Specializing in Teaching Pain-free Pleasurable Movement
“Cynthia is a magnificent teacher. I feel so lucky to have crossed paths with her.” L.V., Portland OR
Cynthia Birney is a movement specialist with extensive experience providing healing for chronic and acute pain. Her life long practice in movement improvement and enrichment has included helping those in chronic and acute pain, individuals suffering from balance challenges, people with various neurological impairments, as well as accident & trauma survivors, and dancers, performers, athletes & musicians.
Cynthia’s gentle and potent work is of great benefit for a wide range of conditions, including sciatica, arthritis, balance challenges, fibromyalgia, frozen shoulder, whiplash, stenosis, plantar fasciitis, pain from accidents or surgeries, neurological conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, MS, Parkinsons, as well as PTSD pain.
There are many symptoms that can be effectively helped by Cynthia’s work, such as neck, shoulder and back pain; hip, knee and foot pain; hand and wrist pain; and any kind of chronic pain anywhere in the body. Other symptoms that respond to this work are often related to pain, such as fatigue, depression, balance issues and a reduction of enjoyment in daily activities.
Both private sessions and public lessons can offer immediate, beneficial changes for the student looking for relief from chronic or acute pain as well as improved posture and balance. Each kind of lesson, whether private or public or both, has its own potency in creating pain free, pleasurable movement.
The Feldenkrais Method® is a remarkable muscular-skeletal re-education that reduces or completely eliminates pain while creating a vibrant awareness of effective, pleasurable movement, sensing and thinking in our everyday lives. It is grounded in a deep understanding of neurophysiology, brain plasticity, the principles of physics and bio-mechanics, as well as empirical studies of learning and human development. The method is named after its originator, Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, D.Sc. (1904-1984), a renown physicist, judo expert, mechanical and electrical engineer, and educator.
This work activates the inherent intelligence of the body to shift toward deeply powerful, natural patterns of movement. The student effortlessly remembers lost or forgotten ways of moving and regains vibrancy of intention and action. The result is a reduction or complete elimination of pain, an increase in overall well-being, and a greater understanding of more effective and enjoyable possibilities for moving. Life opens up as greater awareness in sensing, feeling, thinking and moving become a gratifying part of daily activities.