There are two well known forms of bodywork available: Feldenkrais and Alexander Technique. Each was developed for a different purpose.

There is a lot of scope for many more bodywork disciplines to be developed for both general and specific purposes.

The Feldenkrais Method uses slow and precise movement sequences to engage your brain through your body and nervous system. Through your neuromuscular system it activates more parts of your brain by helping your muscles move outside of their habitual pattern.

Feldenkrais movement sequences are all about learning to make movement easier, all the time. They have a practical focus and result in better functioning in everyday activities.

Taken from www.feldenkrais.org.nz

Feldenkrais was originated by Moshe Feldenkrais who was a doctor who studied judo. After suffering a knee injury during World War II with no clear prospect for its treatment Feldenkrais studied among other things, anatomy, physiology, child development, movement science, evolution, psychology, a number of Eastern awareness practices and other somatic approaches and came up with the Method, which is now taught worldwide by certified practitioners. The main website can be found at Feldenkrais-method.org

For more info on Moshe Feldenkrais, read his bio-page.

We often respond to the demands of our life-style and environment by increasing the amount of tension we hold in our bodies. The Alexander Technique is a simple but powerful way of rejuvenating our natural postural spring so that we can let go of these tensions without collapsing, thus maintaining the natural integrity and co-ordination of our structure. In the process we learn to recognise those habits of movement and positioning which sabotage our natural, graceful posture - allowing us to be poised and relaxed in all our activity.

Alexander Technique can be particularly helpful for:

• a variety of medical conditions, and for alleviating the pain and discomfort caused by postural, movement or breathing-related difficulties
  
• situations of undue or extended physical or emotional stress
  
• improving skills in any sphere (musical, artistic, creative, sporting)
  
• personal growth and development, raising consciousness
  
• changing unconscious behaviour and habits of reactivity to achieve greater spontaneity, clarity and choice
  
• improving posture

Taken from www.alexandertechnique.org.nz

 

Short bio of F M Alexander who originated the technique:

The Alexander technique was developed by Tasmanian-born Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869-1955) who believed that 'every man, woman and child holds the possibility of physical perfection; it rests with each of us to attain it by personal understanding and effort'.

At one time, Alexander was an actor and reciter and during this period he lost his voice regularly. His doctors tried many treatments but were unable to help him. Alexander decided to see if he could help himself and he began to observe himself in a mirror as he recited his lines. He noticed that if he lifted his head vertically and freed his neck, his voice and vocal quality improved.

This new way of standing was uncomfortable but he persevered with it and gradually retrained his body, realising that his posture affected his voice and the general pattern of tension in his body. He found he felt healthier and more self-confident and his voice troubles completely ceased. The experience encouraged him to make a nine-year study of his own posture and how to improve it. This study became the foundation of the Alexander technique.

Taken from www.everybody.co.nz

Like Feldenkrais Alexander Technique has become a world wide phenomenon and is especially applied to singers and actors.