Alex Toenniges
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Feldenkrais Method


Online Audio Lessons
I have a collection of online audio lessons available for you. Many of them are free, or you can subscribe for access to more. Read about the importance of doing Awareness Through Movement lessons in a consistent way at home.
Become a Patron!

Introductory Handouts
  • Benefits of Feldenkrais
  • "New hope for aching, creaky yuppie bodies," by Norman Doidge, MD
  • "The Feldenkrais Method for People with Chronic Pain," by Marek Wyszynski, PT, GCFP 
  • Awareness Through Movement: Keys for Success
  • "Learn to Learn: A manual to help you get the best results from the Awareness Through Movement® lessons," by Moshé Feldenkrais, DSc
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Online Awareness Through Movement (ATM) Lessons
  • ​Feldenkrais Access Lesson Library - 17 free lessons taught by David Zemach-Bersin
  • The Feldenkrais Project - Donor-supported online lessons with Nick Strauss-Klein. No paywall.
  • Free ATMs from Movement and Creativity
  • openATM.org - Free, downloadable recordings of lessons
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Press Articles
  • "A different way to relieve years of back pain" (The Washington Post, Sep. 2018)
  • "Trying the Feldenkrais Method for Chronic Pain" (The New York Times, Oct. 2017)
  • "His Methods May Seem Bizarre, but Thousands Swear by Mind-Body Guru Moshe Feldenkrais" (People Magazine​, Sep. 1981)
  • "Teaching the body how to program the brain is Moshe’s ‘miracle’" (Smithsonian Magazine, Jan. 1981)
Neuroscience & Trauma Researchers:
  • Norman Doidge, MD, author of New York Times bestsellers The Brain's Way of Healing and The Brain That Changes Itself
  • Bessel van der Kolk, MD, author of The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
  • Stephen Porges, PhD, developer of polyvagal theory, Distinguished University Scientist at the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University Bloomington, and researcher on healing trauma
Videos
​Future Life Now - YouTube videos about Feldenkrais, including interviews from the Feldenkrais Awareness Summit
More Articles
  • "Eleven Principles of the Feldenkrais Method" from The Brain's Way of Healing,​ by Norman Doidge, MD
  • "She will dance at her wedding": Healing the girl born without part of her brain (excerpt from The Brain's Way of Healing), by Norman Doidge, MD
  • ​"On Health" by Moshe Feldenkrais - "A healthy person is one who can live fully his unavowed dreams."
  • ​"A Concise Biography of Moshe Feldenkrais," by Mark Reese
  • "Helping, Fixing, or Serving" by Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen - Healing happens when we approach others with a sense of humility and an appreciation for that which we may not know.
​Books by (or about) Moshe Feldenkrais
  • Embodied Wisdom: The Collected Papers of Moshe Feldenkrais
  • Awareness Through Movement: Health Exercises for Personal Growth - Feldenkrais's most popular book, written an an introduction to his method for the layman.​
  • Body Awareness as Healing Therapy: The Case of Nora - Moshe's case study of helping a client regain functioning after a stroke--fascinating, and much easier to read than his more theoretical books.
  • Moshe Feldenkrais: A Life in Movement, by Mark Reese - A fascinating, comprehensive, and extensively researched biography of Moshe, including in-depth discussions of his theories and their influences.​
  • Making Connections: Roots and Resonance in the Life and Teachings of Moshe Feldenkrais by David Kaetz
  • Body and Mature Behavior: A Study of Anxiety, Sex, Gravitation, and Learning by Moshe Feldenkrais
  • The Potent Self: A Study of Spontaneity and Compulsion by Moshe Feldenkrais
Books about (or related to) the Feldenkrais Method
  • The Brain’s Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries from the Frontiers of Neuroplasticity, by Norman Doidge, MD - Doidge's second book and a personal favorite of mine. It includes a chapter on the Feldenkrais Method and a chapter on David Webber's use of the Feldenkrais Method to heal his vision. It's long but an easy read and absolutely fascinating.
  • Crooked: Outwitting the Back Pain Industry and Getting On the Road to Recovery by Cathryn Jakobson Ramin - "Details the nature and results of virtually every current approach to treating back pain." - Jane Brody, NY Times. Includes a section on Feldenkrais​
  • Moving from the Inside Out: 7 Principles for Ease and Mastery in Movement (A Feldenkrais Approach) by Julie Peck and Lesley McLennan
  • The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
  • ​The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science​, by Norman Doidge, MD - Doidge's look at the burgeoning theory of neuroplasticity and how people have been able to rewire their brains with almost miraculous results.
  • Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind: Why Intelligence Increases When You Think Less​, by Guy Claxton
Vision Improvement
  • ​​"Seeing Clearly" article by David Webber, Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner (GCFP)
  • Take Off Your Glasses and See: A Mind/Body Approach to Expanding Your Eyesight and Insight, by Jacob Liberman, OD, PhD
  • Seeing Clearly (CD set) by David Webber, GCFP
If you are working on reducing the strength of your glasses, inexpensive glasses are available without a prescription from Zenni Optical.
The Embodied Life School
For Musicians
  • ​“Creating Optimal Learning Conditions: A Practical Application of the Feldenkrais Method® in Music" by Alex Toenniges
  • Easy Hands and Arms (ATM CD) by Cliff Smyth
  • ​In Tune with Yourself: Feldenkrais for Musicians (CD set), by Jerry Karzen
  • ​​Optimal Moves: Effortless Use of the Arms and Hands (CD set), by Mary Spire
  • ​​Singing with Your Whole Self: The Feldenkrais Method and Voice (book), by Samuel Nelson & Elizabeth Blades-Zeller​ ​
  • Audition Success by Don Greene

More resources for resilience

  • Brené Brown, PhD, LMSW, research professor at University of Houston studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathyThe Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, Rising Strong
    • ​The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are
    • Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
    • Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
  • The Gottman Institute (Drs. John & Julie Gottman), a research-based approach to relationships
    • The Seven Principles of Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country's Foremost Relationship Expert
    • The Science of Trust: Emotional Attunement for Couples​
    • Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love
  • Center for Healthy Minds at University of Wisconsin-Madison (Richard Davidson, PhD, founder), studying the science of emotions, contemplative practices, resilience, kindness, compassion, gratitude and empathy
  • Kristin Neff, PhD & Chris Germer, PhD
    • The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook
  • Marshall Rosenberg, PhD
    • Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life
  • Stuart Brown, PhD, founder of the National Institute for Play
    • ​Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul
Food, Nutrition, Herbalism & Permaculture
  • Sandor Katz:
    • Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods
    • The Art of Fermentation: An In-Depth Exploration of Essential Concepts and Processes from around the World
  • Michael Pollan
    • ​Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation (book and Netflix documentary series)
    • How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan
  • Paul Stamets: Fungi Perfecti
    • Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World
  • Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats, by Sally Fallon
  • Full Moon Feast: Food and the Hunger for Connection, by Jessica Prentice
  • The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice, and Sustainability, by Lierre Keith
  • Essence of Permaculture: A summary of permaculture concepts and principles taken from 'Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability', by David Holmgren
  • Zen in the Art of Permaculture Design, by Stefan Geyer
  • Healing Wise by Susun S. Weed
  • Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants by Douglas W. Tallamy
  • The Wild Wisdom of Weeds: 13 Essential Plants for Human Survival by Katrina Blair​​
  • Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype, by Clarissa Pinkola Estés
  • The Language of Emotions: What Your Feelings Are Trying to Tell You, by Karla McLaren
  • The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by don Miguel Ruiz
  • Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes Are High, by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, and Switzler
  • Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
  • Night by Elie Wiesel
  • ​The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
  • Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu (translated by Stephen Mitchell)
  • ​10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works by Dan Harris​
  • ​Headspace: Meditation and Mindfulness Made Simple (phone app)
Nature Connection and Community-Building
  • Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit by Daniel Quinn
  • Grandfather: A Native American's Lifelong Search for Truth and Harmony with Nature, by Tom Brown Jr.
  • Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature, by Jon Young, Ellen Haas, Evan McGown
  • ​Reclaiming Our Natural Connections (audio CD), by Jon Young​​
  • ​Wilderness Awareness School (Duvall, WA)
  • 8 Shields: Creating Nature-Connected Communities, World-Wide
  • ​512 Project: The stories from our past weave a vision for our future
Fitness, Environmental Conditioning, & Ancestral Movement
  • The Way of the Life Athlete, by Peter Shmock - "A must-read for all who are alive and have a body." (also check out The Life Athlete podcast)
  • What Doesn't Kill Us: How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude, and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our Lost Evolutionary Strength, by Scott Carney
    • The Wim Hof Method
  • Nutritious Movement with Katy Bowman
    • ​Move Your DNA: Restore Your Health Through Natural Movement
  • Arthur Haines
  • The Happy Body with Aniela and Jerzy Gregorek - (I am wary of their nutrition recommendations. As the partner of an eating disorder psychologist, I don't recommend restrictive eating. Listen to your body and eat in a way that nourishes you. Check out some of the books above for a better guide to food.)
  • Barefoot/Minimalist Footwear Brands: 
    • Xeroshoes
    • ​Vivobarefoot
    • Lems Shoes
Menstrual, Sexual, and Environmental Health
  • ​Her Blood Is Gold: Awakening to the Wisdom of Menstruation, by Lara Owen
  • A New View of a Woman's Body, by The Federation of Women's Health Centers
  • Our Bodies, Ourselves, by The Boston Women's Health Collective
  • Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health, by Toni Weschler, MPH
  • Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing by Christiane Northrup, M.D.
  • The Fifth Vital Sign: Master Your Cycles and Optimize Your Fertility by Lisa Hendrickson-Jack
  • The Period Repair Manual, Natural Treatment for Better Hormones and Better Periods, by Lara Briden
  • An Electronic Silent Spring: Facing the Dangers and Creating Safe Limits, by Katie Singer
  • Women's Anatomy of Arousal: Secret Maps to Buried Pleasure, by Sheri Winston​​
  • Healthy Parents, Better Babies: A Couple's Guide to Natural Preconception Health Care by Francesca Naish and Janette Roberts
  • ​Grace of the Moon - Sarah Bly: Sexual Health and Fertility Awareness Education (Ashland, OR)
  • Ashley Hartman Annis: Certified Fertility Awareness Educator (Madison, WI)
  • The Elemental Self - Sarah Byrden: MogaDao Sacred Daoist Sexuality Teacher (Ashland, OR)
  • Association of Fertility Awareness Professionals​​
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