Moshé Feldenkrais
Moshé Feldenkrais: A Life of Innovation and Discovery
======================================================
Full Name and Common Aliases
Moshé Feldenkrais was a Polish-born Israeli physicist, martial artist, and somatic practitioner. His full name is Mosheh Aharon Feldenkrais, but he is commonly known as Moshé Feldenkrais.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on May 5, 1904, in Slawęcin, Poland (now Ukraine), Feldenkrais passed away on July 1, 1984, in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Feldenkrais was a naturalized Israeli citizen. He worked as a physicist, martial artist, and somatic practitioner, combining his interests to develop the Feldenkrais Method.
Early Life and Background
Moshé Feldenkrais was born into a Jewish family in Poland. His early life was marked by an interest in science and physical activity. At 16, he joined the Polish army as a gymnast and became interested in judo, which would later influence his approach to movement and human development.
In the late 1920s, Feldenkrais moved to Paris to continue his studies in physics at the Sorbonne. He earned his doctorate and began working on his Ph.D., but instead of pursuing academia, he joined the British Army's Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War II, using his martial arts expertise for clandestine operations.
Major Accomplishments
Feldenkrais is best known for developing the Feldenkrais Method, a somatic approach to movement and human development. This method emphasizes awareness, flexibility, and the interconnectedness of mind and body.
Some of Feldenkrais's notable accomplishments include:
Developing the Feldenkrais Method, which combines elements of martial arts, yoga, and psychology
Applying his knowledge to improve athletic performance and rehabilitation
Contributing to the development of Israeli society through education and community engagementNotable Works or Actions
Feldenkrais wrote several books on the Feldenkrais Method, including Awareness Through Movement (1972) and The Programmed Environment (1977). His work has been widely recognized for its innovative approach to human development.
Impact and Legacy
Moshé Feldenkrais's legacy extends far beyond his own time. The Feldenkrais Method has become a widely practiced approach to movement, rehabilitation, and personal growth. Many professionals in the fields of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and education have been influenced by his work.
Feldenkrais's emphasis on awareness and interconnectedness has also inspired new approaches to human development, including mind-body therapies and somatic practices. His commitment to community engagement and social responsibility continues to inspire educators, activists, and innovators around the world.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Moshé Feldenkrais is widely quoted and remembered for his insights on movement, learning, and human development. His quotes often highlight the importance of awareness, flexibility, and the interconnectedness of mind and body:
"The only way to discover a new universe is to leave your own behind." (From Awareness Through Movement, 1972)
* "Movement is life. Movement without rest becomes exhaustion. Rest without movement becomes stagnation." (From The Programmed Environment, 1977)
These quotes capture the essence of Feldenkrais's approach, which encourages individuals to explore their potential through awareness and movement. His work continues to inspire new generations of practitioners, educators, and innovators.
Quotes by Moshé Feldenkrais
Moshé Feldenkrais's insights on:
In short, health is measured by the shock a person can take without his usual way of life being compromised.
In order to recognize small changes in effort, the effort itself must first be reduced. More delicate and improved control of movement is possible only through the increase of sensitivity, through a greater ability to sense differences.
No matter how closely we look, it is difficult to find a mental act that can take place without the support of some physical function.
Learning to inhibit unwanted contractions of muscles that function without, or in spite of, our will, is the main task in coordinated action.
My purpose is to allow people to move closer to actually being creatures of free choice, to genuinely reflect individual creativity and emotion, freeing the body of habitual tensions and wired-patterns of behaviour so that it may respond without inhibition to do what the person wants.
Ultimately, we become aware of most of what is going on within us mainly through the muscles.
I believe that the unity of mind and body is an objective reality. They are not just parts somehow related to each other, but an inseparable whole while functioning. A brain without a body could not think.
People confound, misuse, interchange thinking and speaking, not realizing that speaking is for communication and thinking is for action...
