DailyOM: How is the Feldenkrais way different from other movement practices such as yoga, Pilates, fitness, or martial arts?
Dayana: Feldenkrais is complementary to all other movement disciplines like the ones above as well as massage and acupuncture. How? Because we work directly with the brain and its ability to rewire itself and change. We do this through gentle, subtle movement, and the powerful vehicle of your attention. We often see how after learning how to move in the Feldenkrais way, people get stronger in the gym without hurting themselves, achieve more flexibility and balance in yoga and Pilates, and even have greater results from their meditation.
DailyOM: What are some examples of habitual movement patterns that you help students in this course?
Dayana: These busy and sedentary times we live in, where we spend a lot of time sitting and looking down at our computers and phones, take a toll on our bodies, both physically and mentally. The combination of multitasking — oftentimes rushing through life — and lack of rest keeps our nervous system in a perpetual state of fight-or-flight, where we don't even notice that we are not breathing fully as we go about our day.
When we want to relax and fall asleep, it's hard to do. Our bodies need movement, oxygen, and peace, and it's hard to find time for this. We need a quick way to identify habitual patterns and make sure they are supportive of our health physically, but also mentally and emotionally.
DailyOM: Let's say a person is not experiencing chronic pain but would like to find more connection or purpose in their life. Would this course be good for him or her?
Dayana: Absolutely. The mind and body are an interconnected whole, and even without experiencing pain, the expansion and length that we experience during Feldenkrais movements can open up our hearts and emotions, and bring more clarity to our vision. Once we experience awareness in this way, our creativity flows and we increase our endurance. The overall quality of our lives improves, we experience more connection with ourselves and the world around us, and we can age gracefully.
DailyOM: How does this course unfold?
Dayana: During this course, we will experience a balance of practical information and movement exercises that everyone can do. The idea is to learn by doing, so all the concepts I share can be applied to daily life. Each lesson combines a short audio instructional where I break down the concepts, a video lesson with a short demonstration, and an audio movement lesson to feel in your body what the lesson is about. This way the course tailors to auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners.
DailyOM: Tell us about some of the homework and movement practices included in this course.
Dayana: The homework is very simple yet important. I suggest specific topics and self-inquiry reflections that each participant can do in their journals. It's very helpful to articulate our experience, since once we can say it out loud (or write it), we can gain perspective on it. The second part of the homework is sometimes a movement lesson, to fully experience the benefits of this brain rewiring that Feldenkrais is famous for.
DailyOM: Tell us some feedback you have received from participants.
Dayana: A successful professor and PhD came to me with persistent back pain while sitting and standing, which was getting in the way of his teaching. This is what he said of our work together: "Dayana is a true educator, both challenging and inspiring. She has a wealth of knowledge and a lighthearted demeanor, making sessions a joy. I went because of a localized problem, but quickly realized that Feldenkrais would be enormously helpful with lifelong issues of misalignment and inefficiency. Working with Dayana, I completely changed how my body works!"
DailyOM: What is one of the biggest takeaways you hope students will learn?
Dayana: I would like the students to learn that they are not broken or wrong, that they don't need to do things "right," and that self-correction is detrimental to sincere change. I would love to plant the seeds of self-acceptance and love on each participant, and to allow them to experience that as we support ourselves fully, without shame, and explore new ways of moving, thinking and feeling, that which is ready to change and improve does it on its own. This, for me, is true freedom.
DailyOM: Thanks Dayana! If you're curious about the Feldenkrais way then check out this course — there's something for everyone. Until next time, be well.
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