Please help me continue with my Feldenkrais Education

Dear Feldenkrais community,

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Cecilia, and I am from Argentina, though I have been living in Austria since 2020. My background is deeply rooted in movement education and holistic wellness. Throughout my journey, I have witnessed the transformative power of movement-based modalities in enhancing physical, emotional, and mental well-being. My encounters with the Feldenkrais Method have had a profound impact on me, sparking a deep passion to explore its principles and applications further.

With a heartfelt longing to immerse myself in the study of the Feldenkrais Method, I applied to a Foundation that could potentially support my Feldenkrais education. Trusting that their scholarship would work out, I enrolled in the four-year Feldenkrais Training program, which began in November 2023 at the Feldenkrais Institute in Vienna (https://www.feldenkraisinstitut.at/english). A few months after starting the Training, however, I received notification from the Foundation saying that, unfortunately, they did not have funds to support my education.

Despite this challenge, my commitment to continuous learning and professional growth drove me to seek alternative ways to pursue my Feldenkrais education. In addition to the 25% scholarship generously offered by the Feldenkrais Institute, I launched this funding campaign to secure the additional financial support needed. Thanks to the incredible kindness of those who donated to the campaign, spread the word, and supported me directly through personal contributions outside the campaign, I am thrilled to share that I have successfully completed the first year and a half of the training!

Nevertheless, I continue to rely on the campaign—as well as the generosity of private donors—to pursue my education. If you are able to support me on this enriching journey, whether through a donation or by sharing the campaign within your network, please give me a hand.

Below, I’ve included more details about my educational and professional background, as well as the reasons behind my enthusiasm for studying the Feldenkrais Method.

Background

I have been practicing dance, bodywork methods, and yoga for over twenty-five years. Along my journey, I did a Bachelor Degree in Dance Performance at the National University of Arts (UNA, Argentina); I certified as a Kaladanda Yoga Teacher (a three-year training that I did in Argentina); and became an Inspired Anusara Yoga Teacher (a two-year training that I did in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and USA).

From 2007 till 2015, I worked as a full-time yoga teacher mostly in Argentina (taught regular classes in various settings: yoga studios, poor neighborhoods, prisons, schools, and yoga teacher trainings). In 2016, under the guidance of a Tibetan Buddhist Master named Tsoknyi Rinpoche, I moved to Nepal to study at Rangjung Yeshe Institute (RYI) – located in Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery and associated to Kathmandu University – where I completed a Bachelor Degree in Buddhist Philosophy and Himalayan Languages (with a Merit Scholarship granted by RYI), and a Tibetan Translation Program (that trains students to orally interpret from Tibetan to English language).

During the four years that I lived in Nepal, I continued teaching yoga and bodywork methods to a variety of audiences. However, my main focus at that time, was to study how the mind works through the lens of Buddhism; learn about meditation; and explore practical approaches to developing wisdom and compassion.

In 2020, upon falling deeply in love with an Austrian man, who I am grateful to now call my husband, I resolved to relocate to Austria, a country that holds a special place in my heart. Since then, I work as a full-time volunteer at Rangjung Yeshe Gomde Germany-Austria, an International Tibetan Buddhist Center for Meditation and Studies, located in Scharnstein (https://www.gomde.eu). Gomde is a place that supports people (Buddhist and non-Buddhists) to develop and fully embody unbiased loving-kindness, compassion and wisdom though training the mind. At Gomde I am teaching yoga and, more and more, I come to recognize how nurturing a healthy body can support one's spiritual connection, enhance vitality and growth. In other words, a healthy body can contribute to supporting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.

Why a Feldenkrais education?

Even though I am well-trained to lead bodywork sessions, I would love to further my knowledge and expertise by learning how to teach the Feldenkrais Method properly, with the guidance of experienced Feldenkrais practitioners. I am particularly drawn to the Feldenkrais Method's emphasis on somatic awareness, neuroplasticity, and gentle yet profound movement explorations. I firmly believe that by integrating these principles into my practice, I can better contribute to a more inclusive, compassionate approach to health and wellness.

Feldenkrais is the most accessible, healing, and functional movement-based method I ever encountered. It has the uniqueness of emphasizing gentle and easy movements that anyone can do; it offers a wide range of lessons and exercises that can be adapted to address various goals and interests; and it is suitable for individuals with varying levels of physical abilities, including elders, people recovering from injuries or managing chronic pain. In addition, the Feldenkrais Method is very effective in bringing forth body relaxation, elimination of inefficient movement habits and, overall, the experience of greater mobility, coordination, and awareness – which leads to enhancing everyday activities and movements, and improving the quality of one’s life.

I am confident that I possess the qualities and dedication necessary to progress in this learning journey. My educational background, practical experience, and unwavering enthusiasm for the Feldenkrais Method make me a focused and suitable vessel for learning the method properly. Moreover, I am committed to giving back to the Feldenkrais community by sharing my knowledge and experiences with others, thereby contributing to the collective growth and evolution of this discipline.

I am eager to immerse myself in the study of the Feldenkrais Method, to realize my full potential as a movement educator and advocate for holistic wellness. However, to progress my knowledge and expertise in the Feldenkrais Method, I need some financial support. All the money raised through this funding campaign will be used to continue with my Feldenkrais education and, as I become able to offer Feldenkrais lessons, it will result in many people connecting to and benefiting from the Feldenkrais Method.

If you can help me pursue further education in the Feldenkrais Method, please give me a hand. To the best of my capacity, I will repay your kindness by applying what I learned in service of other´s health and wellbeing.

Warm regards,

Cecilia Pla