Disclaimer: To be authentic and transparent, I use Somatic Movement to refer to my education from Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais's body of work. Since training and exploring his method, I have discovered a huge community of Zionists at the core. I am pro-human and anti-colonial, which translates to everything opposite of Zionism. I have thus stopped using his name and the name chosen for this method. Please read my blog on Feldenkrais and Zionism.While Somatic Movement may appear to be an alternative therapy, it is rooted in scientific principles, particularly neuroplasticity, motor learning, and brain-body connection. Neuroplasticity: an old human can learn new tricks! At the core of Somatic Movement is the concept of neuroplasticity, the brain's remarkable ability to reorganize and adapt itself in response to experiences and learning. Neuroplasticity challenges the traditional belief that the brain's structure is fixed and unchangeable after a certain age. Instead, it suggests that the brain can create new neural connections and pathways throughout a person's life. Somatic Movement takes advantage of neuroplasticity by offering carefully designed movement sequences and exercises. These sequences stimulate the brain and encourage it to explore new ways of moving and functioning, thereby creating new neural pathways. The brain is actually wired for learning new experiences. Once something new and interesting is experienced, the student's brain will create a new neural connection. Through repetition and focused attention, the brain will strengthen that neural pathway, leading to improved movement. Somatic Movement lessons ask students to make their movements small, using focused attention to notice subtle differences and changes in their experience. Motor Learning: from baby to adult Somatic Movement is deeply rooted in the principles of motor learning, a field of study that examines how individuals acquire and refine motor skills. Some Somatic Movement lessons use developmental movement patterns. Baby sucking, crawling, and rolling are all patterns developed in infancy. Other lessons slowly teach you to turn yourself over, like a judo roll! Others re-calibrate walking and running, and some even mimic skiing. Somatic Movement teachers slow down any given movement pattern, examine it and teach it in many steps; inserting pauses and quick questions. Inserted are phrases like; what does your pelvis do when you move that way," or "what is the difference between the right and left side." Through this process, students begin to identify inefficient or habitual movements that may be causing discomfort, pain, or limitations. And in the end, it was never really about achieving the movement, but what was simply different in the experience. Brain-Body Connection: Somatic Movement places a strong emphasis on cultivating mindfulness in movement. Mindfulness involves being fully present and aware of one's actions, sensations, and thoughts in the present moment. Students can deepen their connection between the brain and body by incorporating mindfulness into movement.As students engage in these exercises, they are encouraged to explore movement with a heightened sense of curiosity and non-judgmental awareness. This deliberate attention to the body's sensations fosters a stronger brain-body connection. The brain, the nervous system, and the soul all feel listened to. It creates a deep harmony in the system, which meditators know very well.While the Somatic Movement may seem mysterious to those unfamiliar with its principles, it is firmly grounded in scientific concepts such as neuroplasticity, motor learning, and the brain-body connection. By leveraging the brain's ability to rewire and refine motor skills through mindful movement, the Somatic Movement offers a holistic approach to enhancing movement and well-being. As research in neuroplasticity continues to advance, the scientific understanding of how practices like the Somatic Movement influence the brain and body will deepen, shedding even more light on the remarkable potential of somatic education.

Somatic Movement  is rooted in scientific principles, particularly neuroplasticity, motor learning, and brain-body connection. 

Somatic Movement in Montreal - Feldenkrais in Montreal

The Science Behind Somatic Movement: How and Why It Helps Feel Something Different

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The Science Behind Somatic Movement: How and Why It Helps Feel Something Different

The Science Behind Somatic Movement: How and Why It Helps Feel Something Different

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