Has anyone here tried Feldenkrais?

I'm so happy to hear Pete is finding it useful. I love Feldenkrais , but was not given exercises to do, unfortunately.

Thanks for the link, Moco.

A much more pedestrian way of explaining the success of Feldenkrais is it can retrain neuromuscular habits to produce better function. Post SCI our habits of movement (if we have movement) can change radically as we endure spasticity and as we try to accomplish movements by any means possible, however unbalanced. My PTs encouraged me to "try with all my might", which meant emphasizing my stronger right side and neglecting the left. They should have emphasized strengthening the left for posture and balance. After 2 years I caught on to the problem and began my self-guided training program but damage was done that has been impossible to overcome, though I've made improvements.

Habits matter enormously and Feldenkrais is a way of very gently altering habits of movement. As to the other claims, like affecting autism? I expect it has for some people. Brains are complicated, WE are complicated and I see no reason why autism could not affect habits of movement, and conversely, how a person moves could ameliorate other symptoms of autism.

When evaluating something like this it is important to distinguish between overly enthusiastic claims made by some practitioners (and salespeople), and the accumulated evidence presented by Moshé Feldenkrais in his books is persuasive. Like any treatment or self-help practice, it will offer benefits to some, and not much to others.

I did feldenkreis before I got squished and found it really helpful for various ways in which my body felt rigid. I really appreciate the reminder. I have found that movement practitioners are really excellent at figuring out how to find and grow trace movements into function. Post-squishing, I've found gyrotonic (my stability isn't good enough for gyrokinesis yet) to be really helpful with stretching, balance, regaining core strength, and balancing put my lopsided self (because of complications, even though I'm incomplete and technically have a T3 injury, I ASIA test at T1 on one side and T6 on the other).

It is very confusing for my body and my brain. I have no symmetry. Especially because my hamstrings & glutes are more responsive and versatile on the T1 side but my quads & gastrocs are stronger on the T6 side.

I have managed to sort out a stretching/estim combo that has pretty much eradicated my clonus and greatly reduced my overall spasticity, and yeah - each side is different, but so what? It works and I get to sleep now.