ANAT BANIEL METHOD® NEUROMOVEMENT® / FELDENKRAIS® MOVEMENT LESSONS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDSAMERICAS EUROPE SPAIN GERMANY AUSTRIA
Cerebral Palsy Resources. Brain Injury. Developmental Disability. Genetic Disorder. Special Needs Child. Europe Movement Education.
EXPERT FELDENKRAIS® + ANAT BANIEL METHOD® NEUROMOVEMENT® PRACTITIONER
MOVEMENT LESSONS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
EUROPE & AMERICAS
Serving Children with Special Needs
and their Parents / Caregivers
since 1994
Sylvia Leiner Shordike
Expert Movement Lessons for Kids,
Key Learning for Parents
⦿ The Original Focused 4/12® Lesson Intensives for Children (California)
⦿ Foundations of Experiential Movement® Seminars for Parents/Caregivers
⦿ Unique, Complete NeuroHorizons® Training Program for Parents, Caregivers & Professionals (Europe)
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☞ Why Movement Lessons?
- ⦿ Our work with children derives from the groundbreaking repertoire of movement lessons created by the late Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais D.Sc. (1904-1984), and is 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 the child will create new skills and improve on existing ones.
⦿ The child’s brain is almost always available for potent learning, regardless of the developmental challenge or diagnosis. Our Movement Lessons are 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.
⦿ Children with developmental challenges begin to shift into the best possible developmental trajectory. Clients 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.
⦿ 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.
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☞ Will Your Lessons Help My Child?
- ⦿ I have worked over 25 years with hundreds of children facing diverse and often profound challenges (e.g. Cerebral Palsy, stroke, brain injury and damage, congenital heart problems, Brachial Plexus injury, scoliosis, ADHD, autism spectrum, and genetic disorders). I have seen some remarkable changes in these great kids.
⦿ Naturally, no movement practitioner can in good conscience offer you "miracles". I instead offer a process, not a product. Sometimes progress can be quite rapid, and at times it can be slow and incremental. Many factors are involved, and I consider each child's unique circumstances and needs.
⦿ My approach? The brain does not learn through repetition alone, and does not respond positively to being forced. So I stress the distinction between "imposing" and "evoking." For example, if your child cannot roll or crawl, sit up, stand on all fours, or stand up by himself, I will not try to force him or her into these positions or into repetitive motions.
⦿ Instead, I 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.
⦿ 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. Movement Lessons can play a key role in this learning process, regardless of your child’s situation.
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☞ What is Your Focused 4/12® Intensive?
- ⦿ 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 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.
⦿ When working with your child, I invite you to watch and participate in the lessons, which we schedule according to your child's needs. As appropriate, I will assist you with information and tools for moving with your child between appointments. The more we embody these movement principles ourselves, the better we can support our children.
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☞ About Sylvia
I was trained by Anat Baniel and later worked with her as a Trainer and Practitioner for many years. I have been honored to assist many hundreds of clients internationally since 1994. There is a passionate place in my heart for Children with Special Needs as they move through diverse challenges. I work daily with these children and their families via individual movement lesson intensives (my Focused 4/12® approach).
In 2012 I saw an unmet need, and originated my highly focused and personalized NeuroHorizons® Professional Supervision Intensives, Professional Enrichment Seminars, and Parent Seminars, since attended by hundreds of practitioners, parents, and caregivers around the world.
And now, with my wonderful colleague Kerstin Baldischwieler, we have created a unique, highly personalized, focused, and dynamic NeuroHorizonsEurope training program for parents, caregivers, and professionals supporting Children With Special Needs. We are on a mission to expand the number of skilled movement practitioners who are successfully supporting these great kids!
SYLVIA LEINER SHORDIKE⦿ Originator of the personalized NeuroHorizons® Experiential Learning Programs for Professionals and Parents (since 2012), including our unique and complete NeuroHorizonsEurope training for parents, caregivers and professionals.
⦿ Formerly a Trainer for the Anat Baniel Method® Professional and Children's Mastery training programs in California, and a long-time Practitioner at the Anat Baniel Method Center, California (2009-2016).
⦿ Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner® (since 1994).
⦿ Certified Anat Baniel Method® NeuroMovement® Practitioner (since 2002).
⦿ ABM Mastery Certifications for Children with Special Needs, Aging and Vitality, and High Performers (2004).
⦿ Private Practice since 1994.
⦿ Continuing education YouTube channel for Movement Practitioners.
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.-
☞ 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-
☞ Schedule Lessons With Sylvia
- ⦿ Please note: Each year my schedule shifts, so please check with me regarding Lesson availability in California, Spain, Germany, and Austria. Also, your child may qualify to be included in one of my Professional Supervision Intensives, and that calendar can be found here.Please tell me about any challenges, diagnoses, and goals you would like to address. I will be in touch as soon as I can. — Sylvia
For a worldwide listing of over 200 certified NeuroMovement® practitioners
in 25 nations actively serving Children With Special Needs,
please visit www.NeuroConnect.world
NeuroHorizons®, Experiential Movement®, and A Child's Neural Map is Not the Territory® are registered trademarks of Sylvia Shordike.
Feldenkrais® and Feldenkrais Method® are registered trademarks of Feldenkrais Guild Corporation California.
Anat Baniel Method® and NeuroMovement® are registered trademarks of Movement Coordination Learning, Inc. DBA Anat Baniel Method Corporation.
Sylvia is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner®, and a Certified Anat Baniel Method® NeuroMovement® Childrens Mastery Practitioner and former ABM Trainer.
Sylvia is neither affiliated with, nor sponsored or endorsed by, the Feldenkrais Guild or Anat Baniel or the Anat Baniel Method.
All text and photos ©2007-2020 Sylvia Shordike