You can experience the Feldenkrais Method in two ways.

Awareness Through Movement® lessons are taught in a group setting, with students following the verbal instructions of the teacher. Dave teaches these lesson online (both live on Zoom as well as pre-recorded, see courses). In person group classes are held at Balance Fitness in Wellington, and worldwide at DTM clinics. 

In-person privates

Functional Integration® sessions are one on one lessons where the fully clothed student is guided through touch, movement and verbal instruction. 

What to expect:

Expect the feeling of "walking on air" immediately following a session, and of course good rides.

Feldenkrais sessions are known as lessons, as it is movement education, through words or touch.

The lessons will  arm you with the tools to be the best version of yourself— protecting your back, restoring your youthful uprightness, improving your suppleness, and elevating your overall riding skills.

For all riders— from improving your suppleness, ability to sit deeper, remain upright, and effectiveness of getting those hind legs under, and your horse beautifully uphill. This while improving the subtlety and beauty of your position and aids. The changes occur on a neurological level, as close as possible to going back in time and gifting yourself priceless lunge lessons as a child! 

An added bonus, you will learn how posture and emotion go hand in hand, therefore you will likely experience freedom from  tension and anxiety. This is crucial for every rider.

The Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education uses gentle movement and directed attention to help people learn new and more effective ways of living the life they want. You can increase your ease and range of motion, improve your flexibility and coordination, and rediscover your innate capacity for graceful, efficient movement. Since how you move is how you move through life, these improvements will often enhance your thinking, emotional regulation, and problem-solving capabilities.

The Feldenkrais Method is based on principles of physics, biomechanics, and an empirical understanding of learning and human development. Moshe Feldenkrais said, “We move according to our perceived self-image.” By expanding your perception and increasing awareness, you will become more aware of your habits and tensions and develop new ways of moving. By increasing sensitivity, the Feldenkrais Method assists you to live your life more fully, efficiently, and comfortably.

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To achieve optimal alignment goals and ride in harmony with our equine partners, we as riders must learn where in our bodies we can let go, therefore becoming more supple and fluid. Equally important is learning where in our bodies we require the appropriate degree of muscle tone so that our aids are most effective.

“What is riding, if you are not truly connected to your own body and that of your horse.” —Live Bonnie

Not initially invented for riding, but it may just be a perfect match for  riders:

The Feldenkrais Method^® uses gentle movement and directed attention to help people learn new and more effective ways of living the life they want. This is applicable to those that are experiencing chronic pain, limited mobility or even top level athletes wishing to become even better!

You can increase your ease and range of motion, improve your flexibility and coordination, and rediscover your innate capacity for graceful, youthful and efficient movement.

Not every riding issue can be fixed with more riding ... And if you have pain, balance or fear related issues, the Feldenkrais Method can help. 

Many riders of various levels have achieved their ideal seat and also removed unnecessary stress, pain, and body tension through Dave Thind’s help. Riders can expand their proprioception, increasing their awareness of old habits and body patterns. This helps to reset, reboot and allow the nervous system to choose more optimal ways of moving by presenting options while doing the exercises.

By doing slow-motion exercises (Awareness Through Movement),  or with hands-on tactile information you learn “feel,” and quite frankly, the elusive obvious that most people miss out on during their entire riding careers. "When you know what you're doing, you can do what you want."

These unmounted exercises can also enhance your riding and help you avoid repetitive stress injuries. Even though we are calling these “exercises,” the ultimate goal is not necessarily increasing fitness, but refining our suppleness and feeling.

There are a multitude of reasons of why we would want to incorporate movement exercises such as DTM depending on age, goals and physical fitness.

“A smooth sitting rider who is swinging into the horses’ movements is a horseman/horsewoman. This is important for the welfare of the horse. The better the rider’s position, the happier the horse—and Dave helps his clients achieve good positions.” —Christoph Hess, German F.N. Educational Ambassador.

Truly coming together with your horse "What if you could move your body exactly as intended by nature—with economy and ease as well as with mental awareness and clarity?

More info?

Dressage Today article Unlock Your Riding Potential with Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement®

Dressage Today article Improve your seat and say goodbye to hip and lower back pain with this advice from equestrian biomechanics specialist Dave Thind and American team rider Charlotte Jorst

New York Times article Trying the Feldenkrais Method for Chronic Pain

Washington Post article A different way to relieve years of back pain

Feldenkrais Guild article A new definition of Strength

Feldenkrais UK  article Sports performance, how Feldenkrais helps. When we hit a difficulty, a ceiling, a plateau, a recurring injury pattern what do we do?

Dr. Mercedes Von Deck Orthopedic Surgeon and Feldenkrais Practitioner: Relieving Back Pain: How Can the Feldenkrais Method® Help?

Video: Feldenkrais Functional Integration Demo

Video: Functional Integration Demo - Reduce Back Pain & Improve Turning

Video: Advanced Feldenkrais hands-on (Functional Integration) demo