The Magic Of The Feldenkrais Method

It Opened My Mind To Body-Awareness Training

Moshe Feldenkrais developed the Feldenkrais method, which FitOldDog really admires because it is so effective.

To fix a body problem, you need a correct diagnosis.

[ASIDE: Feldenkrais training allowed me to solve the plantar fasciitis puzzle.]

I started training for triathlons about 20 years ago. I was in my early 50s. So I had to learn how to run. But I was a swimmer, not a runner.

Feldenkrais played a big role in my final ability to qualify for the Boston Marathon, at age 67. I don’t run like a loaf of bread anymore. Would love to do it again!

I went out there and ran. Not well! My youngest son, who enticed me into triathlons, said I ran like a loaf of bread. Not anymore! Of course, not knowing what I was doing, I injured myself repeatedly. This eventually led to two (2) knee surgeries, for split meniscus, plica inflammation, and a Baker Cyst. That’s another story, though every injury affects all of the others, often due to guarding (psychosomatic tension).

I managed to run short races, without serous issues. But my goal was a full Ironman (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, 26.2-mile run). After about 10 years of shorter races, I started to up my game. Going longer and longer. Completing my first half-Ironman. Still no serious problems.

Trouble with my right knee I started as I undertook training for full marathons. Just one piece of an Ironman.

As I increased pace and distance, I had increasing pain in my right knee.

I tried:

• Stretching
• Ice
• Chiropractors
• Massage therapy
• Yoga
• Kinesiology
• Acupuncture
• Several podiatrists (one somewhat inebriated one)
• Two physical therapists
• Two chiropractors
• Several doctors
• A sports medicine physician, who injected cortisone into my patellar bursa

All to no avail!

This is where my knee pain started, 40 years previously, when I crashed on that lovely bike, my BSA 650 Gold Flash motorcycle.

I tried to find the source of the problem elsewhere, in my IT bands, quads and hamstrings.

Nothing seemed to make sense. This went on for over one year!

If I increased my running intensity or volume, my right knee would play up.

Then, by chance, I met my Feldenkrais teacher. A Science colleague, Karen Dold. I had never heard of Feldenkrais. I thought she said Frankenstein, when I asked what she was doing since leaving science.

I booked a session. I’d try anything!

Within a few minutes of my first session Karen located the source of my problem.

The pain was in my knee, while the source lay elsewhere.

What Karen did is shown in the old video clip, below. Filmed by Karen on my Blackberry (no iPhones back then), at a subsequent Feldenkrais session.

Once I knew the cause, I was on the road to recovery.

I had to work on flexibility for my right ankle.

“This was possible because Feldenkrais realized that the nervous system was far more flexible than most people thought.” — The Elusive Obvious by Moshe Feldenkrais

Interestingly, I had noticed it was hard to balance on my right leg! Ankles play a big role, when you balance on one leg! Balance is also critical for safe running, especially on trails.

Karen got it right!

So much appreciated, Karen and Moshe!

My subsequent five years of Feldenkrais training, with Karen, came to the rescue many times over the years. As I competed in one Ironman race after another.

Still doing it at age 80, as you can see, below.

Wishing you happy trails,

-kev aka FitOldDog