Amy LaGrange

Amy LaGrange is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner, Awareness Through Movement ® teacher, and a licensed massage therapist in the states of Maryland and New Mexico. The Feldenkrais Method® is an approach to working with people in a way that expands their repertoire of movements, enhances awareness, improves function and enables people to express themselves more fully.

A hands-on therapist since 2004, Amy has sought to share her training and experience to assist both clients and students. Starting with the Arts-In-Medicine program at University of New Mexico Hospital and Cancer Center, through her time at the University of New Mexico Center for Life, and now exclusively in private practice, she successfully works with clients, many with complex medical histories and high levels of pain.

After more than 20 years of experience providing hands-on bodywork in a wide variety of settings (hospital and clinical settings, private office, public chair massage venues, corporate sites, private homes, and the classroom), this Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner collaborates in teaching, clinical, and therapeutic contexts to promote teamwork, compassion, and best practices.

She has the flexibility to meet clients and students "where they are" in a wide variety of circumstances and environments and is able to communicate with the client and their support teams to form appropriate treatments and strategies.

Amy is committed to providing a Covid-safe environment for her clients.

Amy LaGrange, FGNA, MD M06978, NM MT4833

amy.lagrange@icloud.com

Awareness Through Movement® (Contact me for Zoom link)

Mondays, 5:30 pm ET (3:30 pm MT)

Tuesdays, 6:00 pm ET (4:00 pm MT)

What is Feldenkrais®?

I am often asked, “What is Feldenkrais®…and how can it help me?” I am going to share three key points about Feldenkrais that will help your understanding.

1. Tapping into the idea of neuroplasticity…the idea that the brain can…and will…rewire itself, Feldenkrais® invites us to explore and improve how we move. We all have habits of how we use and hold ourselves…and we need those habits. If we had to think about how we do everything we do, we’d never get anything done. But sometimes…these biases can get in our way…and could possibly lead to pain and injury. Through Feldenkrais®, we can become aware of these preferences and are invited to explore new possibilities.

Which leads us to our second key point…

2.  Feldenkrais® is about learning. Feldenkrais® practitioners believe the skeleton is for support….and the muscles are for movement. If we use our skeleton well, our muscles don’t have to work so hard. To learn this skeletal use of ourselves, in Awareness Through Movement® lessons, we move ourselves gently and slowly…trying out different ways of doing so...much like a baby learns to move through trial, error and, of course, success. Our nervous system likes to have different ways of doing the same thing…and tends to select the most efficient way when it’s given options.

3.  Thirdly, the Feldenkrais Method® meets us ‘where we are’. As mentioned earlier, we all have different ways of using and holding ourselves based on our early development, experiences, hobbies, jobs, injuries, etc. Since students are urged to seek comfort and curiosity in the explorations, Awareness Through Movement® is for just about anyone. If there is discomfort or pain, you will be encouraged to do less ….do it smaller…do it slower … or even to imagine the movement. The goal is learning to be aware of “where we are”, not make us be, or pretend to be, somewhere we are not. So, whatever your movement history, these classes can improve how you move!

More about Feldenkrais®

There are two ways Feldenkrais® practitioners interact with what they call their students: Functional Integration®, which is a one-on-one interaction, usually involving passive movement, and Awareness Through Movement®, which are verbally guided explorations that can be used with one or more people at the same time.

I think of both approaches as conversations with the students’ nervous systems, giving the nervous system information it can use that can result in a different self-organization. We all have habits of how we use and organize ourselves. We developed these habits in a certain context…and for good reason. If we had to think about how we move all the time…we would never get anything done. The thing is…. the way we organize our arms to use a mouse or a keyboard…is not always the best way to organize our arms for other things such as vacuuming, driving, or picking up our child or grandchild.

Awareness Through Movement®

If you want to improve how you move…Awareness Through Movement® is for YOU! For those who struggle with everyday activities to those who already move well…and want to improve their performance.

Awareness Through Movement® involves guided explorations of movement. Moving towards a functional goal…like rolling over…standing up…reaching for something…or a greater awareness of how you move…or don’t. You’ll notice your habits and preferences ….and where you might have blind spots.

Feldenkrais® practitioners help you to explore how to use the skeleton for support….and the muscles for movement. If you use your skeleton well, your muscles don’t have to work so hard.

To learn this skeletal use of yourself, in the lessons, you move yourself gently and slowly…. trying out different ways of doing so...much like a baby learns to move through trial, error, and success.

Come join me for Awareness Through Movement® classes. You can drop in on a single class…or come to a series of classes.

Awareness Through Movement® (Contact me for Zoom link)

Mondays, 5:30 pm ET (3:30 pm MT)

Tuesdays, 6:00 pm ET (4:00 pm MT)