New Hands on Policy
Many Board policies were developed in the 1980’s and ‘90’s. As we move forward, the policy review committee is looking at FGNA Policies that need revision to keep up with the growth of our profession. A new policy has been developed to clarify for Feldenkrais® practitioners the requirements when including participants who are not authorized to use Guild service marks in a workshop, seminar, advanced training or mentoring group, etc. This defines the boundary between using examples of learning through the Feldenkrais Method® views of function and using Guild service marks. Attending a Feldenkrais based weekend workshop does not allow an unauthorized person to list "Feldenkrais" on their business card, website, etc. A weekend workshop does not create a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitionercm.Unauthorized individuals will need to sign a form before each event. Approved language for the form is available on the FGNA website. We recommend that these forms be maintained by the presenter so that they may be provided a violation of the service marks occurs by a participant. This newly Board passed policy maintains the protection of our service marks and the right to practice as a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioners.
New Policy:
Teaching Applications of the Feldenkrais Method in Events (e.g. Workshops, Seminars, Mentoring Groups, Advanced Trainings)
(replaces Hands-On Policy; becomes part of Service Mark Policy)
Feldenkrais Functional Integration® and Awareness Through Movement® are more than the set of methods and techniques used by Feldenkrais Teachers; they encompass a unique way of understanding and approaching issues of human functioning and human learning. Competency can only be acquired through a long and intensive process of the kind employed in accredited Feldenkrais Professional Training Programs.
Certified Practitioners may appropriately teach methods of touch or other forms of "hands-on" work or ATM® in a variety of contexts.
Requirements for events that teach unauthorized individuals the pedagogy and approaches of the Feldenkrais Method:
Teachings of the Feldenkrais Method should not be diluted, diminished, or confused with other approaches, especially with other non-functional approaches, as the public benefits from the clarity of these experiences.
Advertising must state that participation in the event does not give participants the right to use FGNA service marks and that only individuals who have received authorization from FGNA will be allowed to use FGNA service marks, and to practice Functional Integration, Awareness Through Movement or the Feldenkrais Method of Somatic Education.
All attendees who are not authorized to use FGNA service marks will be required to sign a form that has been approved by FGNA (form may be paper, or online).
Who may attend the event:
The public benefits by having the teachings of Moshé Feldenkrais available to professionals in other fields. This allows other professionals to be informed by these teachings, though they will not be practicing the Feldenkrais Method.
Language in teaching event (imparting insights and skills):
At the beginning of the presentation, there must be a statement about the composition of the class, if there is one or more who is/are not certified in use of the service marks.
Passed by FGNA Board of Directors. Revised July 26, 2016