Karl, Welcome back!  My wife (dystonic quad CP) tried Feldenkrais, and
enjoyed it, but the nearest practitioner was over an hour away, and
insurance wouldn't cover it.

On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 10:42 AM, KARL THUNEMANN <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Thanks to everyone who has replied so far to my introductory post.
>
> Particular thanks to Meir Weis who provided a link to the Feldenkrais page. Quite a number of Feldenkrais teachers are also physical or occupational therapists, which makes it likely that treatment by them would be covered by health insurance. My own daughter is a Feldenkrais teacher and a licensed clinical social worker.
>  My own teacher is not covered by insurance, but I am perfectly happy to pay her out of pocket. She was a professional dancer who came to Feldenkrais after debilitating knee and spine injuries. At the outset, she made clear that she connected with me as a disabled person -- which was hard for me to accept because she seemed so lithe. Over the years, as I got to know her better and we both continue to age, I could see the connection.
>
> Here's the heart of what I've learned from 12 years of Feldenkrais, relative to cerebral palsy:
>
> -- I learned to see my body differently. What I had always disparaged as symptoms of CP could also be viewed as manifestations of strategies to maintain my balance. They weren't perfect strategies, of course, so they've been tweaked and augmented over the years.
> -- I stopped being self-conscious about my body -- neither on ordinary public occasions nor in presenting performance art, one of my particular interests.
> -- One day I understood the essence of CP. It was in a class, where we were lying on the floor, atop rolled-up blankets  that were aligned with our spines. In the darkness I suddenly had a sense of total insecurity -- I was out of balance and feared I might fall -- even though I was lying on the floor! This was such a revelation, to realize the depth of my fear of falling or losing control. Rationally, I wanted to dismiss it -- I just have a mild case, right? Over time, this experience has led me to regard my own anxiety with more compassion.
>
> Of course, Feldenkrais has given me other benefits as well, but they're not the topic of conversation here.
>
> Karl
>
>
>
>
> "Tamar Raine" <[log in to unmask]> wrote in message news:109571.7786.qm@web62205.mail.re1.yahoo.com...
>> Hi Karl,
>>
>> Welcome back.  I too have done Feldenkrais for many years. I  used to get chiropractic done also. But my neck has gotten to the point where it's too delicate for chiro.  At the moment, I am in PT for a very sore arm, and also to begin using my new hip, so they have me on exercise machines. I have found that feldenkrais does wonders for walking issues. I am 53 and have suffered intense leg and hip pain for a long time; finally realized it must be joint damage, and sure enough my hip xrays showed extremely worn down, bone on bone - nothing that feldenkraid could fix. last year I had my right hip replaced, and then in oct 09 i had the other hip replaced. freedom from pain is great!
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Tamar
>>
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>> Tamar Mag Raine
>>
>> To see my newest articles:
>>
>> http://www.submityourarticle.com/articles/Tamar%20Mag-Raine-6019/
>>
>> [log in to unmask]
>> http://www.zazzle.com/TamarMag*
>> www.cafepress.com/tamarmag
>>
>> Retired Commissioner, MCPD
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: KARL THUNEMANN <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Sent: Mon, December 28, 2009 12:03:25 PM
>> Subject: A self-introduction
>>
>> Hello, everyone --
>>
>> I am a new subscriber to C-Palsy. I subscribed for a time several years ago, but never posted. This time will be different. Here's a profile of me.
>>
>> I'm 65 years old. I have a mild case of spastic hemiplegic that affects my left side. For the most part I have been able to lead a normal life. I'm married, have two grown children, worked for 26 years as a journalist and five for the Alzheimer's Assn. Special steps I take to manage my cerebral palsy include regular chiropractic treatments, Feldenkrais treatments and the study and practice of tai chi. For the past few months I have been working with a physical therapist on balance, falling and walking issues.
>> For many years I've been frustrated by the lack of good information about CP as it relates both to aging and to people with my level of involvement. Over the next few weeks I'll share my main issues. I look forward to hearing your responses, and replying to you as well.
>>
>> Karl Thunemann
>> Redmond, WA
>>
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-- 


Kendall

An unreasonable man (but my wife says that's redundant!)

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one
persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all
progress depends on the unreasonable man.

-George Bernard Shaw 1856-1950

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