Move Autism

I had been experiencing low-​back and hip pain from a soccer injury for the last twenty years (more than half my life!). This pain had curbed many of my athletic endeavors and even made it uncomfortable to walk for distances. It felt like one leg was significantly heavier than the other!
In the past, I had tried PT, Chiropractic, Yoga, Rolfing, Bowen Therapy and several other types of therapy to loosen up my hip and relieve the discomfort in my back. Although many modalities helped me feel temporary relief, I always experienced a resurgence of my symptoms some time after therapy.
During a chance meeting with Robin Zander, I happened to mention my back pain. He was confident that he could help me.
Right from the beginning of my first session I knew that this Feldenkrais Method was tapping into some powerful concepts! Robin explained how my nervous system had, at some point, rewired to protect an injury. The injury may have healed, but the ‘neural rewiring’ got ‘stuck’. Feldenkrais resets the nerves in each body part, thereby re-​educating the body in how to move with ease and without pain.
During each session, Robin guided me through a series of very subtle movements, moving in slow motion. Between each movement I could feel nerves buzzing and muscles RELEASING!
I am now more physically balanced than I have been since I was a teenager!!! I’m running without any discomfort (and running faster, btw!). Best of all, there hasn’t been any sign of relapse and even if there was I’m in good shape because Robin taught me how to practice the movements at home!
I plan to continue seeing Robin for more sessions because I feel that there is still more balance I can find in my body and because I desperately want to learn everything I can from Robin about this powerful therapy! It’s taken me TWENTY YEARS to find it, but this therapy has given me my stride back!!!

I am a professional pianist who has been afflicted for 30 years with some arm and shoulder pain that was not debilitating or detrimental to my playing… until Jan. 2010. It began with a sharp shoulder pain and, over the summer (when I perform a lot!) progressed to right arm numbness. Over many years, I have been successful at managing my piano-​induced aches with Alexander Technique, yoga, acupunture, Network Chiropractic, etc. I met Robin adjacent to a Pilates class, which was great, but counter to the philosophy of Feldenkrais and the Anat Baniel method.
Since starting to work with Robin, I have become immersed in the work and feel he has led me on the path to an awareness of movement of which I was previously incapable. I have discovered so much more possibility for change in my body, have had opportunities to attend weekend seminars of the Anat Baniel Method and worked with other practitioners, on Robin’s recommendation. I feel that he is, first and foremost, incredibly passionate about movement and how to achieve ease in your body through the work and on personally helping each of his clients to better health.
His classes are slow (as defined by the method) and gentle and surprisingly effective; there is no judgement, only encouragement. His hands-​on work is all about comfort and the slow build-​up of connections between the mind and the body – very professional and skilled and always innovative.

About a year ago I discovered the work of Anat Baniel and found it was the best approach for my persistent back problem — in fact, it helped me avoid getting a cortisone shot.
Robin has been studying with Anat and does both hands-​on work and movement classes, as well as other types of personal training. I’m very happy to have found him to continue with this work. In addition to being very skilled, I really like Robin’s approach — it doesn’t feel like he’s doing something to you, but that you’re working together.

I’ve been working with Robin since December 2010, when he saw me walking stiffly along the sidewalk with my hands on my back and asked if I was in pain (why yes, I said). He introduced me to the therapeutic work he does and I was so impressed I took him on as my trainer to augment my yoga practice and help me get my occasional back problems under control – both of which he has amply delivered on.
Robin integrates his therapeutic and neuromuscular training work into a more typical fitness session and the results so far have been awesome. His approach is assuredly slow and steady, building a solid foundation for advancement instead of pushing me into actions my body or mind may not be ready for (even if I think I am). I’m more aware of how my body moves than ever, and I’ve only just started. I’m so glad I had that chance encounter with him on the street.
Robin also does group classes that focus on doing therapeutic movement by yourself (without any manipulation). These are very gentle and great for people working through injuries. Expect to learn interesting things about how your body works with each lesson.
(FYI, I give Robin 4 stars as I’ve never done this work with anybody else nor had another personal trainer, so I can’t honestly say he’s the best out there as I obviously don’t have anyone to compare him to yet.)