For General Information about Bones for Life® click here.

Bones for Life®

Immersion and Certification

A Movement Intelligence Program taught at Movement Dialogues, Charlotte, NC and Online

Apply Now for Upcoming 2025 Certification

Online Registration and Application

Open to anyone desiring to improve their health as well as Certification for learning to teach the course. We are meeting on Zoom and On Site in Charlotte, NC

Bones for Life Immersion and Training

in an Intimate environment with maximum of 18 participants

teaching onsite using masking precautions when needed as well as on Zoom and recorded.

The Dates and Times of each Certification Program will be established when the group meets on Zoom.

Bones for Life Certification consists of:

Coursework: 120 hours: Segment 1 - 40 hours, Segment 2 - 40 hours Segment 3 - 40 hours

Didactic Teacher Training: 30 hours

Practice Teaching: 36 hours

Mentoring: 24 hours

Total Certification Hours: 210

Scroll down this page for course description.

Each Bones for Life Trainer organizes the program within this structure. I prefer to teach small, intimate groups where everyone's voice is heard. We linger with the processes completing the full 40 hours in each segment so as to go more deeply into the processes each time. The Didactic, Practice Teaching and Mentoring is often interwoven within the coursework experience. Each Zoom session is scheduled for either 3 or 4 hours.

On Zoom the course will be recorded and available for review. It will also allow for make up time if you cannot attend. We can adjust the dates once the group is established.

Your investment for Certification can be paid by the segment or arrange a payment plan. There is a $200 manual expense included. The program can be taken on site and by Zoom. The group will meet on Zoom for their Practice Teaching which will also include the Mentoring requirement. Public practicums may also be available.

If there is space available for you to take the course as an Immersion without the teaching certification or manuals this would consist of the coursework only without the Didactic Teacher Training or Practice Teaching.

CEU's availalbe for Massage Therapist and Bodyworkers

NCBTMB Approved Provider

For More Information:

Call Brenda Sorkin at 704.650.7252

or email Brenda@movementdialogues.com

Registration is required one month prior to the program or by permission of the Instructor

See below for cancellation and refund policies.

Your skeleton is key:

It is the structure for alignment, injury prevention and dynamic locomotion.

Your skeleton is the central intersection where total body interactions are fluidly expressed. Awaken your sensory guide to authentic somatic learning by:

Organizing your body's alignment to absorb and manage the transmission of force using a domino-like system of support while acknowledging our wholeness;
Deepening your inherent strength while discovering organization as opposed to effort;
Aligning and finding safe movement through the joints and vertebrae in weight-bearing dynamic movement;
Increasing your resourcefulness in adjusting to equilibrium demands quickly;
Cultivating your inner focus and expanding access to your innate creativity;
Upgrading the ergonomics of your daily habits.
Revitalize your bones and every system in your body with gentle vibrational stimulation.

Bones for Life (BFL) is open to anyone looking for a safe, autonomous way to improve the quality of their movement and revitalize their bones and posture, as well as for people interested in becoming profession BFL Teachers.

Payment plans are available.

Training manuals are offered in printed form.

The course is taught by: Senior Movement Intelligence Trainer Brenda Sorkin, GCFP, CTP, and special guest Bones for Life Teachers.

Please see below for the course description and a link to download the requirements.

Possible Weekend On Site Hours: Friday and Saturday: 10:00 am - 6:30 pm; Sunday: 9 am - 4:00 pm; Lunch breaks are generally from 1-2:30 on Friday & Saturday and from 12-1:00 on Sunday.

Other formats can be tailored to a group at the Zoom meeting prior to the program. .

Workshops for the public and past participants may be available on Friday and Saturday.

*See cancellation policy below

Bones for Life is a Foundation for Movement Intelligence program developed by Ruthy Alon, Ph.D.

based on the work of Moshe Feldenkrais, PhD.

Click here for more information on Movement Intelligence Programs. For the national website click here.

Why Bones for Life?

We are living in a culture that encourages extreme activities, stretching, holding postures not relevant to our natural vocabulary and ignoring the obvious vitality of our fundamental movement patterns that serve our quality of life. Can you imagine strength that comes from paying attention? Do you realize you can improve your overall strength, encourage bone health, find better alignment, posture, balance, and reduce your stress levels through the process of discovering gentle movements that include just the right amount of pressure for you? Building strength, or strengthening our bones is rarely studied in our society in terms of movement. Engaging a focus of attention in the processes of this program reduces stress, enhances cognitive function, and is a source for injury prevention and recovery.

This program approaches the problems of osteoporosis and other maladies in terms of functional failure. Whether there is a lack of moving, little dynamic impact when moving, overexertion in an unnatural style of moving, improper use of the sphincter system – each ignores the quality of optimal coordination and relationship which challenges us to be at their best. Our bones respond. And the good news is, what's good for our overall physical and mental health is good for our bones.

Studies have shown you can actually lose bone mass with some types of prolonged exercise. In Japanese studies, bone density increased in mice who jumped 40 times a week. Many people have too many issues around ankles, knees, hips or backs to ever jump in safety and those who can jump, if it is too jarring and alignment is not considered any benefits can be negated. Fortunately, there is a way that benefits can be achieved more subtly.

The Bones for Life program uses the Feldenkrais tools of awareness and focused attention to bring beneficial, long-term change. Developed by Ruthy Alon, Ph.D. the program uses mindful exploration, rhythm, gentle pressure, and vibration to stimulate bone health and promote strength through organization and alignment.

When Ruthy taught her program during one semester at the University of Tel Aviv every woman in the course increased her bone density. My own first year of study with Ruthy improved my bone density scores and reversed my osteoporosis.

There are 90 processes in the program in which we experience the pleasure of our movement and relate it to walking, lifting weight, balance and exploring how to fall in safety as we work in our own personal range of comfort.

We use the image of the African woman who has learned from childhood to carry weight on her head which has brought her movement efficiency and a low risk of fracturing bones. As adults, we will never be able to carry weight on our heads in the same manner, but we can use the principles to promote efficient movement and core strength.

The segments are being taught as a Certification Program and Immersion. It is open to anyone looking for a safe way to improve the quality of their movement and revitalize their bones and posture, as well as for people interested in becoming professional Bones for Life Teachers.

Engaging your mind with a guided focused attention to movement processes offers a defense in our busy world and promotes the reality of unifying body and mind. Intensives give us the opportunity to go deeply into this experience.

Payments can be spread out over these segments:

Each Individual 20 Hour Bones for Life Segment

30 hour Didactic with Trainer

Ruthy Alon & Brenda Sorkin

Cancellation and Refund Policy for the Certification Program

For cancellations 31 days prior to the Bones for Life Certification Program full refunds are available.

For 30 days prior to the program, a processing fee will be deducted from any refund issued provided your written notice is received.

If you cancel after the 30 day deadline, we regret there will be no refunds available, but your payment will be credited to a future program minus the processing fee.

In the unusual event Movement Dialogues needs to cancel a program, you will be given a full tuition refund.

We are not responsible for airfare, hotel, or any other fees you may incur.

Course Description

Become familiar with the dynamic style of springy pressure needed for stimulating bone strength
Practice effective interaction with gravity while moving in the vertical plane
Organize body alignment to withstand transmission of force in a “Domino Effect” trajectory
Refine the skill of moving in the pattern of Wave (proportional flexibility), and in the pattern of Axis (one unit of alignment in antigravity activities)
Train in the harmonious management of movement coordination for the strength-demanding functions of pushing, pulling, and moving against a controlled resistance
Practice challenges of anti-gravity movements in bouncing on the heels, standing up from sitting and from lying, walking up and down steps/slopes, and jumping
Integrate ways of lifting weights with proportional engagement of the entire body
Improve the quality of coordination through a variety of natural evolutionary modes of locomotion that propel movement, including patterns of creeping, crawling on all fours, and primal swimming
Learn strategies to secure personal safety, and options for coping with vulnerable joints, while applying a relevant balance between stabilization and enhancing freedom of movement
Cultivate the capacity to recover equilibrium, and empower self confidence in coping with the fear of falling, and practicing uninjured falling
Tone up the sphincter network
Upgrade the ergonomics of one’s daily habits
Inspire the urge to move, and to enjoy the “Biological Optimism” that comes from having a reliable skeleton
Align and Find Safe Movement through the Joints and Vertebrae in Weight-Bearing Dynamic Movement

Didactic Teacher Training

Encourage students to move into teaching by upgrading self-confidence to acknowledge what they know and be ready to share it with others. Deepening the knowledge of the material:

a. Classification of program by functional themes of common movement failures

b. Clarification of Strategies, Concepts, Safety

c. Discussion of problems and needs of people and how to succeed to solve them.

d. Sharing experience, to enrich and be enriched by group

e. Introduction of 10 pt. Analysis of Processes: Analyzing Processes together in full group.

f. Introduction of Small Group Teaching Practicum based on the 10 pt. Analysis:

g. Setting up Mentoring/Study groups and meet times for Out of Class Learning

h. Feedback Review of Mentoring/Study groups 24 Analyzed Process Presentations. Summation of Main Process Maneuver Classification.

Mentoring Options and Expectations

Mentoring is a relationship between the Teacher in Training and one or more Certified Trainers. Through mentoring, a Teacher in Training can work on the specific aspects of their learning that need support: clarification, comprehension, teaching guidance and empowerment from a Trainer.

Because this is a very individual process there are many roads to the completion of the 24 mentoring hours. This mentoring relationship can open up the creative resourcefulness of both the Trainer and the Teacher in Training. Options for use of the mentoring hours are:

a. clarification about any of the 90 program processes

b. feedback on practice teaching

c. dialogue about theory and philosophy of the method

d. consultation about adapting processes to meet student's physical limitations.

e. attending Bones for Life workshops and processing with teacher

f. case histories and write ups

10 Point Analysis of Processes

a. Analysis of Processes and Presentation/Teaching to Study Group followed by discussion with constructive and empowering feedback.

b. Written Analysis submitted to teacher and group.

Public Teaching

a. Practice Teaching, public and/or individual

b. Assisting Trainer or Trainer presence for personal mentoring during practice teaching

Click here for Charlotte Bones for Life Certification

Click here for link to Continuing Education Requirements for Physical Therapists

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