I recently presented at the Johns Hopkins/Healthways Outcomes Summit to three groups of medical doctors. One of the first things I said to them is, "OK, so a lot of you are probably wondering why I'm here to talk to you about movement. I'm here to tell you that unless you are not planning to get older (and please come talk to me if that's you because I'm very interested), this is a topic that might become pretty important to you at some point in your life!"

They laughed! And nodded their heads. After all, doctors, nurses, PTs need to move around in order to live, just like everyone else. And they don't get training about movement in medical school despite the fact that they often bend and stoop over people all day long.

Why is it that in our culture movement education is something that really only athletes or other "special" people get? Shouldn't we all have those tools in our toolbox? But no, we sit still in front of computers and in lecture halls and at work and in our cars. Garrrgh. No wonder so many of our backs hurt.

As it happened, they'd asked me to present about the contribution of poor movement habits to back pain, and I had a great time sharing with them how I think about this common problem and some simple ways to resolve it.

I also had a lot of fun talking to the docs who liked playing sports such as golf (disc and regular) or who had parents or family members who need help with how to move well and easily. Questions ranged from "Can you help me to improve my golf game?" to "Can you help my daughter figure out how to carry her books/baby better?" and "Can you help my patient with CP/stroke?" and, funnily enough, "That orthopod I went to said I can't do the stair stepper and I think he's full of it" (this from a doc who teaches at medical schools!)

The answer, of course, is that if it's related to movement I might well be able to help you with it. One of the things I love about Feldenkrais is that it's so simple. Movement is life, ergo, we move better, we live better.

Many people associate the idea of growing older with that of decrepitude--becoming physically feeble, ill, and unable to live independently or care for oneself. We live in a society that doesn't take care of its seniors. There is a lot of justifiable fear around the question, "What will happen if (or when) I can't do for myself any more?"

Most of my clients are over the age of 45 (the oldest is 87!), and they are strong, healthy, vital people who have decided to take the matter of exploring graceful aging into their own hands. They are not willing to buy into the myth that as one ages one will inevitably become crippled, depressed, and dependent on others.

I am glad to see that there are more and more people willing to question whether or not aging has to be a joyless, painful process. There are changes, yes, and we have to try to understand what these changes mean to us and be realistic about our capacities. However, there IS information available to us that helps us learn about being healthy without trying to sell us yet another overpriced pill, cream, or product. The Feldenkrais Method is one such source of that information.

I believe in empowering people--in helping them learn how to care for themselves. A lot of money is made in this country out of teaching people that they are helpless; the older a person is, the more likely it is that they will get the feedback that "There is nothing that can be done because you're OLD, just live with it." This may be true for some people, but it certainly isn't true for everyone.

Daniel Levinson, a great psychological researcher who wrote some of the first books about adult development over the human lifespan, said that early adulthood didn't end until age 45. Yes, you read that right--45! He called the ages of 45-60 "middle adulthood" and viewed these as years when wisdom gained earlier would take root and blossom. These years can be both turbulent and rich in terms of identity, life transitions, and physical and emotional changes. It's natural and it's to be expected that we would have to learn about ourselves in a different way during this fruitful time.

I believe strongly in the both the possibility and the promise of graceful aging.