Jiyoung Kang
I’m a prospective DPT student interested in Feldenkrais and Somatics. I’m observing several clinics in preparation for entering school, and Feldenkrais NYC was one of them. I felt the pace and perspective of treatment here were quite different from other PT clinics, so I wanted to share my thoughts. My first impression was that there wasn’t much of an information gap between the PT and the patient. One of the hardest things for patients is that even though it’s their own body, it’s difficult to truly understand its condition. Every practitioner tries their best to explain, but it’s not easy - not because of attitude, but because of constraints like time and resources. Here, there’s a secure space where patients can fully relax, and ample time to explore their body’s condition. Marek himself carries a kind of mental spaciousness - likely built from years of experience - that treatment doesn’t need to be rushed. Within that environment, Marek listens. And listening here isn’t just about emotional comfort; the body is a physical entity, and it has its own pace and method that need to be respected. What stands out most is that he helps patients listen to their own bodies again. Patients learn about their condition step by step, through very small steps - Marek’s instructions might be as simple as “walk normally” or “stand and slowly rotate your ankle inward, then outward.” It’s quite different from the fixed, intense repetitions. The movements are small, but precise - and that’s exactly why they work. Marek and the patient spiral gradually toward deeper understanding through these small steps. This kind of natural learning reminded me of learning to ride a bike - no one learns that from a textbook; you simply come to embody it through your own experience. Many PTs elsewhere have told me that getting patients to do their home exercises consistently is one of the hardest parts of the job, almost a habit they have to nag patients into. But many patients who’ve been through Marek’s care go on to seek out movement classes on their own, beyond their one-on-one sessions. At first, I found this high level of self-motivation surprising. But I came to realize it makes sense - when nothing feels forced or like something to “endure,” and the body feels at ease, patients naturally want to keep going. Above all, what I noticed is that Marek isn’t someone who deals in absolutes - he stays open. I had some prior knowledge of somatics and Feldenkrais, but certain methods can come with their own insider language that makes them feel inaccessible to outsiders. Marek, though, is someone who keeps asking questions and searching for answers that genuinely make sense to him. He doesn’t attach himself rigidly to any one method - he shares what he’s come to understand, in his own way.