Feldenkrais®
for Children
with Neurological Disorders (FCND)
The Feldenkrais
Method is an
innovative approach that can touch all of our lives, especially
children with neurological disorders. As human beings, we live in a
context, not a vacuum. To address the whole context is part of the
genius of this program. The context for a child dealing with
difficulties is multidimensional. Their most intimate environment
is their own body. Their immediate physical environment they live
in, the different surfaces they contact, the devices they interact
with and how they are handled are all a part of their context. The
family and caregivers provide the larger context within which they
exist.
Using the
principles of the Feldenkrais
Method the
children and caregivers learn to improve their movement qualities
and abilities. FCND is a program designed to address the needs of
the whole system within which the child lives.
| "Dear
Diana, It was good to see you again. I want to thank you for sending those pictures of Nick to us. It's so good to see him enjoying himself and engaged in his movement exercises in the pictures. Since you worked with Nick, he has been crawling all over the place and getting quite strong. We look forward to seeing you in October" Dana Davis - White Plains, New York |
Children's
Intensive Movement Program (CIMP)
Diana gives the parent and/or therapists helpful information on what they can do to continue the process she begins with the child. This facilitates and reinforces the learning the child does with the practitioner so when she returns for the next intensive the child will have had a chance to integrate the learning in daily life. The child is left to explore for a few months, using what was learned, then the cycle is repeated.
Format for Children's Intensive Movement Program
The intensive movement program is given in five consecutive days for one or two weeks several times in the period of a year. The lessons each day are forty five minutes. At the end of these intensives the parents will be given instructions about how they can continue the child's learning in the times between intensives.
| "Dear Diana, Dear
Efrem, First of all I have to tell you the big news - benjamin is walking all alone. He did his first two steps alone the 1st of July and is practicing ever since. Especially in the past two weeks he started to run around even changing directions and pushing away the helping hands to show us that he doesn't need this anymore. He is such a pleasure to watch. I thought I just had to let you know because I am totally convinced that this big progress happened because of your great help. Thanks a lot!" Barbara Strohmayer, Vienna Austria |
Finally! Help for Helpers (H4H)
Wake
up parents and caregivers! This component of FCND is for those who
care for children with neuromotor difficulties. The most neglected
aspect of a disabled child's life is the well being of those who
care for them. Often the focus is so strongly narrowed down to
"helping the child" that the well spring from which that help comes
can nearly dry up or be reduced to a trickle. It's time to
replenish yourself so you can be a resource for the child/children
with challenges in your life.
The mindful movements will also give you an understanding, through your experience, of the fundamental movement patterns that are important for children to learn and experience. This will also support your education about how CIMP works to improve the quality of movement and learning in children. When you have an experiential understanding of how to move with more grace and ease you will naturally communicate that to the children you are touching and moving by way of modeling and through the subtle nonverbal communication that goes on between two people's nervous systems. It's the same ability used to percieve another person's quality of movement as when dancing with another.
Help for Helpers Format
The information and experience of H4H is presented in a series of seminars. There are six seminars in the series. Each two-day seminar is six hours a day. (Twelve 1-day seminars is also an option) The two days include explorations through mindful movements as well as theory and philosophy. Each seminar is designed to ensure the participants experience new levels of relaxation as well as being intellectually stimulated and entertained.
| "Dear Diana &
Efrem, Thank you very much for all your kind care of Motonori, all the beautiful pictures and kind words you sent during the summer. I'm using what I learned from you, almost every day, in both Nori and his elder brother smile when I start 'handling' them. I noticed some improvement in both of them, with more movement and better breath. Even the neck shows a little strength..." - Lucia Saito, Mother of CP child |