As kids, we were taught that proper posture meant sitting up straight. Most of us have to be really conscious about maintaining a straight spine, which actually requires a lot of strength and effort. The rest of us give up on our backs and resign ourselves to a life of slouching. But is this a healthy way to think about good posture? The Feldenkrais method of somatic education teaches us to reconnect with our bodies and minds. By becoming more aware about how our bodies move, we are able to become happier and healthier people.
Followers of the Feldenkrais method are attempting to dispel old ideas about the way we move and carry ourselves. They believe that proper posture shouldn’t be a struggle to maintain and that a straight spine can be attained with little effort. In fact, Feldenkrais teachers argue that good posture should occur organically from a strong sense of self-awareness. A person who is relaxed and aware will have a body that is aligned naturally with gravity, so that they have to exert a minimal amount of effort to keep their bodies upright.
Feldenkrais teachers believe that there are three factors that contribute to posture problems—poor balance, unnecessary exerted effort, and a lack of physical/mental self-awareness. Many people are not aware of just how much unnecessary tension they carry in their bodies. Tensions in the neck and ribs pull your body forward and down, which causes slouching and poor posture.
The Feldenkrais method, developed by Israeli scientist Moshe Feldenkrais, helps patients to improve their skeletal system by increasing their physical and mental self-awareness. Using gentle touch and movement, patients are guided through a series of physical sequences that are designed to teach you how to balance your body. In a typical session, Feldenkrais patients are verbally guided through a series of postures which teach them how to move more efficiently.
The theory behind the methodology is that your body will naturally learn how to re-align itself as you gain more awareness of your movements. Good posture occurs as a result of gaining an awareness of your body, rather than forcing your spine into an uncomfortable position. Check out the official Feldenkrais website to find classes and teachers near you!
