Lou’s Feldenkrais practice has grown from many years of working with families, in SEN schools and in the arts with a focus towards inclusion & access. With her extensive background & knowledge means an inclusive ethos is part of the fabric of her practice.

With Lou’s everyday being rich with the nuances she know that creating a welcoming, fun environment without limiting expectations can bring out the delightfully unexpected! 

Children | Teenagers | Families

Lou has many years experience of working with children, teenagers and their families in a variety of settings – a residential home (2002-2004) & out-of-school children’s charities (1996-2013). She worked in mainstream & special educational settings, & pupil referral behaviour units (2011-2017). Working alongside families who required extra support due to challenging circumstances (2004-2017) led into supporting families settle into new routines when a new baby arrived in the family.

She has experience and training in the different approaches which can be used to support people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC) & Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD) – deep pressure therapy, sensory integration, TacPac, intensive interaction, TEACCH, behaviour management and communication strategies, and anxiety reduction approaches.

With a sense of movement & curiosity children use their sensory intelligence all the time. A Feldenkrais approach to movement taps into this sensation based wisdom, & respects the incredible abilities of the brain, nervous systems, tactile feedback, the proprioceptive, vestibular & kinaesthetic systems.

Adults

My work with adults is completely embedded in an inclusive ethos and I welcome all ages, access needs and backgrounds. I’m especially interested in how improving physical movement can support changes in mental and emotional health, and in turn our self image. The connections between the way we move, sensations, feelings and our environment all influence each other. My approach is respectful and sensitive, acknowledging the stories that people carry.

 

A Potted History

Working in the arts sector since 2009 Lou’s specialism has developed in inclusion & accessible arts practice. Her portfolio includes working as a consultant, producer and administrator with a variety of companies and organisations, including Epic Arts (UK & Cambodia), Candoco Dance, Stopgap Dance, Graeae, Fast Familiar & Oily Cart.

As an artist and inclusion practitioner in a special needs school for 2 years in Dagenham, Lou invited pupils into creative multi-sensory play spaces. This ran alongside being the arts module leader at Westminster Society for People with Learning Disabilities. In 2011 Lou co-founded YSYT, an out-of-school charity providing play & creative arts activities for children. The ethos of the charity was to support the families and carers who used the service.

Lou a member of the Feldenkrais Guild UK (FGUK), subscribing to their code of ethics and have full insurance. She is DBS check.

Alongside being a member of FGUK, Lou sat on the Feldenkrais Guild UK board and held the role of Co-Manager for social media initiatives, 2015-2018, and the International Representative, 2015-2017.

Feldenkrais & Me

This short film highlights how working with Feldenkrais has influenced how Lou moves with her diagnosed left side hemiplegia cerebral palsy. 9 seconds was the goal, set by her doctors, for Lou to balance on her left leg. Over the years of doing Feldenkrais Lou has found more stability through her left side, leading to improved mobility, and she is getting closer to standing on her left for more than 9 seconds.