A typical lesson
Initial lessons are usually conducted lying down on a cushioned table although lessons whilst sitting and standing also happen. We ask you to wear comfortable loose fitting clothes. We will gently move various parts of your body, maybe the head, legs or pelvis for example, in a slow and gentle manner with the intention to help you and your brain learn new movement possibilities. We help you become aware of habitual body positions and movements, which, unknown to you, may be the cause of pain and discomfort. We also help you discover new ways of moving that are more compatible with your body’s natural design, lessons are a learning experience.
Sometimes the impact of a lesson is immediate. When you come to stand you may feel lighter, taller, more flowing and be able to make pain free easy movements with a greater range of motion. Sometimes you may feel the result later. You may find that you can reach higher than before or maybe bend down more easily.
Lessons with children are conducted in a similar way although a child might be more active or less able to understand what we are doing so we blend with the natural state that they bring to the lesson. Toys , singing and other “play” activities often become incorporated into the lesson as we will use whatever resources needed to generate the learning experience we seek.
A lesson will last for about 45 minutes although we do not operate on a strict timetable and prefer to work in a manner that is conducive to maximizing learning.
History and how it works
The Feldenkrais Method was developed by Israeli physicist and Judo master Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais in the 1950s after he suffered a severe sports injury. By using science and his martial arts background and studying how body movement influences the brain, Dr. Feldenkrais was able to learn to walk again. He found that people could reduce stress and ease pain and stiffness by learning to develop efficient and flexible movement. Feldenkrais combines anatomy, biology, physics, neurology and physiology with elements of martial arts to reeducate the mind and body. Anat Baniel has taken the method forward using current research from areas such as brain plasticity together with over thirty years experience in applying the work.
Negative habitual movement patterns lead to stress and strain in the muscles. For example, your skeleton and many different muscles are affected by slumping your back. In time, your whole body, from head to toes, feels the strain of cramped movements and out-of-balance postures which can lead to chronic pain and other conditions such as headaches. As we go through life we develop habitual ways of moving to accommodate injuries or traumas that may have served us well at the time, but those movements may be hampering us today without our knowing.
As practitioners we are as gentle as some other body workers are vigorous. Our job is to literally feel what your body is trying to say and communicate that to your brain. Often the messages are subtle and using a principle of reduced effort we can help your brain understand these subtle messages and us them to incorporate into new ways of moving.
A Feldenkrais session doesn’t just solve your immediate problems. Our purpose is to help you become aware of your body’s capabilities. Once you discover your body’s natural ability to move, you’ll find more comfortable ways of standing, sitting, walking and more.
The Science of Brain Plasticity: Functional Integration® & Functional Synthesis®
Modern neuroscience has shown that the human brain remains changeable—or plastic—throughout our entire lives. Whenever we move, think, or feel, our nervous system forms and refines patterns of connection. However, when we push through pain, repeat mechanical exercises by rote, or tense our muscles out of habit, the brain simply reinforces the existing grooves rather than discovering better alternatives.
Both the Feldenkrais Method® and the Anat Baniel Method® (ABM) use gentle, attentive movement to wake up the brain’s natural learning centre. In one-to-one hands-on lessons (Functional Integration® in Feldenkrais and Functional Synthesis® in the Anat Baniel Method) and in guided movement explorations (Awareness Through Movement® and Transformational Movement Lessons®), we apply The 9 Essentials of brain plasticity—the process Anat Baniel later described in her books under the term NeuroMovement. By reducing unnecessary muscular effort and introducing subtle variations, your nervous system can immediately notice the difference between a strained movement and an easy, well-supported one.
Whole-Person Organisation
Rather than isolating a single sore joint or muscle, we look at how your spine, pelvis, ribcage, head, and limbs coordinate together in everyday actions.
Gentle, Non-Invasive Touch
There is no forceful manipulation, cracking, or painful stretching. Every movement stays comfortably within your easy range so your nervous system feels safe to let go of protective guarding.
Peaceful Somerset Village Setting, Intensives & Online
We welcome clients for individual appointments in the peaceful Somerset village of Lympsham (easy access from the M5, Bristol Airport, mainline rail, Bristol, Bath, and Taunton), multi-day and residential intensives, and online lessons across the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear and expect during my first session?
Please wear comfortable, loose-fitting everyday clothing that allows you to move easily (there is no need to undress). Most individual Functional Integration or Functional Synthesis lessons take place lying comfortably on a wide, padded low table, sitting, or standing, and last around 45 minutes.
How is this different from physiotherapy, chiropractic, or massage?
Traditional structural therapies often focus directly on stretching, strengthening, or manipulating muscles and joints. Our work communicates with the brain and nervous system—the control centre that tells every muscle when and how hard to contract—using the 9 Essentials of neuroplasticity so your body reorganises how it moves from the inside out.
How many lessons will I need, and do you offer multi-day intensives?
Many clients feel lighter, taller, and freer after their very first session. For long-standing chronic pain, complex injuries, or developmental support for a child, we offer both regular appointments in our peaceful village setting in Lympsham, Somerset and multi-day or bespoke residential intensives for clients and families travelling from London or across the UK.
Do you work jointly as two practitioners?
Yes. One of the unique strengths of Movement & Wellbeing is that Doreen Quinnell and Chris Norris work closely together and frequently share insights or work jointly with clients when a combined two-practitioner perspective is helpful.