The following is how a student of a Feldenkrais Training in Russia experienced Functional Integration sessions with me. It’s a wonderful description of what I consider the Feldenkrais one-on-one work to be. I could not have found such fitting words.

The student about her experiences as the client:
I’ll try to tell you in my own words what Functional Integration is for me after my session with Amona.

Dialogue between the two nervous systems (practice and client)

Practitioner:
I give you support, you can trust me completely and let go of control, I’m with you.

Client:
I don’t know, I don’t know. I’m just going to observe for now. I feel like you’re there for me, that you care about me. I want to trust, but for now, there are doubts.

Practitioner:
let’s see where you move easily. I’ll go with you, support you, accompany you, and make all your decisions.

Client:
Oh, come on. That’s a cool idea. I love walking with you. With you, I can finally relax because you’re there for me, you’re with me, you’re my friend, I can feel it. You don’t want to force anything on me, you don’t want me to be perfect, and you don’t want to fix me. Yay! I feel so good with you!

Practitioner:
I feel more trust from you, you’re more easily moved, more joyful, something, more free. Do you want to go that way? Look, are you interested?

Client:
Oh, yes! It’s interesting. It’s a little unusual, but it’s not scary with you. Ouch. And you know, I like it even better here. Why haven’t I come here before?

Practitioner:
look, here’s another option. And here’s another one. You can even combine them. How do you like it?

Client:
I like it. I didn’t even think you could get in here, too. I feel childlike joy and elation; it makes me want to fly.

Practitioner:
let’s go back to your familiar lifestyle, see if anything has changed there? There’s more freedom and joy in you now. Maybe in this state, the familiar path will open up new horizons.

Client:
Come on!!! Wow!!! Wow!!! How things have changed around here. The fear is gone, so many new pleasurable sensations here. I want to always experience this kind of ease with all the options and new options. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Practitioner:
now I’m going to stay with you a little longer, you can speed up or slow down a little more, and observe how you feel with the new experience. Are you comfortable with it?

Client:
oh yeah, I love it so much. It’s genius.

Practitioner:
Now I’ll leave you to observe the changes. How do you feel about the experience without me?

Client:
great! I’m jubilant! It’s like a holiday! I’ve learned so many new solutions and ways in an hour with you. I’m ready to move on on my own, but would love to get back to you if possible. After all, you always illuminate a new path for me and give me support. Thank you!!!

From anonymous.