2020 Online Annual Conference

September 4, 2020
In This Issue
From the Editors

One of the Covid silver linings is that this year's  Feldenkrais Guild® Conference will be virtual. That means that you can enjoy ten workshops and six Awareness Through Movement® classes on September 11, 12, and 13, plus featured speaker  Rollin McCraty, Ph.D., executive vice president and director of research at HeartMath Institute, who will share new ways to think about how movement and heart health are related. 

September brings us into a transition mindset, overlaying adaptations that traditionally come this time of year with the many adjustments we have already made in recent months. As we eye a change of seasons ahead and adjust life around school calendars and other considerations, we can pause in the moment to acknowledge all that we have learned, both individually and collectively, thus far. We have each had to make changes in our daily movement, in our information processing, and in our very ways of relating with one another.  What are the common threads of our daily experience, and how can we harness the joy of life and learning, even in the midst of such feelings of uncertainty? 

The articles in this issue, written by three conference presenters, offer heartfelt examples, stories, and explanations of how self-discovery and surprise can lead to lasting change. Karen Donelson writes about helping students move through daily life with better balance, while Mary Debono shares how Feldenkrais® lessons can be doubly supportive for those who apply their learning with pets. Also, Lindy Ost discusses what is meant by learning to be "present", developing the capacity to choose how one responds in a given moment.

We hope that you will find inspiration through the articles and resources below and join us at the conference:  "What Can Feldenkrais® do for You?" 


-- Lavinia, Mary and LeeAnn
If you haven't already, register now and join us on September 11 - 13 from the comfort of your home. Not only is this the most affordable Conference EVER, it also includes all of the recordings of each of the 23 sessions offered at the Conference.
Photo by Dave Goudreau on Unsplash
One Pelvis, Two Legs: Finding the Power in the Pelvis

By: Karen Donelson DPT, GCFP

The idea for the phrase, "One pelvis, two legs" began as an off-handed comment. A quip. A cue for a client. As a practicing orthopedic physical therapist for the last 36 years, I typically see clients who have a split body image, a belief that there is a "good side" and a "bad side". Maybe the idea of "one pelvis, two legs" resonates with my students because they can begin to experience a whole body in action. What happens or what is possible when you begin to have both a kinesthetic experience and the intellectual understanding of the wholeness of yourself? 

As the idea of "one pelvis, two legs" has evolved, I have used it as an entry to help students get comfortable with the common activities of sitting, standing and walking. I think of these three important life activities as more active than static; more transitional then positional. As we move from one to the other, we acquire information that informs the next activity...
Join Karen Donelson's workshop titled, "One Pelvis, Two Legs - Finding the Power in your Pelvis" at the Online Feldenkrais Conference on Saturday, September 12, at 9am PDT. The workshop is open to Feldenkrais® Practitioners, Trainees and members of the public.

Karen says, "I have been inspired and humbled during my 35 years of daily work and study as a Physical Therapist and Feldenkrais® Practitioner. Each day, I am entrusted by my students in their efforts to find solutions to their movement problems."  karendonelson.com/
Why Grow Young with your Dog?
By Mary Debono

Photo by Jay Wennington on Unsplash

The white poodle didn't seem to have much going for her. At 15 years of age, her vision and hearing were dim. This sweet dog, whose name was Buttons, also had extensive arthritis in her neck and back.

But those limitations took a back seat to the most troubling concern. Ten days earlier, Buttons had suffered a stroke while undergoing surgery to remove her spleen. The stroke caused her left legs to remain stick-straight, unable to bear weight. The dog couldn't stand, let alone walk.

After several days of intensive hospital care without any improvement, her veterinarian said that nothing more could be done for her. Buttons' people, Clare and Frank, weren't ready to say goodbye to their beloved miniature poodle, so they took their girl home. The little white dog had been lying on the carpet in front of their sofa, unmoving, ever since.   

Clare and Frank knew first-hand how the Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education can help people move with greater ease despite physical challenges..... 
Join Mary Debono's workshop titled, "Grow Young with Your Dog" on Sunday, September 13 during the online conference. This workshop is open to Feldenkrais® Practitioners, Trainees, and members of the public.

Mary Debono, GCFP helps animals and their people overcome challenges and enjoy lifelong mobility and vitality. An international teacher with over 25 years of experience, she's the author of the award-winning, Amazon #1 best seller, Grow Young with Your Dog. Mary's website is www.MaryDebono.com
How Do We Find Presence?
By Lindy Ost

Photo by Mostafa-Meraji on Unsplash

Standing shoulder to shoulder in a crowded restaurant for an hour waiting for an open table takes its toll. There were five of us celebrating Matt, my middle son's 21st birthday. As our wait time progressed, so did our edginess. Yes, it was hot and crowded, but we wanted to stay. It was my first time there and everyone in our party raved about the food. So, we waited. 

In his stewing irritation, Matt began to complain. I can't remember what his complaint was, but I remember that it wasn't anything that I could do anything about. However, that did not stop me from feeling a tightness, a tension somewhere in me; it was a feeling of contraction, a sense of retreating away from the conflict. 
I realized that I had a choice in how I responded. So I said, "I am not willing to get short over this." He stopped mid-sentence saying, "What?" I repeated, "I am not willing to get short over this." It was true. It was direct. There was no arguing about my truth. Conflict averted. I have to say, I did feel clever and taller as I made my point. He accepted it and we went back to hoping a table would open up soon.
Moments like the restaurant example present opportunities for us to choose our response rather than impulsively react.....
Join Lindy Ost's workshop, "How do we Find Presence?" on Saturday, September 12 at the online conference. This workshop is open to Feldenkrais® Practitioners, Trainees, and members of the public.

Lindy has been integrating the Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education into her physical therapy practice for 30 years. She values "listening" and asking questions as a guide to deepening one's ability to go further into the patterns of thought, feeling, sensing and moving. 
Try this Free Lesson and Learn About Two More Conference Workshops 

There are several Awareness Through Movement lessons at the conference. Have you ever tried a lesson? Here's a gift from Deborah Bowes, DPT, co-founder of the Feldenkrais Center for Movement and Awareness in San Francisco. She has been a Feldenkrais® Trainer for over 20 years, teaching and learning in many trainings around the world, and online. feldenkraissf.com

See the full listing of ATM teachers for the conference here. 

Meet some of the other presenters! 

Motiv Nativ will present "Moshe's own Jiu-Jitsu, the First Feldenkrais Method" on Friday, September 11 and it is open to the public. Watch the interview below for more about this workshop. 



Mordehai (Moti) Nativ, a retired Colonel from the Israeli Defense Force, is a certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner and a Shihan in the Bujinkan school of Budo Taijutsu. He holds a black belt in Judo and is a certified Krav Maga instructor. He served four years as the president of the Israeli Feldenkrais® Guild. 




Elizabeth Beringer will present "A Smart Core Is a Strong Core: Rethinking Core Strength"on Saturday, September 12. See below for more about her workshop. 

Elizabeth Beringer first studied with Moshe Feldenkrais when she was 19 and has been involved in one way or another with the Feldenkrais Method® her entire life. In this workshop she will also draw on her decades long practice of Aikido. 

Labor Day Holiday Hours

Please note that the FGNA Membership Office will be closed on the following dates in observance of the Labor Day Holiday.

  • Friday, September 4th: Closed at Noon eastern
  • Monday, September 7th: Closed

The Membership Office will re-open at 9am eastern on Tuesday, September 8th.
Do you know someone who would enjoy this content? Click the "Forward this email" button, OR use the social media sharing buttons, just above the header image. 
FGNA's Email Privacy Policy
If you have provided your email address to FGNA or FEFNA, we may periodically send you information to promote events, products, or services related to the practice of the Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education, or based on the teaching of Moshe Feldenkrais that we think will be of interest to you. You can always opt to not receive promotions while maintaining your subscription to SenseAbility by contacting us at  

* You may change your preferences at any time. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact. You can revoke permission to mail to your email address at any time using the SafeUnsubscribe® link  found at the bottom of every email. We take your privacy seriously. Please read the Constant Contact Email Privacy Policy.

* Note: If you are a member of, or are certified by FGNA, you have agreed to receive email and postal mail communications from FGNA including: communications regarding your status, renewal deadlines, announcements and newsletters, learning opportunities, publications, and other information relevant to 
Feldenkrais® practitioners and trainees.

Amazon Affiliate
The Feldenkrais Guild® of North America is an Amazon affiliate. Affiliate links may appear in this email. When you click on the link to purchase a product, FGNA may receive a portion of your transaction.
©2020, FGNA. All rights reserved.

The following are service marks or certification marks of the Feldenkrais Guild® of North America: Feldenkrais®Feldenkrais Method®Functional Integration®, Awareness Through Movement®ATM®FI®Guild Certified Feldenkrais Teacher®, and Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner(CM)

The following are service marks, trademarks or certification marks of the Feldenkrais Guild® of North America: Feldenkrais®Feldenkrais Method(TM),Functional Integration®, Awareness Through Movement®ATM(TM)FI(TM)Guild Certified Feldenkrais Teacher(TM)Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner(TM)Prise de conscience par le mouvement(MD)Functional Integration®FI(TM), and L'intégration fonctionnelle(MD)