, but seemingly healed. That is unless I tried to run, play golf or basketball, in which case it would swell up and hurt all over again. I tried everything to make my left knee better: physical therapy, massage, energy healing, rolfing, yoga, acupuncture  Pilates  and finally SURGERY for a torn medial meniscus. Nothing helped the pain in my knee that I still had even after surgery. Nothing until I found a Feldenkrais practitioner. Not only did Feldenkrais make all the pain in my knee go away, but I felt better, younger and more vibrant! I was so amazed, after several treatments I decided to become a practitioner. I was going to be 4 years older anyway, I might as well be 4 years smarter with a certification and new level of expertise!!
Several years later, I hit a rock on my skateboard, and my left foot stopped while my left leg continued forward. Ouch, @#$&^, that hurt. I just knew I had really hurt myself. This time my knee swelled up huge, and the pain was severe. I went to my Kaiser doctor and got an MRI which showed a severed ACL, and a torn medial AND lateral meniscus. Wow, I had "blown it out" as they say!  My primary care doctor at Kaiser offered me an orthopedic consult and physical therapy. But instead of conventional care, this time I used Feldenkrais exclusively to heal my knee pain. After several table lessons and an immersion in Awareness through Movement lessons, two weeks later I was walking well and biking. Five weeks post injury I was surfing. Now it is many years post injury and my knee remains functional and pain free!!  And that's why I got into Feldenkrais...it is the most empowering decision I have ever made.

Train smarter and harder using the Feldenkrais Method.

Many people use exercises like jogging and sports to sharpen their bodies. But the more you repeat these activities, the less challenging they become: doing them over and over only traces over-learned pathways in the brain.

To actually gain from exercise, scientists have discovered that your brain needs activities that are both challenging and adaptive. By exposing your body to constant, fresh stimulation, you’ll create new neural pathways and change existing ones - part of a concept called neuroplasticity.

Drawing on the science of neuroplasticity, the Feldenkrais Method is designed to give your body and brain the unique challenges they need. Feldenkrais exercises your brain like a muscle. As your brain gets stronger, Feldenkrais introduces new and more difficult exercises that encourage your neurons to adapt and change. Like any good trainer, Feldenkrais always pushes your brain to be better.

Feldenkrais is an ongoing, limitless process. Each time you improve, you'll overcome the next level of challenges, and the next. Soon, you’ll overcome obstacles greater than which you ever dreamed. Try Feldenkrais today to start your journey down new neural pathways - you’ll be amazed at what you discover with the right plan to guide you.

Let me help you. Call 760-436-2403 for a free phone consultation now. 

Welcome to International Feldenkrais® Week — May 3 to May 12, 2013

Would you like to feel, move, and look better?

The Feldenkrais Method® might be the answer for you! The Feldenkrais Method is a mental and physical improvement system based on discovering natural, easy, efficient and pleasurable ways of moving your mind and body. It is an advanced educational approach to well-being using your brain’s amazing capacity to reorganize itself. It is based on the premise that all human beings have the potential to learn to do everything they do in easier, less effortful and more satisfying ways than is their habit.

The particular way a person is “organized” to sit, stand, walk, run or speak in public, reflects that person’s inner state, or their self-image. Human beings have a tendency to acquire subtle and sometimes damaging physical and mental habits of functioning which can become deeply ingrained. Some habits are useful – many are not. The Feldenkrais Method can facilitate change by creating the awareness you need to alter those habits which don’t serve you well. This week is a wonderful opportunity to learn what Feldenkrais® is all about--the FGNA.

I look forward to seeing you!

What is the difference between Feldenkrais and massage therapy and chiropractic care?

In massage, the therapist is working directly with your muscles and soft tissues. Massages are intended to change your muscle and soft tissue structure. Pain may be experienced and is viewed as normal.

In chiropractic care, the focus is on the bones. Chiropractic adjustments are intended to change the structural relationships between bones. Adjustments can be quick and scary.

Both these approaches are aimed at changing the structure of muscles and the skeleton. In addition, this care is done to the person without any proven capability for lasting change without continuous care.

The Feldenkrais Method works directly with your nervous system to improve your ability to move and live more comfortably. Feldenkrais optimizes human movement through learning. This functional approach allows you to improve despite any structural issues you may have. The care is done with the intention and capacity to teach the body to move more freely and easily. The practitioner moves slowly and painlessly through functional movements ( e.g. reaching, bending, turning). And once learned, function stays forever, without continuous care.

Additionally, Awareness through Movement lessons are verbally-directed (audio) Feldenkrais lessons you can do on your own at home. The convenience and control of "doing for yourself" under the direction of a practitioner will accelerate learning and healing. You will learn for yourself how to move and breathe easily and painlessly.

Click here for more information on the Feldenkrais Method!

29-year old with distressing low back pain

I recently saw a chemist from the Scripps Research Foundation. He is a post-doc studying molecular engineering. He had experienced lower back pain for 7 years and no one could tell him why. He was quite frustrated, but had a positive attitude. He was a big strapping boy, loved his sports, and stood about 6'1". Sure enough his back muscles were some of the tightest I had ever felt.

After his first Feldenkrais lesson his back pain was significantly improved but not gone. I saw him the next day, and after that lesson his back pain was gone and has not returned.

Two hours of Feldenkrais therapy and 7 years of back pain gone. Would you like this story to be about you? Come visit me at the Feldenkrais Center and rid yourself of that nagging low back pain.