Anat Baniel on Flexibility + Vitality

Anat Baniel is known for the ANAT BANIEL METHOD, which is a system that helps people of all ages overcome pain and limitation and achieve lifetime fitness and vitality. Her method combines and integrates physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, using the remarkable capacity of the human brain to form new connections and patterns and reach levels of performance never achieved before.

Derived from the groundbreaking method developed by Dr. Feldenkrais, the ABM is based on cutting-edge scientific theory and on the understanding of how our brain learns and transforms our body, our mind and our spirit.  

She shared a few stories with us how she has used this method to help dancers and others over the years overcome pain and help people move their bodies effortlessly.

A few of the core essentials include moving with intention and variation and having flexible goals.

Muscles are built to contract and decontract and often, the brain is sending a signal to contract at the wrong time. She said to the TEDxBerkeley crowd last weekend, "we have to change the pattern of movement, move with intention, then go slow, reduce force, and finally pull a bit back from the goal. We can use them daily to transform the way our muscles react and move 'for us.'

Anat asked the entire group of nearly 1,400 people to get up, stretch and then reach our toes with a slight bend of knees. She asked us to do it again after rounding our back and stretching while leaning up against our chairs, and then do it again. The result? A much more fluid and smooth experience, without tightness and without pain. You can visit her site for more information on her methodology and workshops.