Featured in “This Week at WREN”
Featured in “This Week At WREN”
A retelling of my Feldenkrais Origin Story
My Feldenkrais “Origin Story” is featured in the latest edition of “This Week At WREN.”
I’ve been a member ot the Women’s Rural Entrepreneurial Network (WREN) since the last century. WREN was founded in 1994, powered by rural women committed to the mission of supporting better lives and livelihoods through education, economic development and community engagement in the North Country. WREN sponsors business classes and runs a beautiful store showcasing the work on the many local artists and artisans who thrive here in the North Country.
“I was pretty much a klutz growing up. I was terrified of gym class. I came to Awareness Through Movement, also known as the Feldenkrais Method, through a free class at the local yoga studio. During that first lesson, I was smacked by an a-ha moment, a that’s HOW you do it flash on how to get my heel down in triangle pose. Soon, weekly classes weren’t enough. I went in for the 800 hour training, which I did over 3 years in Santa Fe, New Mexico.”
When I first started coming up the Bethlehem, the WREN technology center was my second home. They had a cable internet connection when all I had was dial-up AOL. The first people I got to know were the WREN staff. Since then, WREN has evolved, changed personnel, upgraded the store, opened offices, closed offices. Today, the tech center is unnecessary and a new group is in charge.
It’s been an honor to get to know the new guard. Executive Director Pam Sullivan gave me the opportunity to re-introduce myself to the community. New Marketing and Programs Manager Scarlett Moberly cut my too-long narrative to size and has been gracious in helping my relaunch.
I’ll be offering a free intro to the Pelvic Floor work in the WREN artist’s gallery on Friday, July 14 at 9:00 AM.
Pam Sullivan, Executive Director, and Scarlett Moberly, Marketing and Programs Manager, WREN
Here’s the full interview:
1) Who are you and what is your business?
1) Tell me a little about yourself and how you came into this work.
Well… this is my 7th or 8th career; I lose count. I went to Smith College, studied biochem, earned an MBA, and came up in the age of corporate shoulder pads and little string ties. I did stints in med tech, market research, a couple of start-ups, with interludes as a gardener when everyone in tech got laid off. My last gig was as a high tech PR consultant, until I was ‘spit out at 50,’ moved up to Bethlehem, and never looked back. It was an exciting ride, but I was never fully myself.
I was pretty much a klutz growing up. I was terrified of gym class. I came to Awareness Through Movement, also known as the Feldenkrais Method, through a free class at the local yoga studio. During that first lesson, I was smacked by an a-ha moment, a that’s HOW you do it flash on how to get my heel down in triangle pose. Soon, weekly classes weren’t enough. I went in for the 800 hour training, which I did over 3 years in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
During that time, I left Boston to finally live full-time in my little Bethlehem house. COVID pushed me onto Zoom, which was great for me as my student base runs coast-to-coast. Most importantly, I’ve graduated from total klutz to enjoying sports and playing music. That’s because I have learned how to feel and listen to my body. I’m my own best coach. What I do now is part movement student, part performer, part teacher, part curriculum developer, part pattern analyst, part hands-on body worker, part lifelong student, and all of it is a blast.
2) How do you help your clients?
So many of us have lost track – because of time, overwork, injury or pain – of what we can and can’t do physically. I help people stay active in the bodies they have today. I teach weekly classes where students are guided to use gentle, subtle movements to notice (outdated) habits, try on new movement patterns, and find better ways of using their bodies. Our goal is to keep doing, even get better at, the things we love to do. I also give a few private lessons to help people jump start their recovery or rehab, or fine-tune their progress towards specific goals.
Some people I work with are golfers, skiers, yoginis and kayakers; musicians and artisans; and nanas who want to easily get up off the floor. For folks post-rehab, it’s a way to reintegrate the whole body after injury. When students get up after a lesson and do their best Audrey Hepburn walk, I know I’ve done my job.
3) Where can people find you / How can they work with you?
Take a class – in person or by Zoom. My current series is inspired by the freedom-seeking, rebellious “Hippie Chicks”: we’re learning alternative ways of lifting our chests, lightening up the weight over our hips, and using gravity to our advantage.
My (free, fun) weekly newsletter - I still have some of that PR person left in me. I blog about pelvic health, advances in neuroscience, cool things people I know are doing, etc. It’s all on my website and Facebook too
4) What is one message you have for our readers?
A few hours to tune into your body and take stock of how you are really moving can open up years of fun and pleasure. Why wait?
5) What's your favorite place or thing to do in the North Country?
Not fair! The North Country delivers way over our weight class. For music and film, of course it’s the Colonial (I am fully certified to pop the popcorn and greet concert guests). For baby goats and veggies, it’s Meadowstone Farm, and the Littleton Co-op for everything else. For hip music, the Loading Dock. The Trestle Trail up the Zealand Road is a short, sweet riverside walk. For beautiful gifts, WREN, of course.
6) What's your favorite thing at WREN right now?
I love the chicken coloring books by Sarah Rosedahl - my niece and I bonded over them!