The Feldenkrais Research Journal is back!

The International Feldenkrais Federation Feldenkrais Research Journal

This is a Journal about research into the Feldenkais Method, and similar approaches to human development – what research has been done, how can we further these ideas, and research these approaches.

A good time for a Journal

We are pleased to announce that the IFF Feldenkrais Research Journal is being revived.

It is a good time for a Journal:

In recent years an increasing number of good quality research papers into the Feldenkrais Method have been published.
More Feldenkrais practitioners are doing advanced degrees, writing Theses and Dissertations; more practitioners are forging links with leading thinkers and researchers in various fields.
More researchers and thinkers in neuroscience, human development, arts practice, mindfulness and meditation, sports and life coaching, physical therapy, and other fields are taking an interest in the Feldenkrais Method.
Research and thinking in related fields, like neuroscience, human development, consciousness studies, rehabilitation are developing practices, theories, and research results that are compatible with various aspects of Feldenkrais Method practice and ideas.
Concepts of what makes for useful and valid research are expanding. There is greater understanding and emphasis on first, second, the third person approaches to generating data – and how they can be used together. There is a greater understanding of the value of phenomenological and hermeneutic, as well as empirical and logical positivist approaches of human understanding.

Over many years the IFF has much feedback about the value of the four Volumes of the Research Journal that were published between 2004 and 2008, and which you find here. Many people have drawn on the ideas for their theses and dissertations. Many people have been able to cite the outcomes of research published or reproduced here to support a range of projects. With the revived Journal we plan to continue and expand on these benefits.

Recent research and discussion

In recent years there has been conducted and published a number of new research studies which demonstrate the efficacy of Feldenkrais Method in a number of domains. We plan to bring you reports on these studies and how to find them.

At the same time, the dialogue about the importance of research and how to undertake it, has increased in the Feldenkrais world – with important meetings in North America, Germany and elsewhere, discussing research and building bridges with researchers.

So the revival of this Journal is timely.

What we have done

We have put together a great team of Feldenkrais practitioners. A team of seven Editors and three Advisory Editors has been created. Members of the team are from Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, the UK and the United States. They are Feldenkrais practitioners who have backgrounds in education, health care (medicine, physical therapy), philosophy, literature, theatre, and dance, as well as cognitive and movement science, and more. Find out more about who they are.

We have developed aims for the Journal. We have also developed Submission Guidelines for the next Volume of the Journal, and set a deadline for submissions.

What we are looking for, and how to make a submission

Please read the Call for Submissions. The deadline for Volume 5 is February 28, 2015. Click the link to read more.

Here are the Submission Guidelines which describe the kinds of articles the Editorial Committee is interested in, and the manuscript requirements.

Please contact researchjournal [at] feldenkrais-method [dot] org the Editorial Committee to let us know if you are thinking of submitting an article, and if you have any questions.

Let us know what you think and feel

We are also looking for input. We would love to hear from you. Whether you are a Feldenkrais teacher, or a researcher or thinking from a field that intersects with aspects of Feldenkrais practice and thinking: What would you like to see in this Journal? Do you know of research that has been published in recent years that would be relevant to this Journal? Do you know someone who could write an interesting article? Have done some research yourself – or have ideas about the research process. Please get in touch.

Cliff Smyth, Coordinating Editor, November 2014
researchjournal [at] feldenkrais-method [dot] org