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Cliff
Smyth
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About my Feldenkrais practice
I discovered the Feldenkrais Method in 1986 when a friend in Sydney, Australia, sent me to a practitioner. I was suffering from a repetitive strain injury from my work as a writer. To my surprise I experienced the first relief of my pain in two years - and I was fascinated how such a gentle approach could make such a big difference. Finding a practitioner in my hometown of Melbourne, I continued the process first with Functional Integration sessions and then Awareness Through Movement classes, tapes and workshops. I joined my Feldenkrais training program mostly with the intention of continuing my rehabilitation, but soon became excited at the prospect of being able to help people with this fascinating Method.
Since becoming a practitioner in 1991, I have worked in Melbourne and San Francisco with people from 9 to 90 to help them recover from pain and injury (especially people with back pain and over use injuries such as RSI, carpal tunnel, etc). Also helping people to deal with conditions such as stroke and to regain lost abilities (sometimes ones they had lost hope of recovering). I have also worked with performers including dancers from the SF Opera ballet and violinists from the SF Symphony. I enjoy working with Doctors, PTs and other health providers - along with Yoga, Pilates and other movement teachers - sharing ideas from the Feldenkrais Method with them.
I have been a teacher most of my life: teaching high school in Australia and teaching writing to all kinds of people in libraries, community centers, jails, schools and colleges. I worked for a while in community development and taught management to the boards of non-profits. That lead me to serving on the Board of the International Feldenkrais Federation - the UN of Feldenkrais professional organizations - for twelve years - six of which I served as President. In that time I was pleased to contribute to the archiving and publication of many of important documents Moshe Feldenkrais' life and teaching. I also helped develop a 'competency profile' that outlines the professional roles and skills of a Feldenkrais Practitioner. As an Assistant Trainer in the Feldenkrais Method, I work in programs training new practitioners in Australia, Europe and the USA. I am currently undertaking studies in personal coaching.
As a writer, I am interesting in the possibilities Feldenkrais creates for artists - drawing on somatic experience to enrich their practice. I practice mindfulness meditation and I am very interested in the relationship between awareness, self-image, health and society. I have a particular interest in stress and how it affects our health and well being, and I have taught a number of classes and workshops using Awareness Through Movement for dealing with stress.
I am also very pleased to have produced the 'Easy Hands and Arms' series of Awareness Through Movement lessons on CD for prevention of and recovery from hand and arm injuries.
It is a great privilege to continue to teach this Method which allows me to help people with such diverse needs and interests to improve their lives.
Articles by Cliff Smyth:
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