In private sessions and movement education groups, Brenda Sorkin has worked with a diverse group of clients, from infants to adults. An autoimmune disease at an early age led her to discover the movement approaches that help her remain medication free and relieved her of pain from scoliosis. In turn, she has helped many restore themselves from physical discomfort while utilizing a soft focus of attention to encourage stress-free movement. Her approach encourages cognitive development at any age. Brenda has participated in medical research using Feldenkrais® to help those with multiple sclerosis and also has worked with psychotherapists to attend to the somatic experience in the psychotherapeutic process.
Brenda has a background in counseling with a particular interest in dreams and mythology. She spent time in her life as a modern dancer prior to her movement educational studies which have included certifications in qigong, Bio Dynamic Cranial Sacral, Tranger Psychophysical Integration and various other disciplines. She worked as a Tutor for the Trager Institute for 27 years. Her main focus has been to bring the value of movement education, detailed below, into everyday life.
In 1993 she embarked on the four-year training program in The Feldenkrais Method with its neurological understanding of connecting natural movement patterns with diverse applications.. Brenda is certified in both the passive (table work) and active (self-directed movements referred to as Awareness Through Movement) modalities of The Feldenkrais Method. She has taught public Awareness Through Movement classes in Charlotte since 1994 and offers private Feldenkrais and Trager sessions.
Brenda was also certified by Senior Feldenkrais Instructor Ruthy Alon, Ph.D. as a Senior Trainer in her Foundation of Movement Intelligence programs which include Bones for Life®, Walk for Life, Chairs, Mindful Eating and Solutions for Optimal Mobility. She has been teaching Bones for Life classes to the public since 2002 when she reversed her own osteoporosis after taking the course.
Integral to the Feldenkrais Method is its focus on developmental movements. Brenda began advanced study with Senior Feldenkrais Instructor Chava Shelhav, Ph.D. in this area in 2001 and completed her family oriented Child'Space program in 2012. After experiencing how much touch and movement impacts a child's life, Brenda sponsored the Child'Space Training Program Chava Shelhav Method in Charlotte to make it available to local families. Her colleague, Paula Alonso is now offering Child'Space in Charlotte.
Brenda also had the opportunity to work and travel with mythologist Betty Smith, M.A. author of The Greek Dialogues, Loved by a God and Conversations in South Pasture. Betty was the founder of Poiesis Seminars and led mythology seminars in Greece for over 30 years. Brenda has offered various workshops designed to enter the myth through dialogue and movement, opening our imaginations to ponder the archetypal themes which impact our lives.
Providing services at the location of Movement Dialogues, LLC, Paula came to the Feldenkrais Method after a long journey looking for solutions for her own struggles with tendinitis and fibromyalgia.
Before taking the 4 year training to become a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, she was a Certified Rolfer™ and Rolf Movement™ Practitioner, and stay-at-home mom to her two children, a middle school teacher in her native Brazil, and a sociologist.
In all those different roles, Paula has been known for her caring personality, her desire to help others, and her continuous commitment to learning and going deep in her understanding of her work.