An Experienced Feldenkrais Method Practitioner And Trainer Based in Northern California

Mary Spire is an experienced and certified Feldenkrais practitioner  and a Trainer in international Feldenkrais trainings. She holds a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance from U.S.C. and performed for many years before becoming a Feldenkrais practitioner. Mary has taught Feldenkrais to musicians widely, including the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, U.C. Berkeley, U.C. San Francisco, Boston University, McGill University,SUNY Stonybrook, and the Tanglewood Music Center.  Notably she taught the Feldenkrais  Method at the San Francisco Symphony’s successful Prevention & Wellness Program for 15 years. In addition to her frequent workshops, lectures and symposia, Mary maintains private practices in Berkeley and San Rafael, California, where she specializes in working with infants and children, older adults, people with neurological conditions and performing artists. In 2004, the San Francisco Symphony recommended Mary as the best RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) specialist in the Bay area [San Francisco Magazine January 2004 - SF Magazine Cover].

The Feldenkrais  Method

Developed by Israeli physicist Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, this method is a highly sophisticated approach to accessing the power of the nervous system to improve human functioning. In a gentle and safe way you will increase your mobility, reduce habitual and unnecessary stress on your body, and increase your vitality. This method teaches you how to mobilize your own capacity to learn and change. It is of value to people with a wide range of neuromuscular conditions-from cerebral palsy, stroke, and multiple sclerosis to back, neck, and shoulder pain-as well as for musicians, athletes and others wanting to improve their performance.

Quotes About Mary Spire and the Feldenkrais Method

"Feldenkrais lessons with Mary Spire have helped me overcome serious arthritic conditions. As a musician the work not only is sustaining my career - it has improved my tone and created more freedom and ease in my playing.

- Brian Marcus, Bassist, San Francisco Symphony

"Mary is more than an experienced Feldenkrais instructor. She is sensitive, caring and perceptive about each person she works with. She is innovative and challenged to find solutions, even with the most difficult and challenging problems. I enjoy having the opportunity to work collaboratively with her in the care of our common patients."

- Nancy Byl, PH.D., PT, UCSF School of Medicine

“I am a Traumatic Brain Injured patient of Mary Spire’s. I was severely injured by a bike accident in June 2012. Mary is an expert/experienced Feldenkrais instructor. She has helped me relearn how to walk. Her instructions started with safe, basic moves in a chair. When I was ready, practices became more advanced. Using Mary Spire's gentle exercises has helped my brain synapses to re-knit and fire more accurately. I now walk with much more fluidity than when we began 6 lessons ago. I now walk adequately without using a wheelchair, walker or cane. Each morning, for about 15 minutes, I begin by warming-up with Mary’s basic Feldenkrais exercises. This results in my walking movements being enhanced and a much more positive start of my day. I highly recommend Mary Spire's Feldenkrais treatments. She is known by me as "Mary Inspire" due to her notably helpful instructions.”

- Michael Buckley

"Mary's expertise in the Feldenkrais Method along with my home use of her easy-to-follow audio taped movement lessons combined to help me where conventional medicine had failed. I have achieved a dramatic reduction in neck muscle spasms caused by dystonia, a neurological disorder. I cannot express my appreciation enough."

- Joanne Volponi, Chemist

"I love Feldenkrais! I found Feldenkrais to be neither a cure nor a fix, but an accessible and enjoyable way of learning to engage mindfully with myself and the world at many different levels. Through Mary Spire's lessons, I gained insights that I have carried over into other areas of expertise. Mary's superb understanding of Feldenkrais' teaching in action even inspired me to take a training myself!"

Marianne Constable, Professor of Humanities,
UC Berkeley

"I had a bicycle accident with a mild traumatic brain injury that effected my vision. Mary has helped tremendously with her therapy in dealing with my double vision, acuity, perception,eye movement and anxiety. She encouraged me with gentle eye exercises and CD's for body and eye movement that I continue to use to improve my vision. Thank you Mary."

-David

"Simple pleasure and surprise working with Mary / her lessons: a new-found physical balance and open core sitting Zazen, long distance cycling with a consistently lower heart beat. Who would have thought.

Kit Uren, Principal Uren Myers Insurance Broker

"Feldenkrais is not just pushing muscles around, it's changing things in the brain itself."

Karl Pribram, Md, PhD, neuroscientist

Order tapes or CDs, or receive more information about upcoming workshops and classes, please e-mail Mary Spire or phone 510.847.9613