Sounder Sleep School® of San Francisco

Announcing the Bay Area's First Sounder Sleep School: The Sounder Sleep School^® of San Francisco

The Feldenkrais Center for Movement Education is pleased to announce the establishment of the Sounder Sleep School^® of San Francisco. The School's unique curriculum is based on the Sounder Sleep System^®, a world-renowned system of insomnia self-help taught by over 200 health-professionals in 12 countries.

Disturbed and inadequate sleep are common symptoms of over-stimulation and the stresses of modern life. While inadequate sleep has long been associated with accidents, other health effects from lack of sleep are now becoming better recognized. Recently, lack of sleep has been linked to obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Thankfully, there is an antidote - a drug free way to a better night's sleep: the Sounder Sleep System®.

The Sounder Sleep System^® is based on the discovery that certain small, slow, repeated physical movements can shift us from the active, waking state to one of profound physical and mental repose. When we reach that tranquil state, if we need sleep, we will fall asleep. The System consists of gentle, yet remarkably effective physical movement and breathing techniques that are practiced by day and at bedtime. The System can be learned in convenient weekly or biweekly classes, half-day and day-long workshops, and other formats. The learning process is pleasurable and profoundly restful in itself.

Moshe Feldenkrais observed this connection between movement and sleep in his book The Potent Self:"Our...sleep [and] regularity of rest...are performed by muscular acts... we have significant control over [them], mainly through voluntary motor centers [of the nervous system]."

The Sounder Sleep System^® offers gentle, pleasurable movement and breathing techniques to restore your natural sleep cycles, quiet your mind, and support deeper and more satisfying sleep.

Sounder Sleep® Class Series and Workshops

The Sounder Sleep System^® classes and workshops offer gentle, pleasurable movement and breathing techniques to support deeper, more restful, more satisfying sleep. Coming up, the Sounder Sleep School^® will be offering a number of 3 class series in San Francisco and Palo Alto. In addition, we are planning to offer monthly practice classes designed to support your ongoing practice.

Individual Coaching

Individual sessions are designed around your personal sleep improvement needs and offer flexibility in scheduling. They are a good place to start your sleep improvement practice.

• Individual coaching in San Francisco: Kathy Flock: 415.826.3680
• Individual coaching in Palo Alto: Jean Elvin: 650.796.4847

Sounder Sleep^® Class Series in San Francisco and Palo Alto, with Jean Elvin or Kathy Flock
Come back soon to look for dates for the second half of 2010 and early 2011, or contact us and we will put you on our mailing list. Put 'Sounder Sleep' in the 'interests' box.

These classes will give you the chance to learn and practice new gentle, pleasurable movement and breathing techniques to restore your natural sleep cycles, quiet your mind, and support deeper and more satisfying sleep. With these easy to learn techniques you will relax your body and be able to lull yourself into restful repose. The classes will include sleep-inducing (hypnogogic) techniques to use at bedtime or when you awake at night. They help shift you from an alert waking state into sleep. You will also learn how to practice proven daytime relaxation techniques, called DayTamers^TM, that will help you reduce stress, make your life more peaceful and sleep more possible.

Come to the classes to begin the process or to learn new techniques if you have attended a workshop or class series before. Whether new or returning, you will have a chance to deepen your practice of the Sounder Sleep System^®for more satisfying sleep.

Sounder Sleep School^® Workshops and Classes are taught by Jean Elvin and Kathy Flock, assisted by Cliff Smyth

New Resources

Read Kathy Flock's article about the day time relaxation technique, Day Tamers.

The new Sounder Sleep^® home program from Michael Krugman, called Rest Assured: Self-Healing for Insomnia and the Stress of Life, is now available online from the Sounder Sleep website.

Rest Assured consists of three full-length audio Compact Discs playable on any CD player, plus an eight-page, illustrated booklet. Each disc is different, and contains three audio tracks specially programmed to make it a snap to use Rest Assured.

Track 1 of each of the three disc presents one of our unique DayTamers, our unique, gentle, yet remarkably effective daytime relaxation techniques. Track 2 of each disc presents one of our deceptively simple Natural Breathing techniques. Track 3 of each disc presents one of our sleep-inducing Mini-Moves the original exercises that are the heart of Rest Assured. Mini-Moves are tiny, slow, movements that gently encourage the very same mental and physical changes that occur at the onset of natural sleep.

With those three clearly labeled ingredients at your fingertips, following the Rest Assured recipe couldn't be simpler. Here it is: At any time during waking hours, sit down in a quiet place, listen to Track 1. Each night at bedtime, cue up any one of the discs on Track 2, get comfortable in bed, turn off the lights, and press PLAY. Then, just listen and follow the instructions as the disc plays through to the end of Track 3. 3) If you awaken during the night, repeat Tracks 2 and 3, either with the CD, or from memory if you like.

Those steps are all it takes to treat yourself to the precious gift of better sleep. In the process, you'll improve your overall health and make your life easier, and more enjoyable.

Contact us:
Please let us know if you are interested in the workshop or classes or join our mailing list to receive regular updates of the Sounder Sleep School's offerings (indicate 'Sounder Sleep" in the 'programs that interest you' box).