As a disclaimer, I am not a licensed physical therapist. I am just a mother of a severely brain injured child trying to share what has worked for Ian.
I originally thought this was very slow yoga. But it is more intentional than that. It is mindful movement. Not for the purpose of exercise but to help map your brain and your body.
For those of us who can freely move with intentionality, this may seem very boring and slow. “Focus on your shoulders, small movements, gentle and slow, breathe.” Yet it actually takes a lot of mental discipline. For someone who has had any trauma to the body – brain injury, car accident, surgery, or crisis – this is the hardest workout of their life.
Feldenkrais also helps with habitual patterns because it helps us move in different ways. I hold my breath, some carry themselves with a stiffened neck and shoulders. This is still a functional life, but Feldenkrais helps bring awareness to those bodily habits and areas of tension. It teaches us to move in soft and intentional ways.
When I do a Feldenkrais exercise with Ian, I sometimes think, this is too slow, not big enough movements. But I see his eyes light up, he is so intently focusing on that gentle change in his body. For a spastic, brain injured person it is evident that this slow movement illuminates a different way of life.
There are many Youtube videos demonstrating this method. And again, do not compare this to yoga, it is more of a mental exercise in movement.
Below is the link to the website. Contact me if you have any questions.