IMAGINE learning a method of exercise that not only improves your movement, but can also relieve chronic pain and stress — all done without breaking a sweat.The Feldenkrais Method was introduced to Bermuda seven years ago by a former resident, Frauke Voss.

Ms Voss lived in Bermuda during the 1970s before moving to Toronto, Canada where she first came into contact with this unique form of “awareness through movement”.

“I came back seven years ago after my friend Molly Luethi had open heart surgery and I gave her a lesson.

“She felt terrific afterwards and was going to Sophie Cannonier at the Health Co-op in Warwick and told Sophie about me. I gave Sophie a lesson and have been invited back to Bermuda every year since to continue teaching,” she recalled.

The Feldenkrais Method became so popular among Bermudians that both Mrs Cannonier and Erika John underwent training to become qualified practitioners.

Today, the Feldenkrais Method is taught exclusively from the Health Co-op and through Community Development Programmes.

Ms Voss returns to Bermuda three times a year and during these visits gives classes at the centre — not just for members, but anyone who is interested in Awareness Through Movement (ATM) and Functional Integration (FI) — the two modalities she teaches.

“Through awareness, we can all learn to move with astonishing lightness and freedom, at almost any age and thereby improve our living circumstances, not only physically, but emotionally, intellectually and spiritually,” Ms Voss said, quoting founder Moshe Feldenkrais.

Ms Voss explained that the ATM classes consist of verbally directed movement “stories” or sequences.

“This highly structured process of movement explorations guide the students to rediscover ease, fluidity and comfort, as well as a more complete body image in action — easy, comfortable movements gradually evolve into greater range and complexity, resulting in the involvement of the whole self. The lessons are fun to do and nurture the whole body . . . they create new movement skills or enhance existing ones.”

FI classes are a one-on-one learning process, tailored to the specific needs of the student, who is sitting or lying, comfortably clothed, on a padded table.

“Through gentle, non-invasive touch the practitioner guides the student to an awareness of existing movement patterns and suggests an expanded organisation which leads to greater efficiency, co-ordination and ease,” she said.

Over the years, Ms Voss has also taught at various workshops across the island and works with paraplegics and quadriplegics at Summer Haven and also works with participants in the Transitional Living Centre, which is associated with Westgate Correctional Facility.

For more information on attending either a class or the workshop this weekend, the Health Co-op can be contacted at 236-0336. Ms Voss’ classes take place on Mondays at 7.30 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m.