Fibromyalgia and Feldenkrais - Can It Actually Help?

By Joshua Balbin - Feldenkrais Practitioner and Remedial Massage Therapist

As a Feldenkrais Practitioner, I've worked with many people with a variety of chronic pain conditions over the years, and Fibromyalgia is certainly one of the most complex. It is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory, and mood issues.

How Can Feldenkrais Help?

The Feldenkrais Method is uniquely suited to help those with Fibromyalgia because it works directly with the nervous system to change how the brain perceives and organizes movement.

• Gentle Movement: Unlike traditional exercise that can trigger a flare-up, Feldenkrais uses slow, gentle, and mindful movements that do not push into pain.
• Calming the Nervous System: Fibromyalgia often involves a hyper-sensitized nervous system. The method's focus on awareness and easy movement helps down-regulate this sensitivity, moving the body out of a constant "fight or flight" state.
• Improving Efficiency: By learning to move more efficiently, people with Fibromyalgia expend less energy, which helps combat the chronic fatigue associated with the condition.