Eileen Bach-y-Rita
Dr.
Moshe Feldenkrais (1904-1984), trained Eileen Bach-y-Rita in Feldenkras. He discovered
the principles of his movement method while teaching himself to walk normally,
after seriously injuring both knees. A Ph.D. in physics, he became interested
in the mechanics of human movement and developed a self-defense method similar
to Judo for the Israeli army. Later he became a black-belt master in Judo and
opened France's first Judo club. Using the eastern principles of body-mind interaction
together with his deep understanding of physics, neurophysiology and anatomy,
he discovered how to improve the way the brain controls human movement. Through
his many books, lectures, and professional courses in the United States and Europe,
and his hands-on work, Dr. Feldenkrais showed thousands of people that their physical
limitations and pain could be "unlearned" easily and effortlessly. Eileen Bach-y-Rita is a graduate of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais' first professional training in the United States. Eileen studied with Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais between 1977, in San Francisco, and 1981 in Amherst, after experiencing the remarkable healing of her own injured back, during a four-day workshop led by him. She is also an Instructor in the Feldenkrais® Guild Professional Training programs and a trained hypnotherapist. She received her B.A. from Dominican University in San Rafael, California in 1978, at the age of 37. Eileen is a certified Trainer in “Bones for Life”, a Feldenkrais -inspired approach which helps prevent and reverse osteoporosis.
In 1996, Eileen was the recipient of the
Dominican University Psychology Department Alumni Achievement Award, given "in
recognition of leadership and vision, commitment to community and dedication to
applying spirit and knowledge toward building a better world." Eileen is also
a member of the National Honors Society in Psychology, Psi Chi, and is listed
in the National Registry of Who’s Who,
1999 edition.
In 1997, she toured Australia for 6 weeks at the invitation of the Feldenkrais National Council of Australia, teaching advanced training's to their Feldenkrais Certified Practitioners in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane. In Australia, she appeared on several Television and Radio shows, to promote her seminars for the public as well as her own teaching products.
In 1976 and 1977, under grants from the National Institute of Health and the Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana de Mexico, Eileen designed and led two successful pilot projects in movement recovery and brain plasticity for 'permanently' brain injured adults, in San Francisco and in Mexico City. Even after being paralyzed for up to twenty years, individuals in her group regained motion and abilities that they and their physicians had thought were lost forever.
Her thesis, "New Pathways
in the Recovery from Brain Injury", was published by Somatics magazine,
in 1981, and 
her
ten-hour course onaudio cassettes, "Feldenkrais at
HomeTM", a sequential movement program on audio cassettes and CD has
sold continuously since 1985 through such venues as The Esalen Institute, the
Upledger Institute, and the Feldenkrais Guild of North America; also through Physical
Therapy and Massage Centers, by word or mouth and through her website.
Articles about her work have appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Francisco Examiner, This is Your San Francisco, The Sydney Jewish News Somatics Magazine, Spa Magazine and Escapes. She has appeared on KRON TV, and KLCC, and in Australia, Channel 10, The Monday through Friday show, Channel 9, THE TODAY SHOW and been interviewed on Australian Radio programs.
Her 'tape students' love her voice, the simplicity and clarity of her teaching style and have learned to overcome a variety of physical limitations and injuries via her tape program alone.
Invited and sponsored by the "Association Bertrand" in Grenoble, France, Eileen returned for several years to work with infants and young children with varying degrees of brain damage, helping them to catch up with their age group.
In her private practice, clients with a variety of physical injuries and limitations, and a variety of special needs, come to see her from afar to spend full days or weeks for the rapid relearning possibilities she facilitates for them.
For the last 35 years, she has studied
the advances in the field of brain plasticity and has combined this knowledge
with the ideas of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, Dr. Candace Pert, and Dr. Milton Erikson
with excellent results for her clients and students.
She teaches Courses for the General Public and "Advanced Training's for Feldenkrais Practitioners" on various topics including "The Plasticity of the Brain and the Language of Feldenkrais", "Early Developmental Movements for Children and Adults", " Improve your Back and Neck the Feldenkrais Way" and " Grow your Brain at Any Age for Health, Repair and Recovery".
Eileen has a private
practice in Los Angeles, California. She can be reached by writing to:
10573 West Pico Blvd. #192
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phones: 310-470-6483
email: ebyr@msn.com
Publications
"New
Pathways in the Recovery from Brain Injury", Somatics, 1981.
"Feldenkrais
at HomeTM" a ten hour comprehensive movement course for body alignment
and enhanced posture and performance. 1985.
"Make the Most of Your Brain
For Health, Repair & Recovery", in progress, please e-mail
Eileen Bach-y-Rita for more information on how to order the book.
For more information, email us at ebyr@msn.com
or call 310 470-6483