Scoliosis Project 2008Personal Report

byKathrin Hug • Christian Renfer • Dr. Matthias Rießland • September 2009

translated german-englisch byCatherine Fischer

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B - for BasilS - for Scoliosis Project 2008W - for `Wedel´E - for Effectiveness & Efficiency

The Scoliosis Project 2008 was created and executed by Dr. Eilat Almagor,

Anat Krivine, Nancy Aberle and Dr. med. Wolfgang Steinmüller. The

teaching and learning of both certified Feldenkrais Trainers, Dr. Eilat

Almagor and Anat Krivine, is unequalled - based on many years of

experience in their practice in Israel, many international Advanced

Trainings and Seminars. Their form of expression of the Feldenkrais

Method reveals the effectiveness of the Method, especially for Scoliosis-

afflicted, as a ripe and scientifically founded course of procedure.

Another particular aspect of this project was the involvement and hand-in-

hand cooperation between Scoliosis-Afflicted, Feldenkrais-Practitioner,

Trainers and Organizers. The Team „Feldenkrais Post Graduate Studies

Zürich” of Nancy Aberle and Dr. med. Wolfgang Steinmüller mastered the

challenge with professional excellence.

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A very extraordinary experience from the Scoliosis Project

2008 in Zürich

Basil is 37 years old and has lived in a home for

the physically and mentally challenged in Switzerland since he was 7. He was born with multiple challenges: partial blindness (probably sees shadows); aphasia; spasticity in the extremities – causing contractions in both elbow joints, less in the knee and foot joints; ‘club foot’ – right foot (corrected through surgery); scoliosis of the dorsal and lumbar vertebrae. He learned to walk at the age of 13. In his daily routine, he is dependent on total support. On a weekly basis for the last 3 ½ years (since January 2006), he has been receiving individual Feldenkrais-Training from Kathrin Hug.

Due to the willingness of the institutional director, Basil’s parents, Kathrin and the organizers, it was made possible for Basil to participate as a client in the Scoliosis Project 2008 in Zürich. One of the organizers’ requirements was that the same three Feldenkrais teachers work with Basil for the duration of the project. They were Kathrin Hug, Christiane Renfer and Matthias Rießland. Basil made the trip daily from Thun to Zürich and back for each project session – a tremendous achievement and show of determination from Basil and his aides. It was not at all times an easy task, as Basil wasn’t always particularly fond of exiting the Tram when it arrived.

Scoliosis Project 2008 – During the course of the three five-day segments

of the project, readings of the client were taken at regular intervals. These were to determine, whether or not the movement of the spine changed. Awareness Through Movements (ATMs), lectures, Functional Integration (FIs) and demonstrations inspired constant interchange. In addition, feedback discussions were held among clients, trainers and organizers. All participants received CDs after each segment, containing the taught and simultaneously translated ATMs. It was suggested that the participants work between sessions with said ATMs and to take FIs.

As a threesome, we were confronted with the question as to how we could measure and document the progress Basil was making, since performance of the routine measurements was limited. Basil’s communication depends upon sounds and gestures, rather than verbal expression of the changes he experienced. We tried regardless, as with all other clients, to measure his standing-height, before and after the ATMs and FIs. Surprisingly, in a matter of 2 days Basil understood when and where he was to be

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measured. Knowing that Basil sees practically nothing, we were in awe of his tactics in space orientation. After FI 3, we marked an increase in his standing-height of 3 cm. Additionally, we filmed Basil’s walk. The film showed clearly a more even distribution of weight on both feet and a better balance of body and weight. His joy was apparent. During the ATMs, Basil participated lying on a cot, sometimes dosing off and sometimes appearing to be listening attentively. Basil spoke with his body.

`Wedel´ – Basil knocks rhythmically on his chest, when he is awake, with

a soft doll named `Wedel´ or a handkerchief. He must give `Wedel´ up for every FI and he is returned at the end, should Basil not have already found him himself. He gives `Wedel´ up freely at the beginning of his individual work sessions with Kathrin.

Over the course of the project, we noticed that Basil reacted irritably and sensitively to the quality of our touch. By irritation or insecurity on either side, he showed his discomfort directly by searching frantically for `Wedel´, building tension, turning away or refusing further participation. As the bond of trust between Basil and our team developed and our intentions became clearer, so increased his ability to ‘listen’ inside himself, reduce muscle tension – making differentiated movement possible. We felt certain to be in dialog with his system. We learned to adjust ourselves to Basil’s needs and were rewarded with shouts of joy as he arrived for our session. And after a successful FI, he didn’t even search immediately for `Wedel´. We found it necessary to integrate Basil’s aide into his process. She received an individual course parallel to Basil and participated in the public ATMs. Our idea is that the unfolding attentiveness through the Feldenkrais Method should be made available for all involved.

Effectiveness – Even though Basil will probably never speak words and be

dependent on others for the rest of his life, he is making slow yet continuous progress, especially since he began working with Kathrin. Observations and reports from his aides and Kathrin all reflect a huge leap in Basil’s development, due to his participation in the Scoliosis Project. We feel the integration of Basil’s aides also plays a large role. For this reason, Kathrin instructed Basil’s aide to integrate toe-movement á la Feldenkrais, in order to increase consciousness of his feet and the distribution of weight on his feet, every morning before he gets out of bed. After Segment 2, Kathrin suggested that Basil listen, on a weekly basis at home in his daily environment, to an ATM from the project-segments. This is still in practice. Further, Basil participates once a week, since November 2008, in an ATM group for the home residents.

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Basil´s progress since his participation in the Scoliosis Project

On the motor sensory level: Basil walks longer and with more certainty. Where one once needed to give him a ‘push’ or ‘pull’, he now needs minimal guidance or even walks alone, if he knows the surroundings. As a result, he could participate on longer outings.

On the psychological level: Basil shows more joy in life. Before he appeared depressive, often not wanting to get up in the morning. Now he gets up gladly and can move his toes himself. His confidence has also grown: he seems to show more initiative, for example going alone to the toilette or trying to clear the table after a meal or getting up to get himself a napkin. It is said by his daily caretakers, that he brushes his teeth himself (with some assistance), washes his hands himself and responds to requests.

Kathrin determined that learn-effects following Feldenkrais sessions manifest themselves faster in physically and mentally challenged persons than in adults (as with small children) and that which was actually learned is integrated in the daily routine. The developmental leap observed through the participation in the Scoliosis Project speaks in itself for periodic phases of intense work, enabling the system to absorb learn-effects.

Our experience with Basil makes clear that development and growth in individuals is always possible. Required is, that the necessary structural, financial and political framework be created.

Efficiency – How can one answer this question in context? Basil delivers

nothing of relevance for the common good, in the average sense of the word, though through his progress the workload of his aides is lighter and easier. This work supports the development and progress of challenged persons and gives both the afflicted and their aides the opportunity to discover together the ‘mundane’ anew!

For further questions and information, please feel free to contact

us:

Kathrin Hug, Balmweg 29, CH-3653 Oberhofenfone: +41 33 2431 934, mailto: tanzmithug@bluewin.ch

Christina Renfer, Limmattalstr. 209, CH-8049 Zürichfone +41 78 771 12 82, mailto: info@feldenkrais-renfer.ch

Dr. Matthias Rießland, Karlstr. 74, D-64285 Darmstadtfone +49 6151 42 13 55, mailto: kontakt.riessland@mac.com

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