Anat Baniel NeuroMovement®
Serving Children with Special Needs
& their Parents / Caregivers
since 1994
Transformational Anat Baniel NeuroMovement ® Lessons
⦿ Focused 4/12® Programs for Children
⦿ Foundations of Experiential Movement® Seminars for Parents/Caregivers
⦿ Professional Supervision Intensives & Enrichment Seminars for Practitioners
About Anat Baniel NeuroMovement®
☞ What is NeuroMovement?
The Anat Baniel Method of NeuroMovement® is a non-medical, learning-based approach to both child development and adult health and vitality. NeuroMovement utilizes the latest scientific understanding of how the brain learns through movement and awareness of the self. The Practitioner uses gentle movement and directed attention to enhance the client's functioning in daily living. Movement sequences ("Lessons") bring attention to the parts of the self that are out of awareness and held in habitual neuromuscular patterns.
Children with developmental challenges begin to fill in experiential gaps and shift into the best possible developmental trajectory. Adults increase their ease and range of motion, reduce pain and improve function, enhance flexibility and coordination, and rediscover the innate capacity for graceful, efficient, and comfortable movement.
Children with developmental challenges begin to fill in experiential gaps and shift into the best possible developmental trajectory. Adults increase their ease and range of motion, reduce pain and improve function, enhance flexibility and coordination, and rediscover the innate capacity for graceful, efficient, and comfortable movement.
☞ What Is a NeuroMovement Lesson?
Anat Baniel Method NeuroMovement® Lessons are not like any other therapy, exercise system, or routine. These Lessons have been developed to better organize the brain and form new patterns of feeling, thought, and action. Through these Lessons you or your child will create new skills and improve on existing ones.
Each Lesson is different, structured with many movement variations to create a developmental-learning process that leads to rapid changes and improvements. Through these Lessons, you or your child will become stronger and more flexible, more awake, more aware, and more prepared to meet life's challenges.
Each Lesson is different, structured with many movement variations to create a developmental-learning process that leads to rapid changes and improvements. Through these Lessons, you or your child will become stronger and more flexible, more awake, more aware, and more prepared to meet life's challenges.
☞ Who Are Moshe Feldenkrais and Anat Baniel?
Anat Baniel worked many years as a teacher and trainer with Dr. Feldenkrais. Her Anat Baniel Method of NeuroMovement® extends and evolves the Feldenkrais Method to include the latest scientific understanding of how the brain learns through movement and awareness of the self. Anat is the author of Kids Beyond Limits.
NeuroMovement For Children:
☞ How Does NeuroMovement Help Children?
The child’s brain is almost always available for potent learning, regardless of the developmental challenge or diagnosis. The Anat Baniel Method for Children is based on the understanding that many diseases and disorders of childhood interrupt the normal conversation that needs to take place between the child's brain and the world around it.
It is often possible to get that conversation started in gentle ways that directly communicate with the nervous system of the child, primarily through movement and kinesthetic experiences. Through this process, developmental gaps caused by various conditions and traumas get filled in.
It is often possible to get that conversation started in gentle ways that directly communicate with the nervous system of the child, primarily through movement and kinesthetic experiences. Through this process, developmental gaps caused by various conditions and traumas get filled in.
☞ Can NeuroMovement Address My Child's Condition?
The learning process set in motion by ABM NeuroMovement Lessons is helpful for a host of unspecified, undiagnosed developmental issues. It can also benefit children with such diverse challenges as: Cerebral Palsy, stroke, other kinds of brain injury and brain damage, congenital heart problems, Brachial Plexus injury, scoliosis, ADHD, autism spectrum, and genetic disorders such as Fragile X and Down's Syndrome.
Whether or not your child has a specific diagnosis, it is important to address challenges promptly to help your child get on the best possible developmental trajectory. Normal child development is a progression of learning; the brain must know certain things before subsequent development can occur. ABM NeuroMovement Lessons can play a key role in this learning process, regardless of your child’s situation.
Whether or not your child has a specific diagnosis, it is important to address challenges promptly to help your child get on the best possible developmental trajectory. Normal child development is a progression of learning; the brain must know certain things before subsequent development can occur. ABM NeuroMovement Lessons can play a key role in this learning process, regardless of your child’s situation.
☞ How Will You Work With My Child?
The brain does not learn through repetition alone, and does not respond positively to being forced. Thus ABM NeuroMovement stresses the distinction between "making" and "evoking." If your child cannot roll or crawl, sit up, stand on all fours, or stand up by himself, we will not try to force him into these positions or into repetitive motions.
Instead, we will engage the child in a gentle movement process that provides the brain with the conditions and information required to attain the different skills and developmental milestones. Through this process the child gains the missing elements upon which the skills are built, and can then spontaneously learn to do what he or she couldn’t do before.
Instead, we will engage the child in a gentle movement process that provides the brain with the conditions and information required to attain the different skills and developmental milestones. Through this process the child gains the missing elements upon which the skills are built, and can then spontaneously learn to do what he or she couldn’t do before.
☞ NeuroMovement Lessons For Children With Special Needs
When working with your child, I invite you to watch and participate in the lessons, which we schedule according to your child's needs. I suggest at least two lessons in one day to maximize learning. For greatest benefit, consider a Focused 4/12 Program, in which your child receives 12 shorter lessons over the course of 4 days. As appropriate, I will assist you with information and tools for moving with your child between appointments. The more we embody NeuroMovement principles ourselves, the better we can support our children.
☞ What is a Focused 4/12® Program?
Over the years I have found that many children thrive with short yet focused and frequent lessons over several days. For parents traveling distances, or who simply want to optimize outcomes from their child’s visit, I originated a powerful option for my clients coming to Sebastopol, California: The Focused 4/12® Program. Over 4 consecutive days your child will receive 12 shorter lessons, 3 lessons per day, giving the child ample time for learning and change. Ask me about the possible accelerated benefits for your child of such focused work.
Seminars for Parents, Caregivers, and Practitioners:
☞ Please visit me at www.NeuroHorizons.world for all seminar information
About Sylvia:
☞ My Background and Passion
⦿ Former trainer and senior practitioner at the Anat Baniel Center, California (2009-2016)
⦿ Originator of the NeuroHorizons® Experiential Learning Programs
⦿ Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner® (1994)
⦿ Certified Anat Baniel Method NeuroMovement® Practitioner (2002)
⦿ ABM Mastery Certifications for Children with Special Needs℠, Aging and Vitality℠, and High Performers℠
⦿ Private Practice since 1994
I studied under Anat Baniel from 1990-1994 to become a Feldenkrais Practitioner. I subsequently completed three mastery certification programs with Anat to qualify for working with: (1) Infants and Children with Special Needs; (2) Aging and Vitality; and (3) High Performers (e.g. athletes, musicians, dancers, executives, etc).
I have practiced and taught the Feldenkrais Method (since 1994) and the Anat Baniel Method (since 2002), working internationally with hundreds of clients of all ages and needs. For seven years I was a senior practitioner at the Anat Baniel Center in San Rafael, California. I also served as a Trainer at the Anat Baniel Method professional trainings.
My prior foundation in anatomy, physiology, pathology and health began with my professional study of the healing arts at the IAT Holistic Institut of Düsseldorf. In 1989 I graduated with credentials in medical massage, lymphatic drainage, and reflexology from schools in Munich and Duisburg, followed by a year of clinical work in a Bavarian hospital.
There is a special, passionate place in my heart for children, particularly Children with Special Needs. I work daily with these children and their families, addressing issues as diverse as Cerebral Palsy, stroke, other kinds of brain injury and brain damage, congenital heart problems, Brachial Plexus injury, scoliosis, ADHD, autism spectrum, and genetic disorders such as Fragile X and Down's Syndrome.
And yes, I still love helping my adult clients explore new ways of moving and thinking to enhance their daily well-being and vitality!
☞ Some Client Reviews
"Sylvia, you have made the impossible possible for my son with CP. At age eleven he started walking for the first time after your Focused 4/12 lessons! Your devotion, kindness, heart, generosity and skill is unmatched by any other ABM/NeuroMovement practitioner we have ever worked with. Thank you for your mastery!” Jane Marie Hogan
"This Focused 4/12 was the best intensive my daughter has ever had! She is like a new person, with more control and confidence in her body, more balanced walking, faster on her feet, and overall more deliberateness and assurance in her movement. Thank you Sylvia!” Jennifer Stacks
"Sylvia has worked intensively with my son, who is diagnosed with several disorders and impairments. Through Sylvia’s expertise and proficiency he has been able to learn new skills and use his body more effectively. Sylvia's true dedication and level of commitment, enthusiasm, and fortitude is unmatched." Stephanie Goley, Education Specialist
"My teenager faces complex challenges, and will not be the poster child for a ‘miracle’ change during the initial lessons. Sylvia has the commitment, dedication, and skill to meet her personality, and to discern and match her needs. I am so grateful for Sylvia's insights and perseverance to guide her to better connect with her body, even when the going is slow and demanding.” Ivana Gadient
"At close to 18 months old my daughter was stiff and still not walking. She had no official diagnosis, but was behind in her gross motor skills. After only a few sessions with Sylvia my daughter took a few steps, and within a few weeks she was walking more and more. It helped her whole body especially through her neck, back, and chest -- she was much more flexible. A few months later she is now running and dancing!" Marie Torre
"My two-year old daughter had a very serious problem eliminating. We had tried many things with no luck. The results from a lesson with Sylvia were almost instantaneous; she began changing her pattern within a day." Moya K. Mitchell, Education Specialist
"I brought my son to Sylvia for help with his gross motor skills. I was amazed that after the first few lessons with Sylvia he started crawling, and after a second set of lessons two months later he started taking steps. Sylvia has a wonderful manner. She understands children and clearly enjoys working with them." Zoey Fernandez, Kindergarten Teacher
"Sylvia is one of the most focused, skilled, and effective movement practitioners I have worked with in my 30 years of clinical practice. In her private sessions and classes I have seen Sylvia help a wide variety of children, adults, and high-performers regain (or learn) normal function and live with more ease and grace. Her techniques are comfortable, effective, and even pleasurable." Eddie Rosen, Physical Therapist
"This Focused 4/12 was the best intensive my daughter has ever had! She is like a new person, with more control and confidence in her body, more balanced walking, faster on her feet, and overall more deliberateness and assurance in her movement. Thank you Sylvia!” Jennifer Stacks
"Sylvia has worked intensively with my son, who is diagnosed with several disorders and impairments. Through Sylvia’s expertise and proficiency he has been able to learn new skills and use his body more effectively. Sylvia's true dedication and level of commitment, enthusiasm, and fortitude is unmatched." Stephanie Goley, Education Specialist
"My teenager faces complex challenges, and will not be the poster child for a ‘miracle’ change during the initial lessons. Sylvia has the commitment, dedication, and skill to meet her personality, and to discern and match her needs. I am so grateful for Sylvia's insights and perseverance to guide her to better connect with her body, even when the going is slow and demanding.” Ivana Gadient
"At close to 18 months old my daughter was stiff and still not walking. She had no official diagnosis, but was behind in her gross motor skills. After only a few sessions with Sylvia my daughter took a few steps, and within a few weeks she was walking more and more. It helped her whole body especially through her neck, back, and chest -- she was much more flexible. A few months later she is now running and dancing!" Marie Torre
"My two-year old daughter had a very serious problem eliminating. We had tried many things with no luck. The results from a lesson with Sylvia were almost instantaneous; she began changing her pattern within a day." Moya K. Mitchell, Education Specialist
"I brought my son to Sylvia for help with his gross motor skills. I was amazed that after the first few lessons with Sylvia he started crawling, and after a second set of lessons two months later he started taking steps. Sylvia has a wonderful manner. She understands children and clearly enjoys working with them." Zoey Fernandez, Kindergarten Teacher
"Sylvia is one of the most focused, skilled, and effective movement practitioners I have worked with in my 30 years of clinical practice. In her private sessions and classes I have seen Sylvia help a wide variety of children, adults, and high-performers regain (or learn) normal function and live with more ease and grace. Her techniques are comfortable, effective, and even pleasurable." Eddie Rosen, Physical Therapist
☞ 2019 Schedule
Individual Lessons (Focused 4/12® Programs available only in Sebastopol, CA):
Sebastopol, CA
Überlingen, Germany
Mallorca, Spain
St. Aegyd, Austria
Sebastopol, CA
Überlingen, Germany
Mallorca, Spain
St. Aegyd, Austria
Individual Lessons for children participants in Professional Supervision Intensives:
Boulder, CO
Mallorca, Spain
Maui, HI
Portland, OR
Ravensburg, Germany
San Diego, CA
Santa Cruz, CA
Seattle, WA
Sebastopol, CA
Boulder, CO
Mallorca, Spain
Maui, HI
Portland, OR
Ravensburg, Germany
San Diego, CA
Santa Cruz, CA
Seattle, WA
Sebastopol, CA
Schedule Lessons with Sylvia:
☞ Schedule Lessons
For a worldwide listing of certified NeuroMovement® professionals
serving Children with Special Needs,
please visit www.NeuroConnect.world
Focused 4/12®, NeuroHorizons®, Experiential Movement®, and A Child's Neural Map is Not the Territory® are registered trademarks of Sylvia Shordike.
Anat Baniel Method® and NeuroMovement® are registered trademarks of Movement Coordination Learning, Inc. DBA Anat Baniel Method Corporation.
All text and photos © 2007 - 2018 Sylvia Shordike