MovementMatters

MovementMatters is the interdisciplinary professional practice of Anne-Elizabeth W. Straub. It comprises her private practice in clinical social work, her Feldenkrais® practice and a consultancy on disability/health issues.

Ms. Straub is trained as a Master's level Social Worker, licensed by New York State (L.C.S.W.), holder of a diplomate from the National Association of Social Workers and as a Feldenkrais Practitioner®, certified by the Feldenkrais Guild of North America®. She is also an experienced consumer advocate on disability and health issues.

Ms. Straub has used movement as a metaphor for that underlying and unifying theme.

Movement is a characteristic of living things. The movement's size, velocity, frequency and quality might vary widely from one living thing to another; but from the whale moving through the ocean, to a single cell of the body moving its cell walls, all living things move.

Thus, to us, as living beings in search of enhancement of whatever aspect of our lives, movement does, indeed matter!

• Movement out of depression or a dysfunctional relationship
• Learning how movement can be graceful and easy
• Learning how one's movement may influence the experience of pain and discomfort and how to change them
• Moving on after diagnosis of an illness or disability;
• Moving toward managing one's life more easily

...All these are aspects of the work that MovementMatters encompasses.

The Feldenkrais Method®

What is Feldenkrais®?

The Feldenkrais Method; is a system of sensory motor learning which uses gentle movement sequences and focused but mobile attention to increase awareness, improve function, increase grace and ease of movement and reduce pain and stress.

It is named for its originator, Moshe Feldenkrais.

Although his academic training was in engineering and physics, his interests were wide-ranging, including a mastery of judo. As a result of a sports injury, he suffered severe knee pain. Feldenkrais developed his Method to learn to move without pain, and then went on to teach it to others. The trainings continue around the world, as do classes in Awareness Through Movement®, the verbally guided aspect of the Method and in Functional Integration®, the hands on, one-to-one aspect of the Feldenkrais Method;.

What can I expect at a lesson?

At an Awareness Through Movement; lesson, the student usually lies on the floor on a mat (though there are some lessons given sitting or standing), dressed in regular, unrestrictive clothing. The practitioner guides the student verbally through a sequence of gentle movements whichrelate to a variety of functions, such as bending, turning, reaching, walking. The student does the movements in his or her range of comfort and begins to notice the way he or she usually does the movement and what makes it easier or more difficult. Gradually, by means of many variations, other options for movement are introduced and incorporated making the individual movements easier and the overall functioning smoother and easier as well.

In a Functional Integration; lesson the student usually lies on a padded table while the practitioner uses his or her hands to move the person and, through touch, to provide information to the student on posture and movement which might be unfamiliar.

Who teaches The Feldenkrais Method® at MovementMatters?

Anne-Elizabeth W. Straub is a Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner®. She has been certified as a teacher of Awareness Through Movement® since 1992 and has taught classes in the community since that time. In addition,she currently teaches Functional Integration® lessons and regularly conducts seminars and workshops.

A Certified Social Worker, Ms. Straub brings to her Feldenkrais® practice the insight and sensitivity of her experience in psychotherapy.

Ms. Straub has presented in-service training sessions and workshops to staff members from the Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale and the Hospital for Joint Diseases. She has also conducted workshops for the New York City Chapter of the National MS Society at their "Discovery Weekend."

What kind of people "do" Feldenkrais®?

Singers, dancers, plumbers, writers, computer operators, actors, corporate managers, homemakers, moms, dads, health care professionals.....

• People who want to improve their ability to move gracefully
• People who want to enhance their self-awareness
• People who want to increase their energy and reduce fatigue and stress
• People who want to perform better
• People who want to move without pain
  

People just like you !

Where and When can I come to class?

Feldenkrais®; Center of Park Slope.

374 Fifth Avenue (between5th and 6th Sts.)

Brooklyn, NY 11215

There is currently one scheduled class in Awareness Through Movement® on Tuesday afternoons - 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm -open to all but with with special emphasis on and welcome to people with movement limitations.

Classes are added as required.

Workshop schedule in progress.

All Awareness Through Movement® and Functional Integration® lessons are arranged by appointment.

Call 718 624 1930 or 718 499 5238 (Center)

Gift certificates available.

Clinical Social Work

Ms. Straub has more than thirty years of experience as a professional social worker and more than thirteen years of experience in private practice. She is certified by the State of New York and has received diplomate status from the National Association of Social Workers. She has been cited for excellence by the Borough President of Manhattan for her work with families and children.

Her current practice includes work with individuals with affective disorders and relationship issues of various kinds and both individual and group work with people with disabilities and chronic illness and their families.

She also provides psychotherapy services and group facilitation for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, New York City Chapter.

Public Speaking

Ms. Straub has developed and delivered lectures and workshops on a wide variety of topics to varied audiences.

Her workshop topics include

• "Keeping Children Safe"
• "Assertiveness Training"
• "Learning to Listen"
• "Enhancing Family Communication"
• "Managing Stress "
• "Speaking to and About People with Disabilities"
• "Fishing the Net"(finding and evaluating information on the Internet)
• "Adaptive Technology"
• "Putting Your Business on the Internet"(co-presenter)
• "Disability and Sexuality"
• "My Illness Does Not Define Me"

 

She has also presented in-service training sessions to nurses, physical therapists, social workers, home health workers, day care and Headstart teachers and paraprofessionals and other Feldenkrais Practitioners®.

 She has taught lessons in the Feldenkrais Method® to groups of business executives, senior citizens, students, people with disabilities, physical therapists, social workers, in groups ranging in size from ten to fifty individuals.