A few people have been asking me about FK/ABM, and what we’re currently doing, so I figured it’s time for an update.

So 2 weekends ago we went to a Feldenkrais training with Mia Segal and her daughter Leora. Here’s an excerpt about Mia:

Mia’s expertise in rehabillitative and generative methods has been attained over a period spanning more than 50 years. After achieving certification and practicing as an Alexander Technique teacher, Mia met and became professional assistant to Dr Mosche Feldenkrais, creator of The Feldenkrais Method. From 1957 until 1973, Mia was Mosche’s only student of his developing system, in a collaboration that continued until his death in 1983. Over these years Mia and her family were deeply involved in the development and evolution of the method and she was entrusted to work with some of Feldenkrais’ most high profile clients (the likes of Israel’s first Prime Minister, famous musicians, athletes and scholars). Dr Feldenkrais was quoted as saying, “Mia is my best student and the only one to take my work beyond me”. The development of the method took Mia and her family to Japan, where she studied movement extensively, through a mastery of Judo (achieving a balck belt from the Kodokan, the University for Judo) and a study of Japanese healing methods.

Feldenkrais and Mia began to train students in the method worldwide, with Mia eventually taking the role of course leader before continuing Feldenkrais’ work of training batches of quality practitioners. To this day, Mia is the authority on Feldenkrais and has a mastery of teaching and performing the methods that are second to none.

Mia and Leora used Nathan as their demo child in the class, and worked with him for 3 separate sessions.

I was really impressed with their work. They made it all seem so simple! They explained that all the Feldenkrais movements are based on simple brain plasticity – stimulate the brain in a certain way, and repeat the movements, and the brain will establish and maintain new neural connections. They showed us a few ATM’s (awareness through movement) sequences to do with Nathan at home. Nathan responded really well and left the workshop with his head and trunk held high, his hips in better alignment, and more movement of his body. They also suggested for us to follow up with a practitioner named Eileen Bach-y-Rita.

We saw Eileen last week and LOVED her – she is great. She is very knowledgeable and Nathan responded really well to her. However she is in Culver City, about 1 hour away from us, so we can only go ever week or two.

During the training we also met a practitioner who has worked with children before and is trained in the RIE method (which I love). She came to our house last week to work with Nathan and it was an instant match! He loved her and she really clicked with him. And the bonus – she can come to our house!

So for 1 week now, Katie’s been coming to our house and working with Nathan. She is less experienced than Eileen or Cheryl but she has a good foundation and a deep love of the work and of children. Also the fact that she is working on our space and with Nathan’s toys I think is amazing because she is teaching him mastery over his space and how to use his own toys to play.

So my plan now is to see Eileen every week or two, followed by daily visits from Katie.

Then, every 3 or 4 months, we’ll go up to see Cheryl Eichner for a week. Of all of the practitioners I’ve seen, I believe Cheryl is the best one. It’s just that, right now, I can’t even handle the thought of traveling so I am doing the best I can while staying at home and maintaining Nathan’s routine.

Many people have asked – so what’s the difference between Feldenkrais and ABM?

Essentially, they are the same thing. The only difference is that Anat took Feldenkrais’ work and learned how to apply it specifically to children with special needs. She created routines and sequences and techniques specific to children experiencing developmental delays. But the foundation and basis of her work is Feldenkrais. So if there isnt’ an ABM practitioner near you, a smart Feldenkrais practitioner should be able to figure out how to apply the ATM’s to your child.

What I have noticed FK is doing is teaching Nathan what I believe is not available to him. Becuase of his genetic mutation, I think that the data about how to move is just not in there. The Feldenkrais ATM’s are teaching hims those movements that he doesn’t naturally know how to make, plus it is teaching his brain how to override spastic muscles.

I do believe there is great merit to the work and am going to try this for 2 or so more months at least before even thinking about reevaluating.

So we continue to stay the course! 2 hours of ABR every day, 1 hour of the laser, 1 hour of Feldenkrais, and we are still dabbling with CME and the different exercises. We had started, then stopped, then I am doing a trial run of it again to see if it helps him – but his legs are so weak and shaky that I want to make sure we don’t hurt him. We’ll see.

I’ll keep you guys posted!

18 gallons of gas, 2 short 10 min stops, 1 soy latte with sugar-free vanilla and 1 shot of coffee (soy chai latte for Nathan), 2 jack in the box burger and fries, 5.5 hours, and 3 movies later (tinker belle, nightmare before xmas, and lilo & stitch 2), we made it home.

I feel victorious. I feel exhilarated. I feel hopeful.

And here’s the thing. If you asked me – what did Nathan gain this week? It doesn’t look like much. Hands more open. Arms less tight. More flexion, less extension. More interest and ability to play. Nothing major. A couple new words.

But he LOVES it! I can’t tell you how much that little boy loved his lessons. Every time he saw Cheryl, he lit up like the sky on 4th of July. Whenever he got on the table he was happy, ready to learn. It’s like he’s been ready and waiting for 4 years for someone to “unlock” him. He was so hungry to learn.

THIS is a therapy that we can do WITH Nathan, not TO Nathan. And it’s a chance for Nathan to learn and develop on so many levels. And, over time, maybe he’ll improve, maybe he won’t. Frankly, I don’t care. My boy enjoys it. It makes him happy. It gives him a sense of accomplishment. Every time he managed to do something, even the slightest movement, he would look up at me – “Mommy, did you see me? I did it!”

And today, as we were driving home, and we gave Nathan a cup of chocolate almond milk with manuka honey and rice cereal, which he loved, and when it finished, he said “mo mo mo mo mo” over and over, until we gave him another cup – I was thrilled beyond belief. Every penny and effort we’ve spent so far was worth it, for that single moment when my boy could tell me he wanted a 2nd cup of milk. Priceless.

So the million dollar question is – is this IT? Are you going to do anything else?

The answer – YES. I am sticking with my plan. I believe in my plan. It took me 4 years to figure it out. It feels right for Nathan, it feels right for me, it feels right for my family.

Feldenkrais (ABM), ABR, CME, mHBOT, LRI (laser reflex integration), and Gtherapy. This is our combo. This is sustainable for us. This targets everything. These work for Nathan. Sounds like a lot, but it’s not, most are passive and gentle, all work WITH Nathan.

I remember asking my meditation teacher once…will my plane ever take off? Will I ever get off the runway and climb climb climb until I can soar through the limitless sky? And he said…it may feel like you’ve always be on the runway, and that you’ll be on it forever…but trust me, one day you’ll take off, and even lifting your front wheels will feel so glorious, that slight elevation will change your life. And oh, when you soar…

So here we are. Slightly elevated. Just beginning. But we have the right tools on board. So off we go!