When I started making this website in July 2020 I asked my students if they would like to write a few sentences about what the Feldenkrais method has meant to them so far. Some students had had live lessons. Most were new to Feldenkrais and have only had online experience. Here are some of their replies. The students range in age from 20 to 80.
These lessons have helped me hugely. I find that now my own intensive practice goes so much better, with no pain issues and much more focused musical results. That’s quite something for bass, as it’s such an unhandy instrument. Margaret Urquhart, double bass and violone player, The Netherlands
Sometimes it’s a big surprise that a part of my body needs to relax, which I discover when we start to be ‘curious’ about a particular movement. I always feel more relaxed and ‘in tune’ mentally, and physically after a class. Partly it’s the precise movements we do, partly it’s noticing my breathing, and allowing my mind to focus on Nicolette’s words, rather than allowing my thoughts to jump here and there. Johanna Roeber Rosendaal, sculptor, UK
I loved the variety of leading elements – shoulder, hip, back, nose, eyes and ears. My body became bigger and wider as we went along. I seemed to take up more space on the floor each time we returned to lying on our backs. Again, the mysterious power of Feldenkrais – you don’t quite know how it happens, but the body opens up to the joy of being! Manou Shama-Levy, artist, UK
A Feldenkrais lesson seems so gentle and yet opens up awareness of how one is using the body as a whole and in its parts, which is a particular experience but also feeds into the hours outside the class. Having a recording allows you to revisit when feeling in a different mood or state of tension or relaxation. For me, it’s a joy not to have to wear hearing aids as Nicolette’s voice is not fading in or out – the sound is accessibly close by and consistent and so already one strain less to manage. Lynn Marie Harper, retired library worker and grandmother, UK
I find the whole idea of finding different ways of doing something very positive – a welcome approach at this time and at any time in this goal-oriented world. Tamar Wang, teacher, UK
I have only had two lessons, but I already feel Feldenkrais, and Nicolette’s approach, offer an intriguing road to finding new possibilities and ease of movement. This could be very useful to anyone, and especially to a musician, like me. Can’t wait to find out more. Laura Frenkel, violinist, The Netherlands
The Feldenkrais sessions with Nicolette have been an hour of calm each week in the odd space that lockdown has created. After each session I feel more in touch with myself and have a greater sense of awareness of how my body moves which, as a musician, is vital. The classes are very accessible and have worked well over Zoom, although I’m sure an in-person session would be even more enlightening! There is plenty of time in the class to work out how the movement works for you in a judgement-free space. Nicolette often says ‘don’t try and be the best and go the furthest; just see what the movement feels like for you’, which helps you feel at ease to try things out. Angelika Stangl, oboist and violinist, at the time student of the Royal Academy of Music, UK
Studying the Feldenkrais Method over the past few months has been a fascinating way of questioning my habitual movements. It is always an unusual sensation after a class as the brain tries to process everything that has just happened. It has been useful to study alongside my continuing Alexander Technique lessons, as it is a different approach to improving body movement and communication within the body. Tom Dewey, harpsichordist, at the time student of the Royal College of Music, UK
These words came into my head as I lay there after the class: Peace, expansiveness and tranquility. I would add that for a musician, following a series of classes has helped to engender self-acceptance and non-judgmental exploration and as a human there was the creation of a connection between myself now and as a small child. I also think that there has been an increased understanding of some of my aches and pains and how to alleviate them, but this is connected with the self-knowledge I may have gained through the classes. Jane Gillie, violinist, UK The Feldenkrais method opened my soul and body, unlocked my energy and spirit, my mind found balance and it helped my self-confidence. Feldenkrais is the golden key for a secret door that we always kept deep within ourselves. In this secret room I have found the treasure that after 30 years I am finally able to share with the world and with the freedom of honest emotions, through which I am able to touch the world around me with the enjoyment and controlled stress. It is the magic that gives power to every musician. Ana Torbica, violist, at the time student at the Royal Academy of Music, Serbia
I've been finding out about the Feldenkrais Method through occasional in-person lessons, listening to pre-recorded lessons and now on Zoom. I love that I learn to break down how I do things by basically rolling around on the floor; it’s brilliant that you can learn by yourself, or in a group, and I’ve found the combination of solitude and solidarity that you get on Zoom has been unexpectedly revelatory. Somehow in lockdown I need the focus of other people working in their own way at the same time. Nicolette knows how musicians tend to think, but I’ve also found deliberately not predicting how I’m going to apply it to the lute means that when I do practice afterwards, there are useful surprises. Elizabeth Kenny, lutenist, Dean of Students at the Royal Academy of Music, UK
For weeks I’ve struggled in the gym with my form when lifting weights and squatting. Since doing the pelvic movements, I’ve been able to lift weights properly without injury. It’s amazing how much awareness can change things! Alexandra Thomson, clarinettist, student at the Royal Academy of Music, UK
Nicolette’s patient manner and reassuring voice have helped me and I have particularly benefited from one-to-one sessions in her studio. JP, UK
Feldenkrais by Zoom was a thread leading me back to myself after the shock of lockdown. From within the cell of isolation, where I had become so very cold, I warmed up again through the Feldenkrais lessons. Despite the distance that a screen gives the online FK lessons brought comfort and human contact in an unexpected way. A sense of togetherness, despite being muted and all on our individual screens. Thanks to the online FK lessons I was able to continue to teach through Covid in a meaningful and helpful way to my own students. Having remembered how to be in my own body, I could help them be in theirs. Emily White, trombonist and violinist. Teaches at the Guildhall School of Music and The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, UK Recommended to me to help with chronic lower back pain. I first tried Feldenkrais in a very large class. Helpful, but seemingly without much structure to the lessons. What a revelation to meet Nicolette. Small classes, a superb teacher possessing a clear sense of progression through each class as well as from class to class, not to mention in private sessions. Zoom sessions have been hugely helpful too. With Nicolette you are a cared-for individual. Faith Wigzell, retired Professor of Russian literature, UK I didn’t know anything about Feldenkrais until I started it online during lockdown. Initially not understanding it, I decided to pursue it anyway as I was intrigued. Over the course of a few lessons I came to understand what a powerful practice it is. I felt a new awareness in my body at a subtle but fundamental level, and a much greater sense of my body as a whole, almost whatever I was doing. I also relish the enjoyment in physical experience that it emphasises, even if that experience is as simple as rolling over! Sara Trickey, violinist, UK
I have really appreciated being guided and supported by Nicolette. The Feldenkrais method is a very calm and simple way of relearning how to move with more ease through simple instructions that always encourage me to experiment and explore in a lovely gentle way. Mark Bardner, Jack of all trades, UK
I am so grateful that I met Nicolette this year and that she introduced me to the wonderfully healing exercises of Feldenkrais. Nicolette is a deeply compassionate, empathetic and sensitive teacher and person. She is very mindful of each person’s individual and changing needs and her openness and warmth provides a comfortable and safe space in which to explore movement and emotion with a gentle curiosity. Feldenkrais has been a life-changing tool for me, bringing a nourishing and grounding sense of calm and self-reliance into my life during a very challenging time. Sophie Jagodzinska, cellist, UK Nicolette has been a patient, non-judgmental, and knowledgeable teacher of the Feldenkrais method. Her approach to teaching Feldenkrais over Zoom is effective and has been helpful to me as an aspiring music teacher. I look forward to applying the concepts I have learned from Nicolette as a music teacher in the future. James Mesenry, choir conductor, at the timestudent at Cambridge University, UK
I have been interested in the Feldenkrais method for some time but hadn’t anticipated attending my first class via Zoom during a pandemic! I was instantly struck by how my awareness began to shift from my mind to my body, taking time over a movement and finding the pleasure in it. As a string player I have often been frustrated by pain or tension in movement, so this feeling was truly novel and enticing. It has also been wonderful to escape the stress and worry about the world for an hour each week, coming to a very mindful state and reconnecting with my inner child. Nicolette’s warmth, clarity and openness makes learning online intuitive, and I enjoy chatting with the class for a few minutes at the end to hear how everyone got on. George White, viola player, UK
Having classes with Nicolette has first and foremost opened me up to the rarely discussed but essential truth that we all learn differently, because we are all different. I now notice myself, in certain moments, feeling perhaps for the first time that I can accept myself for how I do things – process new information, or move – because that’s the way I do them, instead of judging myself because I haven’t emulated this or that authority figure (including the instructions from teachers of the past). Nicolette’s insight, clarity, patience and intuitive manner make for an ideal environment to develop one’s ability for self-observance and awareness, and no matter what the focus of each session I have always finished feeling calm, grounded and like I have learned something new about myself. I particularly value the aspect of the session that ‘you can’t do anything wrong’ – that everything is about observing and not making any judgements. Charlotte Fairbairn, violinist, UK
Nicolette’s Feldenkrais class has been life-changing for me. What at first seemed just small simple movements transformed my mindfulness, my relationship with my instrument and music itself. Nicolette creates a calm, nurturing and accepting environment in which to learn and observe ourselves. Morag Johnston, violinist, France
Working with Nicolette has brought me peace and curiosity. I end each lesson feeling like I have had a fantastic cranio-sacral treatment or massage! I come out of it feeling deeply relaxed. It has helped me on the way to resolving some ongoing problems and old pains, and reminds me that to really explore something small in great depth brings huge benefits. Being a violinist herself, Nicolette’s approach and knowledge has been invaluable in applying the Feldenkrais method to my life as a musician as well. I believe that my relationship to playing the violin and towards my practice has been enriched by doing these classes. The search for ease in movement that the Feldenkrais method encourages also promotes ease in playing, and I have noticed an improvement in my technique in general and my sound in particular as a result. She is a wise, kind, and wonderful teacher! Mayah Kadish, violinist, Italy
I found myself in the unenviable position of trying to recover from an injury without medical help during lockdown. Nicolette’s gentle and very thought-provoking online classes became a hugely enjoyable and effective part of the rehabilitation. When I started I was in pain, afraid of causing more pain, and worried about the impact of the injury on my strength and flexibility in the long term. Nicolette’s detailed guidance and encouragement helped me to safely explore what was possible, and to gradually increase this as I healed. Her classes were hugely beneficial and I recommend them whole-heartedly. Lynda Sayce, lutenist, UK
I have come new to Feldenkrais, and in Nicolette’s lessons I am slowly learning to experience my somewhat recalcitrant body in a different way, both its limitations and its possibilities. I especially like the gentleness of the approach. Nicolette has a gift of using metaphor which is illuminating, and enables an imaginative feeling to flow into bodily movements. I often feel calmer, more whole and more relaxed after a lesson. Jane Howard, retired teacher and poet, UK