Question 1

What can I expect during the first appointment?

Accepted Answer

The first appointment will last for around one hour and will be similar to an assessment.  I will spend that time connecting with you/your child, observing your/your child's movement, asking you questions so as to understand you/your child better and the appointment will include a Functional Synthesis Lesson.  If you decide to continue with more lessons, we can discuss an appropriate plan and schedule for lessons going forward.

Question 2

How long are the lessons? What should I wear?

Accepted Answer

One-on-one lessons are generally 35-45 minutes long and vary depending on an individual client's needs.  Group lessons are around 45-60 minutes long.  Please dress in loose, comfortable clothing. Long trousers (not jeans) are preferred and please bring a pair of clean socks to wear during the lesson.

Question 3

What is an intensive?

Accepted Answer

An intensive is a series of lessons done in a short period of time. This will vary depending on the client's needs but for children, it will typically consist of two lessons a day over the course of five days.  After the intensive, a student will typically continue to integrate the lessons in the days/weeks that follow so we would take a break and meet again after a period of a few weeks for another intensive. This work is more effective when practiced in this manner as it allows the student to be immersed in the process and keep building on the previous lessons.

Question 4

What outcomes can I expect?

Accepted Answer

Every person is different and every brain is different so it is difficult to predict specific outcomes in a specific timeframe but adults have reported experiencing improved mobility, flexibility and stability.  Other outcomes include the easing of chronic pain, breathing more freely, better sleep, and greater mental clarity.  Children may achieve milestones such as rolling over, crawling, cruising and walking for the first time.  Parents have also reported noticing an increased level of affection, reduced spasticity, a new level of calmness, improved speech, muscle tone, hand-eye coordination, social skills etc.

Question 5

Can NeuroMovement® cure my child's condition?

Accepted Answer

NeuroMovement® is not a cure; it is an experiential learning process that can improve awareness and function. Combined with The Nine Essentials, they provide you/your child with favourable conditions for continued learning, development and improvement over time.

Question 6

How can my child learn to balance?

Accepted Answer

Balance is not something that any of us can pull out of our pocket and give to someone else.  Learning how to balance involves a person’s brain waking up to where the body is in space and learning how to self-correct and adjust under various conditions to keep that person upright.  NeuroMovement® and the Nine Essentials create safe and favourable conditions to bring about positive changes such as improved balance and coordination for both children and adults.

Question 7

How is it that this method can be effective for both children and adults?

Accepted Answer

Although there are some differences in how each type of lesson would proceed, working with children and adults is fundamentally the same because the focus is on using movement and The Nine Essentials to tap into the brain's power to change and learn at any age.

Question 8

My child cannot stand or walk independently. Can this method help?

Accepted Answer

Yes, this method can help.  Children who cannot sit, stand or walk independently will often be propped up in sitting, placed in a stander, or walked around with support in the hope that this will help them learn how to do these things by themselves.  However, this approach overlooks the fundamental role that the brain plays in learning and developing new skills, and the cumulative learning involved in the process of development.  Walking is a complex action made up of many smaller components.  Rather than jumping ahead to the final goal, NeuroMovement® meets your child where they currently are and using the Nine Essentials, creates favourable conditions to support them in their process of development.

Question 9

How can this method help my child who is on the Autism Spectrum?

Accepted Answer

Children on the autism spectrum often have difficulties with social connection, verbal and nonverbal communication, repetitive behaviour, cognitive/ learning challenges and motor coordination.  By helping your child to increase awareness and control over their own body and enhance their ability to perceive subtle differences in what they see, hear and feel, this Method can help your child on the autism spectrum make better sense of themselves, their experiences and the world around them.

Question 10

Can this method help to reduce spasticity/ stiffness?  I am stretching my/ my child’s limbs on a daily basis but I have not seen any improvement.

Accepted Answer

Yes, this method can help. It involves a very different approach towards spasticity, stiffness or chronic muscle contractions as the cause and the solution are believed to lie in the brain.  Rather than begin with stretching or trying to forcefully mobilise a leg, foot, arm or hand, our approach would be to take a step back and acknowledge that our body parts do not function in isolation.  We look to enhance the relationships between the different parts of the body to allow new function to emerge.  We start with the organisation of the center of the body.  By increasing differentiation around the pelvis, spine, ribs, shoulders, sternum, and increasing awareness of the relationships between the limbs and the center of the body, new neural connections are formed and new opportunities open up for improved mobility and function.

Question 11

My child often has meltdowns and I don't know what to do.  Can this method help him?

Accepted Answer

When a child is having a meltdown, it is a common reaction for a caregiver to tell them to calm down or stop doing what they are doing such as crying or screaming or even throwing things.  This is our way of trying to "fix" or quickly put an end to the situation.  In certain circumstances, this will be important for example when the child's safety is concerned in which case one must act quickly and take charge of the situation to keep the child safe.   When a child is unable to self-regulate and there is no urgency or danger, another approach would be to meet the child where they are and use The Nine Essentials to connect with them through touch, bringing their awareness to what it is that they are doing, and introducing variation to enhance the brain's ability to perceive a difference.

Question 12

Would this method be helpful for a child with poor handwriting?

Accepted Answer

Yes, this method could help.  Repetitive exercises used to strengthen the hands and fingers may not always help to improve one's handwriting as the hands and fingers do not function in isolation.  When we take a step back and look at the bigger picture, it makes sense that other parts of the body such as the wrist, arm, shoulder, ribs, spine, pelvis, eyes and the brain are also involved in the action we call writing.  By increasing differentiation in these related parts of the body, and increasing awareness of the relationship between these parts, one can gain more options for improved function.

Question 13

My child has special educational needs and requires learning support. Can this method help?

Accepted Answer

NeuroMovement® and the Nine Essentials provide favourable conditions which can be helpful for children with special educational needs to progress.  This includes children with autism, ADHD, and other learning difficulties who are often labelled as hyperactive, lazy, difficult or badly behaved.  It can also be helpful for students who struggle with poor handwriting, spelling, concentration, or being able to sit comfortably for an extended period of time.

Question 14

How can this method help someone who is recovering after a stroke?

Accepted Answer

We offer a holistic approach to those recovering after a stroke by guiding them through the process of feeling, sensing, and reconnecting with their body in a safe and comfortable way.  By using gentle, mindful, movement variations and the Nine Essentials to enhance the connection between the brain and the body, and the connection between the different parts of the body, greater possibilities open up to relearn daily tasks, improve mobility, reduce chronic pain, and regain daily function.  Even those who have reached a plateau following conventional therapy may find themselves once again immersed in the learning process and experiencing improved physical and cognitive function.

Question 15

Why do you incorporate movements of the eyes in the lessons?

Accepted Answer

Our eyesight plays an important part in what we do and how we function, however, our eyes are involved in much more than helping us see. The eyes are connected to the brain and other senses and very much involved in how we perceive and relate to the world around us.  A child or adult with brain injury or a neurological condition may have good eyesight and be able to see, however, they may have difficulty processing that visual information, which can cause challenges in a number of other areas.

An important function of the visual system is to organise the body for movement.  Our eyes usually lead our movements and actions, as we will look in the direction that we want to move in or at a task at hand, before proceeding.  For the eyes to move with ease and precision, the movement of the eyes must be effectively coordinated with the movement of the head, neck, shoulders, ribs, spine, and pelvis.  By coordinating the movement of the eyes and the body, this creates favourable conditions for improved organisation and function.  Examples of possible outcomes may include improved eye contact, tracking, hand-eye coordination, ability to focus and also reduced tension in the neck and shoulders, enhanced body awareness, spatial awareness, and balance.

Question 16

Who is Anat Baniel?

Accepted Answer

Anat Baniel is a clinical psychologist and dancer who trained under Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais (founder of the Feldenkrais Method®) and worked closely with him for many years. Recognising Anat's natural connection to his clients who were children with special needs, Dr Feldenkrais referred many of these children to work directly with her. It was with these children that Anat found her passion, developing an unmatched level of expertise in using movement to bring about changes in physical and cognitive performance.  Anat has transformed thousands of lives over more than thirty years and developed the Anat Baniel Method® NeuroMovement®  which is based on The Nine Essentials, her core principles that tap into the brain's enormous potential for change.

Frequently Asked Questions