Feldenkrais for Life podcast
Al Wadleigh and Donna Ray · Al Wadleigh, Feldenkrais Practitioner and Donna Ray, Feldenkrais Trainer
Show overview
Feldenkrais for Life podcast has been publishing since 2021, and across the 4 years since has built a catalogue of 47 episodes, alongside 1 trailer or bonus episode. That works out to roughly 20 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a monthly cadence, with the show now in its 6th season.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 22 min and 30 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Education show.
There hasn’t been a new episode in the last ninety days; the most recent episode landed 12 months ago. The busiest year was 2021, with 18 episodes published. Published by Al Wadleigh, Feldenkrais Practitioner and Donna Ray, Feldenkrais Trainer.
From the publisher
In each episode, we discuss ideas and experiences about the Feldenkrais Method. You will learn skills that move you from pain to comfort, anxiety to ease, explore learning and spark creativity. Check it out! You will like what you hear.
Latest Episodes
View all 47 episodes
S6 Ep 7S6 E7: State Shifting – How Movement Changes Everything
State shifting is the art of transforming how we feel, think, and act. Al and Donna reveal how Feldenkrais lessons gently guide us from stress to calm, rigidity to fluidity, and hesitation to confident action. Key Takeaways: • State shifting is the ability to move between emotional states with ease. • Extended exhalation calms the nervous system and promotes neutrality. • Movement practices enhance emotional flexibility and resilience. Resources Mentioned: For guided lessons, visit AchievingExcellence.com and DonnaRay.com. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and explore Feldenkrais lessons at FeldenkraiforLife.com
S6 Ep 6S6 E6: Narrative Integration – Reclaiming Your Personal Story
How do the stories we tell ourselves shape our lives? In this episode, Al and Donna explore how the Feldenkrais Method can help reshape personal narratives, moving from limiting beliefs to empowering self-images. Key Takeaways: • Our self-narrative influences confidence, creativity, and resilience. • Challenging limiting narratives opens doors to personal growth. • Feldenkrais practices support positive self-image transformation. Resources Mentioned: For guided lessons, visit AchievingExcellence.com and DonnaRay.com. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and explore Feldenkrais lessons at FeldenkraiforLife.com
S6 Ep 5S6E5 Memory Integration – Rewriting the Stories We Hold
Donna and Al discuss the fascinating world of memory, including how implicit and explicit memories shape our experiences. They reveal how Feldenkrais lessons can soften the grip of old patterns while cultivating new, positive self-perceptions. Key Takeaways: • Implicit memories from early life shape our unconscious habits. • State influences how we recall past experiences calm states recall positive memories. • Feldenkrais lessons help rewrite unhelpful memories by changing movement patterns. Resources Mentioned: For guided lessons, visit AchievingExcellence.com and DonnaRay.com. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and explore Feldenkrais lessons at FeldenkraiforLife.com
S6 Ep 4S6 E4: Vertical Integration – Connecting Mind, Body, and Self
In this episode, Al and Donna explore vertical integration, the seamless connection between body, brain, and self. They discuss how Feldenkrais practices cultivate this integration, fostering a more embodied and responsive way of being. Key Takeaways: • Vertical integration links sensory input, emotional processing, and conscious thought. • Feeling the whole self improves coordination, clarity, and resilience. • Body scans and mindful movement are effective practices for vertical integration. Resources Mentioned: For guided lessons, visit AchievingExcellence.com and DonnaRay.com. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and explore Feldenkrais lessons at FeldenkraiforLife.com
S6 E3: Lateral Integration – Balancing the Brain and Body
This episode dives into the concept of lateral integration, emphasizing how the Feldenkrais Method fosters communication between the brain's left and right hemispheres. Al and Donna share how balanced hemispheric integration supports clarity, creativity, and emotional well-being. Key Takeaways: • The right hemisphere handles holistic awareness, while the left focuses on details. • Bilateral integration fosters clarity, creativity, and emotional well-being. • Eye movements can quickly shift perspective and calm the nervous system. Resources Mentioned: For guided lessons, visit AchievingExcellence.com and DonnaRay.com. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and explore Feldenkrais lessons at FeldenkraiforLife.com
S6 Ep 2S6E2 The Spectrum of Integration – Finding Flow in Life
Al and Donna explore how habits shape our movement, self-image, and overall well-being. They discuss how the Feldenkrais Method offers practical strategies for breaking unhelpful patterns and forming new habits that align with personal values and motivations. Key Takeaways: • Integration involves smooth coordination between movement, emotion, and thought. • Recognizing early signs of disintegration allows for timely self-regulation. • Self-awareness is key to returning to balance and flow. Resources Mentioned: For guided lessons, visit AchievingExcellence.com and DonnaRay.com. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and explore Feldenkrais lessons at FeldenkraiforLife.com
S6 Ep 1S6-E1: Transforming Habits for a Healthier Self
S5 Ep 6S5 E6 - Exploring Your Body Budget
What can interoception, body scanning, and proprioception reveal about your overall "body budget"? We try a left eye awareness lesson as an example. Visit https://AchievingExcellence.com and https://DonnaRay.com to learn more about Donna and Al and to explore our class and product offerings. Visit the show website: https://FeldenkraisforLife.com.
S5 Ep 5S5 E5 - The Use of Will Power
When should we use willpower versus effortless flow in practicing movement? We explore how willpower decreases as ability increases and how too much willful effort gets in our way. Visit https://AchievingExcellence.com and https://DonnaRay.com to learn more about Donna and Al and to explore our class and product offerings. Visit the show website: https://FeldenkraisforLife.com.
S5 Ep 4S5 E4 - Finding Harmony in Movement
Mindful movement can create greater harmony between the voluntary and autonomic nervous systems. We discuss this important brain-body connection for wellbeing. Visit https://AchievingExcellence.com and https://DonnaRay.com to learn more about Donna and Al and to explore our class and product offerings. Visit the show website: https://FeldenkraisforLife.com.
S5 Ep 3S5 E3 - Q&A: Yoga, Emotions, Stretching
Answering listener questions on topics like yoga, emotional release in practice, and why we don't stretch in the Feldenkrais Method®. Visit https://AchievingExcellence.com and https://DonnaRay.com to learn more about Donna and Al and to explore our class and product offerings. Visit the show website: https://FeldenkraisforLife.com.
S5 Ep 2S5 E2 - Creative Thinking: Convergent vs Divergent
How do convergent and divergent styles of thinking relate to creativity? We explore how Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement lessons can stimulate flexible, creative problem-solving. Visit https://AchievingExcellence.com and https://DonnaRay.com to learn more about Donna and Al and to explore our class and product offerings. Visit the show website: https://FeldenkraisforLife.com.
S5 Ep 1S5 E1 - Building Confidence and Resilience
As our physical abilities improve through practice, so does our confidence to meet life's challenges. We discuss how the Feldenkrais Method can cultivate resilience for aging well. Visit https://AchievingExcellence.com and https://DonnaRay.com to learn more about Donna and Al and to explore our class and product offerings. Visit the show website: https://FeldenkraisforLife.com.
S4 Ep 8S4 E8 The Sacred Sacrum and the Pelvis
Ancient civilizations often referred to the sacrum as the "holy bone." We discuss the "holy bone," the social impact of our self-image and the pelvis, and the birthing process. Visit: https://AchievingExcellence.com and https://DonnaRay.com to learn more about Donna and Al and to explore our class and product offerings.
S4 Ep 7S4 E7 Four Criteria for Coordinated Well-Learned Action
In his book, The Potent Self, Dr. Feldenkrais puts forward four criteria for coordinated, well-learned action: the absence of effort, the absence of resistance, the presence of reversibility, and breathing and posture. We discuss each of these with examples. Visit: https://AchievingExcellence.com and https://DonnaRay.com to learn more about Donna and Al and to explore our class and product offerings.
S4 Ep 6S4 E6 Cross-Motivation
Cross-motivation is when we enact more than one motivation at the same time. By becoming aware of our cross-motivations and sorting out our intentions so we are acting in a mono-motivated way, we use less energy, feel better, and get more done in our lives. Visit: https://AchievingExcellence.com and https://DonnaRay.com to learn more about Donna and Al and to explore our class and product offerings.
S4 Ep 5S4 E5 Trauma
We discuss trauma resolution from the perspective of psychotherapy and the Feldenkrais Method. Visit: https://AchievingExcellence.com and https://DonnaRay.com to learn more about Donna and Al and to explore our class and product offerings.
S4 Ep 4S4 E4 Errors Mistakes and Correctness
We discuss how mistakes are essential to learning. Hear a story about how a music teacher encouraged a little girl to make mistakes to help her learn; and how trying to do something correctly limits our success. Visit: https://AchievingExcellence.com and https://DonnaRay.com to learn more about Donna and Al and to explore our class and product offerings.
S4 Ep 3S4 E3 Going Slowly
We discuss why we move slowly when doing Feldenkrais lessons. And how essential that is for learning. Experience the difference between going quickly and going slow. Visit: https://AchievingExcellence.com and https://DonnaRay.com to learn more about Donna and Al and to explore our class and product offerings.
S4 Ep 2S4 E2 Going to the Border
Working within your range of comfort, Exploring variations at the border of ability, discovering a greater capacity, Doing too much, Involving more of yourself Visit: https://AchievingExcellence.com and https://DonnaRay.com to learn more about Donna and Al and to explore our class and product offerings.