Video transcript:
Violaine: Is there a specific population? I know we just described that anybody with a body could benefit, but then you mentioned when you're young. Is there a certain time when you should start? Should you start when you're young? Should you start when you begin to experience pain? What would you say is the ideal population type?
Byron: That's a good question. Thank you.
It has been my experience that older people are generally more interested in this because they’re dealing with issues. When you’re younger and someone says they can improve your walking gait, it might not seem necessary because you can already walk without a problem.
However, small children are fun to work with, because you can make it fun for them, and they get it! They tend to grasp the concepts more easily than those in their late teens, 20s, or 30s who may think, "This is just how I am." They often don’t understand that as you age, you might want to improve your function.
Violaine: I guess people typically start to become curious when pain begins to appear, which is unfortunate. This kind of work should ideally be taught in school from the beginning. When we’re young, we’re taught sports, but not how to move properly, which is the foundation we should be starting with.
Byron: That is what I would like to see happen, methods like Feldenkrais or Alexander Technique, or any of the somatic therapies, offered in schools before sports and gymnastics. It might even appeal to more people than sports do, as not everyone is inclined to be competitive.
Violaine: Like you said, small children don’t have much judgment at that age, so it would be a fun activity for them. When we talk about young children, what age range do you mean?
Byron: I would say starting anytime in the early teens is a good time. Years ago, when I used to pick up my sons from school, I would arrive early and watch the kids walking around. One thing I noticed, which is now more widely discussed, is that many kids carry very heavy backpacks. When I was a kid, you kept everything in your locker and only carried one book or none at all. Now, they carry everything in their backpack. To balance the weight, they often turn their toes inward, a detrimental pattern that disrupts overall movement.
If you can work with these kids to quiet their bodies and teach them how to align their feet and knees properly, it could help them understand that carrying so much weight on their backs isn’t good.
Violaine: Hopefully, education systems can start to address this more. Even when I was in school, we had heavy backpacks. In middle school, there was an experiment where we were given laptops to take notes instead of books. The idea was to make our backpacks lighter, or no need of backpacks. We were in the newspaper, it was a big thing at the time. But in the end, we had to carry both the laptop and the backpack, so it didn’t really solve the problem.
Byron: There’s also the issue of kids constantly looking at screens, leading to forward head posture. Simply teaching someone to lift their screen slightly can make a big difference.
Violaine: I’ve raised my laptop on a platform to maintain better posture, facing forward.
Byron: Fortunatly, I don’t spend much time on computers or phones, but I’ve spent 45 years leaning over a massage table. I notice how hard some massage therapists work and struggle with their posture, and I would love to teach at a massage school to share what I know. Learning to move efficiently, using power from your feet instead of your shoulders, makes all the difference. That’s how I’ve managed to sustain my work over the years.
If I can put in a plug for Core Movement Integration (CMI), it’s the work of Dr. Josef Dellagrotte, which you can find online through YouTube and his website, where he offers DVDs and downloads. Unlike some other methods like Feldenkrais, which often involved long awareness sessions without much visual learning, CMI provides more practical, accessible instruction.
As we near the end of our talk, can you recap where people can find more information if they’re curious and looking for a practitioner?
Sure, you can find more information on Joseph Delitto’s work through his website or YouTube. He was a direct student of Moshe Feldenkrais in the 1970s and developed his own approach called Core Movement Integration.
Violaine: We will make sure to recap all ressources, for people's curiosity, to find at the end of out talk and I will make sure to include links.
Going back to what we discussed earlier, to cover the full spectrum, what are some common conditions you see among people who reach out to you for help?
Byron: Thank you. The most common issues are neck and shoulder tension, often from sitting or other repetitive activities. This can lead to secondary issues like carpal tunnel, thoracic outlet syndrome, and other discomforts.
For example, when I was working with Josef in Boston, I had shoulder pain while walking, despite using techniques I thought would help. He explained that my shoulder wasn’t being properly supported because it was forward of my ribs, which is a common posture issue. The ribs are the support structure for the shoulders, and when the shoulders are forward, you lose that support.
Learning how to correct this takes practice, either through hands-on guidance or by learning simple movements. Feldenkrais practitioners, Alexander Technique instructors, or any somatic arts teachers can help with this. Somatics, a term coined by Thomas Hanna, refers to the mind-body connection. By changing something in your mind, you can change it in your body, and vice versa.
Violaine: When people come to you, are they usually dealing with chronic pain, post-injury issues, injury prevention, or rehabilitation? Does your work apply to all of these?
Byron: It applies to all of those, but mainly we’re dealing with chronic conditions—chronic knee pain, neck pain, etc. While deep tissue work might provide temporary relief, this is about long-term correction. Once someone has that "aha" moment, the improvement is there forever! The movements become embodied, so you no longer need to consciously think about them.
Violaine: How does Core Movement Integration differ from popular practices like yoga, Pilates, or physical therapy, and how does it integrate with other fitness and therapeutic modalities?
Byron: Great question. People often say they stretch or do yoga, so they assume they’re covered. Stretching is typically the end point of movement; when you reach the limit, you stretch a little further. I prefer the term "lengthening," which is more in line with CMI. If you’re focused only on stretching, like targeting your hamstrings, it can become adversarial. Instead, if you learn how to move elsewhere in your body, the hamstrings might naturally lengthen without the need for stretching.
Unlike massage therapy, physical therapy, or chiropractic work, which might focus on a specific issue like a wrist problem, CMI looks at how that issue connects to the whole body, starting from the spine, being the driving force of it all. Physical therapists often get frustrated because exercises alone might not be enough. Teaching someone to move more efficiently has greater long-term benefits.
Violaine: It sounds like it it the key to a lot of issues and just has been a forgotten practice overtime.
Byron: For example, as I am sitting here, if I want to side bend, there is a certain amount of opening that happens, now if I shift slightly on the side, there is even more lengthening that happens. Just learning that is very helpful.
Violaine: I see you doing it, I just feel like if I were to do it, it won't look as good.
Byron: At first, yes, it is going to feel uncomfortable, but eventually it becomes easier.
Going back to the martial arts, Aikido in particular, which has been my passion for the last 45 years, I am still learning. The movement you begin to struggle, everything changes, so if we can learn to move without struggles it's a game changer.
Violaine: Are there any restrictions, contraindications or situations where CMI wouldn’t be applicable?
Byron: Everybody can benefit.
For group classes, you generally need to be able to get up and down from the floor. However, there are seated classes that anyone can do, and everyone walks, so I often teach standing movements near a wall where people can feel the efficiency of their movement without worrying about balance. This gives them the confidence to apply what they’ve learned outside the classroom.
It it what I used to do in Boston, after my classes. I would go ou ton a walk and embody what I just learned and this is when all the "aha" moments happened. My connection to the tail bone, feeling the flexition in the spine coming from the feet. That is exiting.
Violaine: That does sound exiting, it makes me want to go practice it tonight!
Do you have any easy movement that someone could start doing at home as a practice? Or an example of a reliable Youtube channel?
Byron: As far as the Youtube channel, you can refer to Dr Josef Dellagrotte. He has 6mins videos.
Just sitting, free sitting, not having your back against anything. You can see if you roll forward on your pelvis. Oh, let's do this, I like this a lot! Putting your hands like this, one hand at your belly, one hand at your chest and then lean back.. notice that space between your hands. You can lean back and have that area lengthen - that is extention of the front of the spine and then conversely, when you roll back on your pelvis, you can have that area to shorten, but that means that the spine is lenthening.
Practicing that movement is really good. Do not effort to the point where you experience discomfort or pain. They are small movements but very beneficial.
Violaine: Can you describe a typical Core Movement Integration session? What can a new client expect during the first few sessions?
Byron: A typical session might involve the client lying on their back, focusing on their breath and body awareness. I might start with a simple movement like feet on the table, tipping the knees side to side, helping them notice how their weight shifts from one hip to the other. Then, I might guide them to notice how their left knee moves forward and down as they tip to the right, for example.
Gradually, I introduce more complex movements, integrating head and spine coordination. The goal is to activate the upright response, where the spine naturally lengthens rather than collapses. Gravity is our friend, gravity pushes us up as well as bring us down but if you can connect with gravity, it can elevate you.
Violaine: Where can people find you if they’re curious about starting with CMI, and how do you plan to pass on your knowledge in the future?
Byron: You can find me on our website, mindbodyworksmassage.com. I’m located in Sarasota, Florida, but I also offer online sessions through Zoom.
During the pandemic, I taught some young people online, giving them hints and feedback as they practiced. There’s a lot of information available online, both on the Feldenkrais method and Core Movement Integration.
Violaine: It's great that this can be done online! It’s important to find a CMI licensed practitioner.
Byron: There are not many CMI practicitioners but Josef Dellagrotte makes it very acceccible on his website for people to learn as well as the Fedenkrais.
Violaine: Thank you so much for all this information, Byron. It’s been a pleasure talking with you. I will make this video available on my website and will send it to you as well.
Byron: Thank you! I hope this interview helps more people get curious and start exploring this work.