Demand Avoidance, Trauma Sensitivity and Feldenkrais

There probably is a connection between trauma and demand avoidance (the strong impulse to avoid being trapped in a literal or figurative corner). At least, it is well-established that trauma-sensitive somatic teaching leaves people a lot of options. Leaving options is a very strong feature of the Feldenkrais method, for a lot of reasons. At its core, the goal of Feldenkrais is to increase your repertoire! AND to get to that option-enhancing point, there are a number of Feldenkraisian teaching principles that are very kind to people with Demand Avoidance:

- no demonstrating, because the teacher's way is not the only or even the right way

- even the ambition to expand your repertoire is held somewhat at arm's length because ambition is a form of Demand, and demands are narrowing

- going slow and small means staying in the option zone (because when you complete a motion at the end of your range, your options are exhausted)

- we ask you to pay attention but we also ask you to let it go and come back, so even 'pay attention' is optional and forgiving

- the 'how' of your attention-paying is totally up to the student—maybe you 'see' your movement or maybe you sense it some other way—great!

- we constantly invite you to stray—do a different move you are curious about or pause or sit stuff out

- (most importantly) we invite you to be your own witness [this is Annalyse's addition]

Feldenkrais is a nice loose fit for people with Demand Avoidance or trauma sensitivities.