"Intelligent brains are designed to avoid pain, achieve pleasure with the least amount
of trouble" -Michael Masterson, author.
"Pain no gain" and to do less is more.
Over the years I have listened to clients say "pain, no gain". I've also heard the saying while playing
sports. "Pain no gain" is a popular phrase.
"Pain, no gain" may have started during World War II, with our intense effort to defeat Japan and Germany.
Research in the area of exercise physiology also started at the same time. The theories of building
strength and the "overload principle" may have helped begin this phrase and thinking in our culture.
This type of thinking is in sports training, life, education, and work. We learn early to work hard for a job,
get good grades in school, etc. Hard work works so good most times.
So why have this discussion?
Because this discussion arises frequently in my group classes.
...If the logic is "pain, no gain"...then if you put your hand on a hot stove, do you leave it there? No. So
why strain and hurt if it isn't necessary?
I still see clients strain and hurt trying to accomplish a requests other clinician or myself gave them. Clients
come to physical therapy and frequently hurt afterwards. Clients commonly report that "pain increased
and they could not sleep the following night".
I wonder what is the logic and payoff of performing a task in life and hurting afterward, for hours, days or
months?
You may be trying to overcome neck pain or back pain. You may want to move easier, get out of bed
absent of stiffness, and do work around the house. Exercise hurts you. Walking is painful.
Moshe Feldenkrais theorized that we are built and wired for self protection and survival. He also said that
our brains are hard wired to move. So if you keep re-injuring yourself, you are challenging our self
protection mechanisms.
This method brings to the foreground awareness of how to learn to move and sense. You gain knowledge
of how to feel what is easy movement and what is challenging or painful. That is what we do during a class.
To me Moshe Feldenkrais thinking makes total sense, and follows the natural laws of nature. His thinking
is counter intuitive to the "pain, no gain" thinking. That makes this method at times elusive to people.
Much of his method is to do less is more.
10 years ago I joined the "pain, no gain" thinking like most people. But I am at a different place today.
Believe it or not, but I come from a background in physical therapy, exercise, and sports medicine and
strongly believe Dr. Feldenkrais' thinking.
So if and when you enroll in this method, you have been introduced to this topic of discussion.
The Anat Baniel Method(sm) and the Anat Baniel Method for Children(sm) are service marks of Anat
Baniel.
Feldenkrais®, and Feldenkrais® Practitioner are registered service marks of the FELDENKRAIS
GUILD® of North America.
This method is considered a learning approach, not medical treatment. If you are seeking medical advice,
consult with your physician.
"Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl
for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THATS relativity." -Albert Einstein
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