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Functional Integration

"Functional Integration turns to the oldest elements of our sensory system –touch, the feelings of pull and pressure: the warmth of the hand, its caressing stroke. (…) The person senses his most primitive, consciously forgotten patterns and recalls the well being of a growing young child."

– Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais in: Elusive Obvious 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This modality is mostly non-verbal, using a gentle, non-invasive hands-on interaction between practitioner and student. This one-on-one exploration offers the same enormous range of growth possibilities as found in Awareness Through Movement. In essence the two are interchangeable, both being primarily based on the kinaesthetic experiences of an individual.

By using the language of touch, direct communication is established between the two people involved and at this level of interaction the quality of touch is a powerful source of learning.

 

“Through touch, two persons, the toucher and the touched, can become a new ensemble: two bodies when connected by two arms and hands are a new entity. These hands sense at the same time as they direct.”

                                                                                                                                                                - Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais

 

Learning a new pattern of movement (walking, standing, sitting, reaching, breathing, etc) is a process of creating new meaning. A function involves movement and its meaning within a context. According to Moshé Feldenkrais, in order to better integrate the movements and the potential of a person, it is necessary to comprehend the elements that give meaning to an action, where it is carried out, in which situation, for what purpose. The environment is paramount, and in a Functional Integration session, the touching person creates a new context through her movements and becomes herself the environment for the touched person.

 

 “I therefore substitute myself for her early environment, both gravitational and human”

                                                                                                                                                                - Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais

 

The process of new pattern formation is favoured by a more neutral gravitational environment (for example lying on the table supporting the weght) and a friendly human attitude. Feldenkrais practitioners kinaesthetically suggest new possibilities of movement and each possibility is suggested according to the capacities, tendencies and intentions of the touched person.

 

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