Feldenkrais for Me: a journey of self-discovery
Feldenkrais taught me how to learn from myself
One question I get asked endlessly is: “What is Feldenkrais?”
After all these years of knowing, practicing and sharing this work, I should have the perfect answer, right? Truth is, it took me years to even just come closer to an answer I could feel satisfied with. And, even now, I’m not sure if this will be my ultimate answer. It’s simply the meaning I’ve found through years of practice… a meaning that continuously evolve.
For quite some time, what I searched for was a clear, academic answer that would make sense to everyone; something that would make the practice understandable to all. But, no matter what I found, none of those definitions felt authentic or true to my own experience.
The revelation: there is no one answer
It wasn’t until more recently that I realized the problem wasn’t finding an answer to my question. The real issue was asking myself the question in the first place!
Moshe Feldenkrais once said, “No matter how clearly you describe it, you will never be able to explain to someone the taste of a mango.” In order to truly know the taste of a mango, you have to try it yourself. And even then, the taste you experience might be very different from the one someone else feels. So, why spend so much time trying to answer a question that cannot have a single answer?
If you ask 10 Feldenkrais practitioners “what is Feldenkrais?”, you will get 10 different responses. Because Feldenkrais is not a static technique, a fixed set of movements, or a simple discipline. It’s not something that can be fully explained in a single definition. It’s fluid, personal, and ever-changing. Moshe used to say that a Functional Integration lesson is like a scientific experiment: you do not know the result when you start.
So, I shifted my focus: instead of asking “What is Feldenkrais?”, I started asking myself: “What is Feldenkrais for me?” Finding my personal answer to that question was far easier - and much more meaningful.
Feldenkrais and life
When thinking of my journey (past and present) with the Feldenkrais Method, I realize it has taken on different meanings at various stages of my life and according to the different situations I was encountering.
- it gave me a sense of purpose: during my teenage years, Feldenkrais became a guiding force, helping me find purpose when I wasn’t sure where my life was headed
- it helped me overcome physical pain and address persistent discomfort in my body
- it has been a challenge to personal relationships: at one point, Feldenkrais was the reason my mother was often away from home, dedicating herself to her practice
- it helped me find path to inner calm: Feldenkrais is often a way to reconnect with myself, calm my nervous system, and regain self-awareness
- it helps me in my Movement (Ido Portal) practice: the self-awareness I developed with the Feldenkrais method, allows me to use my full body potential
- it created a job and a life dream for me: to share movement as the ultimate tool to live life fully
Feldenkrais was never a static part of my life or “one-size-fits-all practice”. It grew with me, shifting and evolving in response to my changing needs and life experiences.
Why Feldenkrais Resonates with Me
Ultimately, the beauty of Feldenkrais is that it’s a practice of self-discovery and self-awareness. It’s a method that asks you to explore how you move, how you breathe, and how you can cultivate mindfulness in every aspect of your life. And the way it evolves uniquely for each individual is what makes it so powerful.
Feldenkrais isn’t just about solving physical issues - though it can certainly help with pain relief. It’s about creating a deeper connection to your body, your habits, and your life choices. This method of conscious movement encourages you to explore your inner world and become more attuned to what your body truly needs.
Embracing the Fluidity of Feldenkrais
Feldenkrais is about being present with your own experience, listening deeply to your body’s messages, and developing a mindful movement practice that can grow with you through all the phases of life. It’s not something you just do - it’s a lifelong process of learning from yourself.
The more you practice, the more you begin to trust your body’s wisdom. You start to notice subtle changes in your posture, your balance, and your overall sense of well-being. And, like the taste of that mango, the experience of Feldenkrais is something that can’t be fully explained - only felt and understood through personal exploration.
If my words resonate with you, don’t wait. It’s never too late to pursue the changes you want in your life. Start your conscious movement practice today.
