Great Escape: Coastside Edition

Last week, Great Escape featured restaurant, the place to retreat to when craving savory, California comfort food and drinks.

This week’s diversion comes in the shape of relieving muscle tension, expanding your options for new ways of moving and improving flexibility and coordination.

Whether it’s carpal tunnel, an accident-related injury, pinched neck nerve or back pain, a Feldenkrais Method class — the form of movement therapy designed to isolate separate muscles and muscle groups to promote flexibility, release tension and enhance balance — is a sure bet. Feldenkrais expands the self-image through movement sequences that bring attention to the parts of the self that are out of awareness. As a result, the Feldenkrais Method enables individuals to include more of themselves in their functioning movements.

Starting this Monday, March 7, nine Feldenkrais classes will be offered at the Pacifica Community Center from 7 to 8 p.m. with local Feldenkrais practitioner Jane A’Hearn. The class will increase awareness, flexibility and coordination with gentle movements and promises to bring relaxation and grace. Participants are asked to wear loose, warm clothing and to bring a towel. To register, go to www.cityofpacifica.org/depts/rec_department/default.asp

The Feldenkrais Method is named after its originator, Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, a Russian born physicist, judo expert, mechanical engineer and educator.

The Feldenkrais Method is a form of somatic education that uses gentle movement and directed attention to improve movement and enhance human functioning.

Any mom — young or old, physically challenged or physically fit — can benefit from Feldenkrais, which is especially beneficial for those experiencing chronic or acute pain of the back, neck, shoulder, hip, legs or knee, as well as for healthy individuals who wish to enhance their self-image.

Great Escape, a weekly feature that appears every Wednesday, showcases ideas for moms who need a much-deserved break.