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Praise for Pati: Guild certified Feldenkrais Practitioner and Anat Baniel Method for Children Practitioner

WORK WITH ADULTS

I have a radically new and more grounded understanding of my body as a result of the my lessons with Pati.”

Paul M.Friend

Patricia Holman demonstrates an empathy and level of Feldenkrais expertise that few can match, let alone surpass. She is a wonderful asset to those who have the good fortune to come in contact with her guidance. For me, it has led to increased body awareness, better posture, greater ease of movement, increased flexibility and more energy.

Jac A.Competitive Two-step Dancer

I have a back injury that is significant in terms of how much it has turned my life on its ear. The chronic pain impacts my ability to do almost everything. And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had this depressing, “Nothing is helping” thought upon entering Pati’s studio. And it never ceases to amaze me how much better I feel, how much like my former self, and how many things I can knock off my to-do list after a session. I feel very grateful to have found her.

Debbie M.

I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease 10 years ago at the age of 45. I am a senior executive at an international manufacturing company and travel extensively. I have been under
the care of an outstanding physician and have progressed through a series of drug treatments that have been effective in moderating my tremor and fine motor skills for 60 – 75% of my waking hours. I have tried other non-traditional therapies over the years with no resulting benefit. Last year I became aware of Feldenkrais therapy through an article written by Andrew Weil. It turned out that Patricia Holman was a 5-minute drive from my home so I decided to give it a try. Three months into treatment I am thrilled with the improvement in my overall movement and level of energy. While my tremor is still present, I feel like the length and quality of my “on time” has been improved and my rigidity has been lessened which has helped to significantly improve my sleep. Pati has demonstrated an amazing ability to “center in” on the needs of my body in any given session. Her commitment and passion are evident. While Feldenkrais may not cure my disease, it has certainly improved my quality of life. I am truly thankful to Pati for sharing her gift with me.

Patrick C.

Given my mothers age and the severity of the stroke she suffered in January, ’09, she has been written off by the medical establishment. Because she was not ambulatory, she became
Medicare ineligible in the nursing home setting in which she resides. Patricia has stayed with
us through thick and thin. The result is that mom’s physician that has assumed responsibility
for her medication says he can’t believe her progress. Her agitation is diminished and the
movement on her affected side has continued to improve. Mom’s improvements are
incremental milestones, nothing short of miraculous. Patricia finds the keys which unlock the
door to movement. We appreciate her in ways she will never know. We are thankful for the
spirit of Moshe Feldenkrais which lives in Pati through her perceptive awareness, caring touch, and kind guidance to relearn movement.

Heidi S.

Patricia is a phenomenal Feldenkrais practitioner; & just as importantly, a good teacher and coach.
She is very loving, kind, & allows her students to set their own limits.
I have more mobility in my arms, my chest, my head and neck than I have ever had. Movement is the key to pain management & pain elimination, and she helps in every way.

Jane B.

The real test came while on my horse after the Feldenkrais workshop this weekend. As I rode, I was incredibly aware of how different I felt. After a while the walk felt good…then I trotted. No ankle pain, and my back remained relaxed. Now, the canter……….It was wonderful! Clancy felt like he was moving differently. He may have been, but it was probably more that I was sitting centered and we were both more comfortable. For the first time in my 42 years of owning a horse, I believe I felt what centered riding is. THANKS for helping me with that “feel”!!

Julie KEquestrian

On the drive home Friday after my Feldenkrais lesson I couldn’t believe how relaxed I felt. I couldn’t believe how much movement I had in my shoulders & elbows. It was wonderful. During the whole ride my horse and I did not have one pulling match between us. He did not lean on me once! I could actually soften him to the left, his stiffer side, and use my left leg to move him to my outside rein. My left leg used to be so heavy that this wasn’t possible before. The whole left side of my body feels lighter & better!

Mary Ann C.Equestrian

Life as I knew it changed after I was injured in two auto accidents. I turned to traditional as well as alternative methods to manage and cope with the pain. Nine months ago, my physician referred me to Patricia Holman. After the fourth lesson, I knew I had another tool to help me cope with my chronic pain. I’m learning how to be better focused and use my body differently. I’m also incorporating this new awareness of myself into my daily exercise routine & activities. This time, it is a positive lifestyle change for me. I can walk more freely without the limp I was becoming accustomed to, and my pain levels have diminished greatly. What a great feeling! I only wish I had known about Patricia and her Method before my injuries as I now know the power that brain/body awareness can bring to daily movement and life.

Marlene W. Consultant in the IT Industry

Whenever I have had episodes of back,neck, hip, or knee pain, Pati’s work has helped to resolve those issues in a day or two. I have recommended Pati Holman’s work to friends and relatives. They have also derived great benefit from the process. I feel that we can all improve the way that we move and that moving can be more natural and effortless.

Cari B., M.D.

I am a retired bank executive, single mom with a 17 years old daughter and I am 59 years old. Having been suffering from fibromyalgia for many years and also from disc hernia both in my lower back and in my neck, I have a bad posture which causes frequent back pains. I am also diagnosed with dysfunction of my left hip and in general a weaker muscle strength in the left
part of my body. Before that first Feldenkrais session with Pati, I had usual neck pains and stiff shoulder muscles particularly after sitting long hours during social gatherings with my friends. The day after of such social events, I would wake up with a neck pain. I met Pat when she came to Ankara, and I had just one session with her. At the beginning, I really did not know what to expect from this session since, I had not idea how this method worked but she was very reassuring, calm and compassionate. She listened to me very carefully. After this one session, I immediately felt lighter in my body as if my body weight decreased in less than an hour. I also felt relaxed and at the same time energetic while I was going out of her studio.Some minor pains which was always there in my body seemed to be gone. In the following days, I have started to get a signal from my body to hold my neck and hip in such a way to correct my bad posture when I am standing or sitting. This is really hard to explain but the positive result I gained from my session with Pati is that my body is now telling me to tilt my hip and hold upright my neck when I am not doing so. This means less pain for me. Also my weaker left part seems to be stronger now.Thank you Pati!

Zaynep A., Ankara Turkey

I am so grateful for the sessions with Pati. During my recovery from bilateral hip surgery, she was instrumental in helping me connect with my body, increase my flexibility, and move in healthier ways. Thank you, Pati, for your keen observation, thoughtful and patient style, and years of experience.

L.M., Sebastopol, CA

WORK WITH CHILDREN

Our daughter, Natalie, was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Periventricular Leukomalasia after being born at 24 weeks. For several months Natalie received therapy from traditional PT and OT. We saw little to no progress with Natalie during this time. My husband and I were also often discouraged due to the therapist’s focus on what Natalie “can’t do” versus working with her where she is at that point. We then started taking Natalie to see Pati for the past few months and her ABM Neuromovement model. Natalie became “alive” and interested in her surroundings. Natalie recently started army crawling and has more control over her body. Pati has been such a great, positive aspect of Natalie’s life along with our family and we recommend her to anyone looking to make a positive change for themselves or loved one.

Erin E. and familyMother to child with Spastic CP

I have so much gratitude for everything you have done to assist Isaac. I’m humbled by your dedication, care, & skill in all that you do.

Shelley C.Mother to child with CP

When I met Pati at a workshop I felt that the ABM Neuromovement was something totally different, that it was empowering and honest, clear and subtle. Agustina has been in therapy since she was 23 days old and now she’s 18. We’ve always tried to give her the best therapy so, although we know that her limitations are many, we’ve never given hope to find a new perspective on the human being and its body. We’ve always believed that Agustina can understand everything that happens around her and that she has a different kind of language that allows her to communicate with us, albeit more body-emotion based. The ABM Method is the only therapy she’s had which sees her as a whole and takes into account her willpower and boosts it with subtle, loving movements. In every session Agustina was given time to give her opinion and therefore she was able to participate more actively. She’s done only 1 intensive, but the change is impressive. She’s more present in the family meals, she can sit better and she can control her body with more organization. She’s also more relaxed and cooperates in everyday decision making, such us which clothes she wants to wear and so on. For us these things make a huge difference. We’re grateful and full of joy. Thank you Pati!

Andrea L.Mother to adult daughter with global developmental delays /Montevideo, Uruguay

Hi Pati. I just wanted to let you know that we are seeing the most remarkable changes in Paige since our return from Durban! She is playing with the mobile on her sitter chair for the first time ever. She has started kicking her legs, reaching with her arms and seems to slowly be realizing the law of cause and effect —If I hit it… It moves. She has made a 4 month leap in 4 days! Yay!

Terry V.Johannesburg, SA

It has been an eye-opening week for me, to say the least. This week I’ve seen Faith move in ways I never thought possible for her…barring a miraculous healing. It was amazing to see Faith push her feet in her footrests to help scoot her behind to the right place in her chair. It was amazing to see Faith “find the middle” of her chair and to sit up in a straightened position all on her own – even without the support of the laterals on her chair. She was excited too and repeated, “I did it! I did it!” I’ve come to realize that keeping Faith strapped and restrained tightly in her chair has not allowed her to explore ways for her to achieve purposeful movement. Her movement has always been so random and so disorganized, but through the Patis approach, both Faith and I learned that there are ways to help her organize and move her body that are beneficial to her. In doing so, her brain can actually form new neural connections.

Cari B.Mother

Our family first met Patricia Holman during the summer of 2018. Pati worked and connected with our 7 year old son, Austin, for a 5-day intensive, having 2 lessons per day. After these neuro-movement lessons, it appeared that a fog was lifted and Austin was able to connect in so many more meaningful ways. Austin was more aware of himself, his emotions, and everything happening around him. His visual and auditory processing improved. His doctors were amazed with the changes in his visual processing skills and he ultimately had more control over himself and has been able to begin the process of slowing down.We highly recommend Pati for for your child, yourself, your friends, neighbors, and other family members.

Truly Amazing!

Charlene VGPsychotherapist & Mother to child with sensory integration challenges

I am an occupational therapist who works with children and adults in private practice. A pediatric patient of mine had been traveling around the country for the Anat Baniel Method for children. The family had told me about ABM which made me curious and how my little patient was going to benefit from ABM. After he returned from seeing Pati, he started to navigate around his environment with much more ease. He learned from Pati more about his own body and natural movements through attention and self-awareness. I was so happy to see the progress he had made and it got me curious about this method—therefore I decided to take a trip to see Pati in action. Upon seeing firsthand her pediatric sessions and knowing that she travels to introduce ABM to parents & kids across the country, I invited her into my private practice to help those in need in Bismarck ND. I believe more children with various disorders deserve to experience ABM with Pati in order to awaken the brain, transform their own lives, and gain independence within their environments. She is a kind-hearted person and has a special understanding for children. I’m proud to have gotten to know her!

Geri R.Occupational Therapist

I was very excited to be able to watch your work with Daniel at your clinic in Glendale. After your first intensive weekend with him I noticed right away in my sessions back at his school that he was able to move his left hand more clearly and with better intent. He also used his voice in a less restrained way and was much more playful expressing himself. Again this appeared very effortless compared to the way he is used to moving.

Mary M.Physical Therapist

Therapy has been center in our life of battling the cerebral palsy affecting our son’s motor and communication development. We have tried it all and it fills Roa’s life. It is a daily struggle to
manage therapy and doctor appointments. Upon meeting Pati, we knew the ABM approach was going to be a good one. Pati interacts with Roa as a PERSON. She respects his need for space, honors his attempts at communication (even in the form of a tantrum), engages him in full attention to his own movement, and approaches him in a gentle, playful way. Pati not only helps Roa gain more awareness of his place in space, but she empowers us as parents by modeling for us the ways we can assist Roa on his path to independence. Since our intensive program with Pati, we have slowed down our aggressive schedule. We have seen little changes in Roa that mean so much- Roa exploring movement of his tongue, trunk, and arms that we have not seen before.
He more comfortable in his body. We look forward to our next set of sessions with Pati where we, as a family, gain more awareness of our actions and how they affect development both inside and out.

Jennifer T.Mom to son with Quadraspastic cerebral palsy

For our son with autism, the focus of therapy was always on the big three: communication, behaviors, and social interaction. No one seemed to notice how he moved; how limited he was. Except me. I thought it must not be that important. Then I discovered Patricia & the ABM Neuromovement approach, and that movement was, in fact, the key we had been missing all along. After a few short lessons with Pati, my son was choosing positions and movements he never had before. This was a subtle, but amazing shift in his options for experiencing the world, feeding his brain with new information and possibilities and creating gains in the other areas as an almost-magical side effect. Definitely the most impactful therapy so far. Looking forward to our next series.

Erin & Matt L.Parents to L, on the autism spectrum

I started online video lessons with Patricia about 2 months ago, the lessons are for my 4.5 year old daughter who has Cerebral Palsy. The lessons in the beginning felt overwhelming on my side as I had to change how I perceived things and understood therapy, it completely worked my brain up as I had to learn to practice the 9 essentials myself. Then I started to notice changes on my daughter, her attention got much better than before, she started to involve arms more than before. She even got more attracted to toys and arched her back better and more, played on her belly too all which she was not doing before. I took her for some swimming lessons after and she was able to copy the trainer in splashing the water with her feet in a very short time. I know that her learning switch is on now and she is yet to achieve alot more. I will maintain the online lessons for as long as I have to due to distance. Thank you so much Patricia for your great work, patience and time with Crystal and I.

Connie M.Engineer & Mother/Entebbe Uganda

My son Deniz is 18 years old. He is in a wheel chair and a high school student. He is diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy- quadriplegic. He had been having intensive physical therapy since he was 16. Then I found about ABM and he has started to take ABM lessons. Until then I had to carry him while transferring from his bed to wheel chair and vice versa. After he started to take ABM lessons her transfer got easier for me, because he has started to take part actively. His spasticity in his legs lessened and his pelvis became so movable that he can twist his body with a little help and as a result we can do his transfer easily and comfortably together.

Deniz loves his lessons with Patricia! She is very dedicated & experienced, creative and has good communications skills which is very important for working with children and youths. We are very thankful to her that she travels to the other end of the world so that Deniz and other kids could take benefit of ABM and her work.

Nilay E.Ankara, Turkey

Cinar was born as term baby, however there was a complication during birth, his heart rate stopped and in result he was born with hypoxia. He started traditional therapies at 4 months old up to 6 years old he had physical therapy, speech therapy, robotic rehabilitation, & occupational therapy. By that time he could sit, stand with help, could take steps with help, but had difficulty with a walker. The most difficult thing for him is to use his arms and torso. And coordinate his body. When he gets excited,or angry he could not coordinate his movements. When he was 6 we were introduced to ABM. After first intensive ABM session he showed very significant changes. Which was like, he was willing to use his upper extremities and his hands which is normally very difficult for him. He could perfectly keep his balance when sitting. And in him self it was a huge relief. Patricia, a very experienced therapist, understand Cinars movement patterns and his emotional rises and descents. Cinar is a tough,smart boy and tries to manipulate everyone around him. Patrica perfectly understood him. After all he left himself to her hands. And after the sessions he slowly started to bear weight to his arms, started supporting himself with his arm when standing up or when taking steps. Which are all very important developments for him. We were very happy to meet Patricia.

Pinar G.Ankara, Turkey

Hi Pati,We just wanted to share some exciting news about Luca. He has been crawling 4-5 steps spontaneously and is cruising so well. He is very close to walking independently! We are very encouraged by his progress. Thanks for all your great work with him.

Paulina G.Physician & Mother / Cape Town, SA

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