Bones for Life is an educational movement programme developed by Ruthy Alon [1930 – 2020]. It includes over 90 ‘processes’ (lessons, or movement explorations) aimed at improving postural alignment and reducing bone deterioration. Moshe Feldenkrais [1904 – 1984] created the Feldenkrais Method®. Ruthy Alon participated in his first training course in 1967 and worked directly with him for many years.
Intrigued by the high incidence of osteoporosis in the West, Alon explored, within the Feldenkrais Method, possible solutions to the process of bone deterioration. She faced the challenge of reconciling the basic protocols of building bone, through impact, with the slow, subtle movements employed in the Feldenkrais Method’s Awareness Through Movement® (ATM) lessons, which are often conducted in a supine position (laying on the back). To foster bone strength, Alon devised strategies that were to be enacted in the vertical plane and deal with gravity, and incorporated movements with moderate impact that include bouncing, vibration, percussion, walking, running in place and jumping. These were to be performed gently, and taught in progressive steps, to instil safety and self-confidence, and to refine a person’s awareness when performing them.
Bones for Life emphasizes postural alignment so that downward forces of gravity and upward forces from the ground [GRF] are transmitted cleanly and effectively throughout the entire skeleton. Postural awareness and self-exploration are at the core of the various processes that are practiced in all directions of movement proportionally, in order to distribute the range of motion and effort (with up to 20% effort) evenly across the joints and other involved parts. This prioritizes safe exploration of one’s range of movement, especially for individuals with compromised bone strength, unaccustomed to exercising or who feel vulnerable when practising impactful movement. Some processes use the wall as support for a more objective sensory perception of verticality, as well as to offer resistance. Body awareness is stimulated in some processes by use of a “wrap” – a fabric of up to seven meters in length wrapped around the body that promotes a sensation of support and greater joint stability.
“You may remind yourself that Nature always strives towards Healing – that is its initial intention. Through a slow gravitation towards well-being, Nature bestows upon you, minute by minute, the choice of helping it help you.”
“Achieving dynamic movement that streams throughout a well aligned body gives pleasure, promises readiness to move, greater vitality, well-being and freedom to move “as Nature meant”, key elements of what Ruthy Alon called “Biological Optimism”. When setting out to develop a method for strengthening bones, Alon faced the challenge of reconciling the smooth movements advocated by Dr. Feldenkrais in his Awareness Through Movement® (ATM) lessons with the basic premises of bone strengthening. She stated that “our skeleton is meant to resist gravity and build a reliable structure so that the body does not collapse under its own weight. In this sense, bones need to develop their ability to withstand greater pressure demands. Bones are strong because they can face challenges that require strength and dynamics” (Alon, 2018, p. 372). Thus, to develop the Bones for Life program, Alon drew upon tactics explored in the Feldenkrais Method, such as self-correction, and included strategies that also apply to the vertical field and the context of dealing with gravity. She recalled that Dr. Feldenkrais began his quest for efficient movement while practicing Judo, being a pioneer of this martial art in Europe in the 1930s. This background also served as inspiration for creating the Bones for Life program and its strengthening orientation.
****Bones for Life is an educational movement programme developed by Ruthy Alon [1930 – 2020]. It includes over 90 ‘processes’ (lessons, or movement explorations) aimed at improving postural alignment and reducing bone deterioration. Moshe Feldenkrais [1904 – 1984] created the Feldenkrais Method®. Ruthy Alon participated in his first training course in 1967 and worked directly with him for many years.
Intrigued by the high incidence of osteoporosis in the West, Alon explored, within the Feldenkrais Method, possible solutions to the process of bone deterioration. She faced the challenge of reconciling the basic protocols of building bone, through impact, with the slow, subtle movements employed in the Feldenkrais Method’s Awareness Through Movement® (ATM) lessons, which are often conducted in a supine position (laying on the back). To foster bone strength, Alon devised strategies that were to be enacted in the vertical plane and deal with gravity, and incorporated movements with moderate impact that include bouncing, vibration, percussion, walking, running in place and jumping. These were to be performed gently, and taught in progressive steps, to instil safety and self-confidence, and to refine a person’s awareness when performing them.
Bones for Life emphasizes postural alignment so that downward forces of gravity and upward forces from the ground [GRF] are transmitted cleanly and effectively throughout the entire skeleton. Postural awareness and self-exploration are at the core of the various processes that are practiced in all directions of movement proportionally, in order to distribute the range of motion and effort (with up to 20% effort) evenly across the joints and other involved parts. This prioritizes safe exploration of one’s range of movement, especially for individuals with compromised bone strength, unaccustomed to exercising or who feel vulnerable when practising impactful movement. Some processes use the wall as support for a more objective sensory perception of verticality, as well as to offer resistance. Body awareness is stimulated in some processes by use of a “wrap” – a fabric of up to seven meters in length wrapped around the body that promotes a sensation of support and greater joint stability.
“You may remind yourself that Nature always strives towards Healing – that is its initial intention. Through a slow gravitation towards well-being, Nature bestows upon you, minute by minute, the choice of helping it help you.”
“Achieving dynamic movement that streams throughout a well aligned body gives pleasure, promises readiness to move, greater vitality, well-being and freedom to move “as Nature meant”, key elements of what Ruthy Alon called “Biological Optimism”. When setting out to develop a method for strengthening bones, Alon faced the challenge of reconciling the smooth movements advocated by Dr. Feldenkrais in his Awareness Through Movement® (ATM) lessons with the basic premises of bone strengthening. She stated that “our skeleton is meant to resist gravity and build a reliable structure so that the body does not collapse under its own weight. In this sense, bones need to develop their ability to withstand greater pressure demands. Bones are strong because they can face challenges that require strength and dynamics” (Alon, 2018, p. 372). Thus, to develop the Bones for Life program, Alon drew upon tactics explored in the Feldenkrais Method, such as self-correction, and included strategies that also apply to the vertical field and the context of dealing with gravity. She recalled that Dr. Feldenkrais began his quest for efficient movement while practicing Judo, being a pioneer of this martial art in Europe in the 1930s. This background also served as inspiration for creating the Bones for Life program and its strengthening orientation.
Silvia Gray Movement 