































Feldenkrais Research Journal • volume 1 (2004)

Article

Therapeutic Effects of the Feldenkrais Method (Awareness Through
Movement) in Eating Disorders

Uwe Laumer
Lehrstuhl für Psychologie I., Universität Regensburg

Manfred Bauer
Lehrstuhl für Psychologie I., Universität Regensburg

Manfred Fichter
Lehrstuhl für Psychologie I., Universität Regensburg

Helmut Milz
Lehrstuhl für Psychologie I., Universität Regensburg

Abstract
Based on the movement-pedagogical concept of Feldenkrais and the findings of disturbed body
perception by eating disordered patients this research aimed at studying the therapeutical effects of the
Feldenkrais Method „Awareness through Movement“ with eating disorder patients. 15 eating disordered
patients treated at the Roseneck hospital for behavioural medicine rated – by means of a questionnaire
consisting of scales of the Body Cathexis Scale (BCS), the Body Parts Satisfaction Scale (BPSS), the
questionnaire for body perception (Fragebogen zum Körpererleben; FKE), the Emotion Inventory
(Emotionalitätsinventar; EMI-B), the Anorexia-Nervosa-Inventory for Self-rating (ANIS) and the Eating
Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI) – various aspects of their eating disorder before and after participating in a
nine hour course of the Feldenkrais Method. The data of these patients were compared to those of the
members of a control group, also consisting of 15 eating disordered patients who did not participate in a
Feldenkrais course. The participants of the Feldenkrais-course showed increasing contentment with
regard to problematic zones of their body and their own health as well as concerning acceptance and
familiarity with their own body. Other results were a more spontaneous, open and self-confident
behaviour, the decrease of feelings of helplessness and decrease of the wish to return to the security of
the early childhood, which indicates the development of felt sense of self, self-confidence and a general
process of maturation of the whole personality. The outcome points to the therapeutical effectiveness of
the Feldenkrais Method with eating-disorder patients within a multimodal treatment program.

Keywords
Feldenkrais Method, Eating disorder, body perception, Body therapy, Psychotherapy

Copyright ©: The copyright for this paper remains with the author(s).

Published by the International Feldenkrais® Federation (IFF) https://feldenkrais-method.org
Available online at https://feldenkraisresearchjournal.org

https://feldenkrais-method.org/
https://feldenkraisresearchjournal.org


First published in German: PPmP Psychotherapie Psychosomatik Medizinische Psychologie 47 (1997)
p. 170-180.

Please cite: Feldenkrais Research Journal, volume 1; 2004.

Service marks: The terms Feldenkrais®, Feldenkrais Method®, Awareness Through Movement®, ATM®,
Functional Integration®, and FI® are service marked terms of the International Feldenkrais® Federation
(IFF) and Feldenkrais professional guilds and associations in many countries. In keeping with academic
conventions, they will not be service marked in the entire text as may be required in nonacademic use,
but only for the first and most prominent use of the terms. In recognition that these phrases are formal
terms referring to specific practices within the Method, and to the Method as a whole, capitalization of all
the words in each term has been retained.



     
IFF Academy 

Feldenkrais Research Journal 1 (2004) 
® 2004 by the author 

 
Therapeutic Effects of the Feldenkrais Method (Awareness Through 
Movement) in Eating Disorders 
 
By Uwe Laumer, Manfred Bauer, Manfred Fichter, Helmut Milz 
 
Originally published in German. 
Translation 2004 by Carolin Theuring with consultation of Uwe Laumer.  
 
 
 
Abstract 
 
„Based on the movement-pedagogical concept of Feldenkrais and the findings of disturbed 
body perception by eating disordered patients this research aimed at studying the therapeutical 
effects of the Feldenkrais Method „Awareness through Movement“ with eating disorder 
patients. 15 eating disordered patients treated at the Roseneck hospital for behavioural 
medicine rated – by means of a questionnaire consisting of scales of the Body Cathexis Scale 
(BCS), the Body Parts Satisfaction Scale (BPSS), the questionnaire for body perception 
(Fragebogen zum Körpererleben; FKE), the Emotion Inventory (Emotionalitätsinventar; EMI-
B), the Anorexia-Nervosa-Inventory for Self-rating (ANIS) and the Eating Disorder 
Inventory-2 (EDI) – various aspects of their eating disorder before and after participating in a 
nine hour course of the Feldenkrais Method. The data of these patients were compared to 
those of the members of a control group, also consisting of 15 eating disordered patients who 
did not participate in a Feldenkrais course. The participants of the Feldenkrais-course showed 
increasing contentment with regard to problematic zones of their body and their own health as 
well as concerning acceptance and familiarity with their own body. Other results were a more 
spontaneous, open and self-confident behaviour, the decrease of feelings of helplessness and 
decrease of the wish to return to the security of the early childhood, which indicates the 
development of felt sense of self, self-confidence and a general process of maturation of the 
whole personality. The outcome points to the therapeutical effectiveness of the Feldenkrais 
Method with eating-disorder patients within a multimodal treatment program.” 
 
Key words: Feldenkrais Method – Eating disorder- body perception- Body therapy- 
Psychotherapy 
 
Published in: PPmP Psychotherapie Psychosomatik Medizinische Psychologie 47 (1997) p. 
170-180. 
 
 

 

 

 
 

 



 
2 

U.Laumer et al./Feldenkrais Research Journal 1 (2004) 

Introduction 
 
The interest in body oriented approaches for treatment of psychosomatic disorders has been 
growing continuously during the last years. Body-, movement- and breathing therapies 
become more and more integrated into the treatment plans of psychosomatic disorders, 
especially in stationary settings, due to impoverishment of sensuous experience in modern 
industrial society, a movement-inactive lifestyle, excessive demand of the body through 
stressful situations and increase of psychosomatic illnesses. Many body-oriented treatments 
are thereby founded on the work of Wilhelm Reich (1970,1972). Alongside, integrative 
approaches as well as functional body approaches gained more and more importance, like 
practices of movement oriented therapies. One of these practices is the holistic movement 
pedagogy of Feldenkrais, whose group method is in the centre of the following study.  
 
His interest in mechanics and efficiency of movement, in neurophysiology and pedagogy as 
well as the experience of a severe walking disabling knee injury, that he was able to heal by 
himself through self observation and application of movement, lead the ingenieur, PhD of 
physics and judo teacher Moshe Feldenkrais (1904-1984) 1949 to the publication of his 
ground laying book “Body and Mature Behaviour. A study of Anxiety, Sex, Gravitation and 
Learning” (Feldenkrais, 1949). 
During the following 30 years Feldenkrais developed and taught the two ways of his method, 
the hands on version “Functional Integration” and the group lessons “Awareness Through 
Movement” (Feldenkrais 1978, 1987, 1989). 
 
According to Feldenkrais the unity of body and mind is a concrete reality. They are not two 
somehow connected things, but in their functions rather an inseparable whole. (Feldenkrais, 
1988). Motor activity is in that perspective the centre of all human activity and learned motor 
habits are the origin of emotional instability and behaviour disorders. Changes in behaviour 
are therefore only stable, if also the underlying physical pattern changes and through new-, or 
re-education of muscular habits the whole psychophysical organism achieves improvement 
(Hanna, 1984). That way Feldenkrais (1949) shaped a theory of holistic somatic education, in 
which through movement an access for change of the entire person is sought.  
 
According to Feldenkrais (1978) we act after the image, that we create of ourselves. This self-
image, which is formed through movement, sensation, emotions and thinking, is partly 
inherited, partly educated and a third part is created through self-education. With help of the 
specific movement lessons of the Feldenkrais method a process of organic learning is  
re-stimulated, which enables a sort of post-maturation and leads to the formation of new, 
more functionally appropriate reactions. Feldenkrais (1987) understands organic learning as 
the way children learn to lift the head, to roll, to walk, etc. Meant is an exploring, playful way 
of learning in ones own rhythm, with sufficient breaks and without pressure to perform, which 
awakens curiosity and interest, in which multifaceted parallels to most recent pedagogic 
approaches become apparent. This way of learning aims to evolvement and better use of ones 
own potential. Of special meaning is here the progression and promotion of kinesthetic sense, 
which is, as our first and basic ability to perceive, deeply connected with our self-identity. 
Another important point is the creation of eu-tonus, which means an optimal pattern of tonus, 
which provides the biggest preparation for action and reaction.   
 
The method of “Awareness through movement” - a system of over thousand of verbally 
taught movement lessons - uses gentle movement, guided attention, perception and 
imagination to develop the kinaesthetic sense in a vivid and lively way, to improve the 



 
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U.Laumer et al./Feldenkrais Research Journal 1 (2004) 

neuromuscular self image, on which movement is based and to foster with it the felt sense of 
self and self awareness.  
The work wants to lead to aware and spontaneous action and to the ability to be at the same 
time in contact with ones own muscular-skeletal system and the environment. Movement 
should ideally be only limited through the individual structure of the skeleton but not through 
muscular interference and every action should be performed with the least required effort and 
a maximum of efficiency. Thereby movement ranges from specific patterns, based on human 
motor development, to quite unusual configurations and often covers a specific function, like 
rolling, looking, breathing etc. Important principles are for example the exercise of attentive 
perception of ones own body, reduction of unnecessary effort, reduction of movements 
oftentimes down to very tiny, slow motions, encouragement to being not perfect, a playful 
approach, newness of the situation during the whole lesson, work with only one half of the 
body, techniques of imaging (Feldenkrais 1988) as well as parallels to Milton Ericksons 
hypnotherapeutic approach in the use of language and the possibilities to induce trance by 
means of movement and enhanced attention (Erickson u. Rossi 1981, Reese 1985).  
 
The Feldenkrais method has a broad range of application and research areas, like 
rehabilitation of neurological disorders (Deutsche Multiple Sklerose Gesellschaft 1993, Milz 
1985), developmental disturbance of children, pain problems and disorders of the motor 
apparatus  (Weitzer u. Graml 1995), psychosomatic problems (Czetchok 1992, Goebel 1992), 
prevention and adult education (Petzold 1985), psychotherapy (Fried 1988, Pohl 1994) or the 
training of musicians (Jacoby 1990), actors, dancers or in sports. The Feldenkrais method is 
also increasingly used in treatment of psychosomatic disorders, which among other things go 
hand in hand with a decrease or disruption of the motivity or with a disturbed relation to ones 
own body and an incomplete body image. However there is still a lack of studies that evaluate 
the efficacy of the Feldenkrais method in this realm. Only Hutchinson (1985) is referring to 
an evaluation of a training program consisting of exercises using imagination and elements of 
Feldenkrais lessons to change the negative body and self-image of adipose women.  
 
In common for eating disorders like Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa and hyper phage 
Adiposities are disturbances of body perception and of body image as well as feelings of 
personal ineffectivity (Bruch 1973). 
 
The most obvious symptom of Anorexia nervosa is a strong loss of weight, which is not 
resulting from somatic causes, but develops from food rejection or restriction, connected with 
a kind of weight phobia (Gerlinghoff & Backmund 1989). Girls and young women are 
stricken with this in the first place (Karren 1986). Disturbed body perception of the patient is 
often expressed in the fact that even extreme loss of weight is not realized and the patients 
still feel too fat or want to retain the now reached “ideal weight” (Karren 1986). This clinical 
picture nowadays increases considerably in industrial countries. Equally considered as 
determining for development of Anorexia nervosa are individual, family dynamic and socio-
cultural factors (Bruch 1978, Hellinger 1994, Selvini-Palazzoli 1982).  
 
Bulimic patients mostly experience at least one ravenous hunger attack a day, during which 
they are unable to control the amount of food intake (Paul u. Pudel 1985). Some patients 
though show a change between phases of hunger attacks and symptom free periods. Two third 
of the patients induce vomiting every time after a ravenous hunger attack which comes with 
negative feelings. Additionally they often abuse appetite depressants and laxatives. Frequently 
named as trigger for the excessive hunger attacks are frustration, boredom, anger or rage. 
Hunger or appetite don’t play a role here. This suggests that patients grounded on their 
symptomatology have lost the physical sensation of hunger or saturation.  



 
4 

U.Laumer et al./Feldenkrais Research Journal 1 (2004) 

Adipositas is a symptom, for which physiological, genetic and personality factors as well as 
acquired eating habits from childhood are of significance (Bräutigam & Christian 1981). 
Adipose feel their eating behaviour as well as their body weight as something uncontrollable. 
They often have an aggressive to hostile relationship to their own body. Disturbances of the 
body image were found of the kind, that adipose people think of themselves as fatter as they 
actually are. (Mader 1986). However from a medical point of view Adipositas only describes 
the forms of overweight that require treatment or are relevant for health. In difference to 
adipose patients, normal weighted are able to show, without cognitive control, spontaneous on 
body signals relying eating behaviour and are able to keep their normal weight long-term. 
(Pudel 1987). 
 
From the description of the Feldenkrais method it became obvious, that movement opens 
access to a change of the entire person, existing movement-, breathing-, and posture patterns 
become more conscious and the development of body perception and the felt sense of self is 
being promoted. Eating disorders have disturbances of body perception, of body image as 
well as feelings of personal ineffectivity in common (Bruch 1973). These aspects show the 
significance and effective radius of a body- and movement-therapeutical approach to these 
disorders.  
 
Aim of the following inquiry study was to filter the effect of a Feldenkrais-group on the 
patients relationship to her own body, her emotional state and on other for eating disorders 
typical fields in the setting of a stationary, multimodal therapy program. At the same time this 
investigation is following the intention to expand the psychological knowledge about areas in 
which the Feldenkrais method has an impact on patients with eating disorders.  
 
From this aim resulted the following questions:  
-Does “satisfaction with the own body” and  “acceptance of the own body” change through 
participation in the Feldenkrais-group? 
-Do changes in “spontaneity of behaviour” and in “psychical well-being” occur through 
participation in the Feldenkrais-group?  
-Does the “consciousness of figure” (Figurbewußtsein) as well as a “feeling of being 
overwhelmed” (Gefühl der Überforderung) change through the participation in the 
Feldenkrais-group? 
-Do as positive rated changes in areas specific for eating disorders, like impulse regulation, 
social security etc. result from a participation in the Feldenkrais-group? 
 
Method 
 
Field of investigation and design of investigation 
 
Several units at the hospital of Roseneck where the following study was conducted are 
specialized in treatment of eating disorders besides other existing focal points. Here patients 
with Anorexia nervosa- and Bulimia nervosa as well as hyper phage adipose patients receive 
treatment together. At clinic entry every patient gets assigned to one reference therapist (M.D. 
or psychologist). At the beginning of therapy every patient together with her therapist works out a 
therapy plan with the goals of the therapy.  
 
This general therapy plan for every eating disordered person is composed of single- and group therapy, 
which is lead by the respective therapist of reference. Additionally the eating-disorder patients take 
part in bodywork, in the setting of physical exercise and movement-therapies. Movement therapy here 
includes dance therapy and the Feldenkrais method “Awareness through movement”, which is mostly 
conducted in groups of patients of one unit, as well as single work. A more extended description of the 



 
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U.Laumer et al./Feldenkrais Research Journal 1 (2004) 

therapeutic concept of the clinic of Roseneck can be found in Fichter (1989). In preparation of the 
transition from the stationary therapy to the ambulant phase the patients are already recommended 
during their stay to make contact with self-help associations or therapists in their hometown. Patients 
have a possibility to try out the things learned in therapy also in their home environment in prepared 
therapy vacations. Then occurring problems can be renewedly worked on in the clinic (Brunner 1987). 
 
A group of 15 patients of the clinic with eating disorders did take part in a Feldenkrais group with nine 
scheduled sessions within five weeks additionally to the intensive multimodal therapy program of the 
psychosomatic clinic of Roseneck. These patients were compared with a control group of 15 patients 
with eating disorders of the same clinic, who only took part in the above described therapy program 
without the Feldenkrais method.  A closed group seemed to make more sense compared to an open 
group, because it allowed a developing program for the class. It also didn’t seem meaningful to have a 
placebo treatment for the control group, which would have had the same time length as the 
Feldenkrais lessons, with a look at the extensive schedule of the patients and the purpose of this study 
to be - also considering the small sample - a pilot study.  
 
For both groups it was paid attention, that patients didn’t receive any other movement therapeutic 
treatments (e.g. dance therapy) during waiting hours and time frame of the investigation.  
However the influence of other (non-body-oriented) parts of the stationary treatment on the examined 
variables stayed uncontrolled in this comparison of the two groups.  
 
Newly arrived patients of the units for eating disorders were collected in the course of three weeks. 
With this group a Feldenkrais-group was started, with one initiating meeting and nine lessons of 
“awareness through movement” each of 45 min length. The lessons where held two times a week over 
a period of five weeks. During the execution of the Feldenkrais-group again in the course of three 
weeks newly arrived patients with a diagnosis of eating disorders were collected to contribute to the 
control group.  
 
Measurement of each group was conducted respectively after a initiating meeting and after a period of 
five weeks, resp. after the end of the Feldenkrais-group. For the Feldenkrais class a series of lessons 
was chosen, that in method specific ways dealt with different stages of child development.  
 
Thus after the initiating meeting the first class was started with the primary movement topics of 
infancy (lips, eyes, head, first rolling movement). Topic of the second class was lifting of the head in 
back position (work with the flexors). The third lesson introduced breathing movements, especially 
belly breathing. Content of the fourth lesson were movements of the legs in connection and 
differentiation with rolling the head. The fifth class was aimed at the connection of different postures  
(from “collapsed in itself” to “exaggerated erection”) and the feelings that come with it. The sixth 
lesson continued to play with the red thread of motor development in infancy and was about rolling 
movement to the side. The seventh lesson was assigned to explore the own pattern of breathing as well 
as the connection of different ways of breathing and emotions. In the eighth class especially movement 
with arms and legs and the perception of both halves of the body received attention. The ninth lesson 
again was about breathing, this time about the different phases and the rhythm of breathing.  
 
Description of the tools for data collection 
 
Both patients from the control- and from the Feldenkrais-group received for both points of data 
collection a questionnaire composed of the following parts: based on “Body Cathexis Scale” (BCS) 
(Secord u. Jourard 1953) and on “Body Parts Satisfaction Scale” (BPSS) (Berscheid, Walster u. 
Bohrnstedt 1973) a list of 34 items was put together, on which satisfaction or dissatisfaction with 
different body parts and functions had to be indicated. It was handled this way, because none of the 
original scales – BCS as well as BPSS- seemed to be ideal. As handled in BPSS satisfaction and 
dissatisfaction with ones own body should be estimated on a six-ranks rating scale, which went from 
“very unhappy” (=0) up to “very happy” (=5).  
 



 
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U.Laumer et al./Feldenkrais Research Journal 1 (2004) 

For the topic of acceptance of the own body items from the “Questionnaire for body experience” 
(Fragebogen zum Körperleben) (FKE) of Paulus (1982) was used. From the scale “acceptance of the 
own body and integration into self-experience”, which contains 43 items, the 21 topmost loading and 
for the study in its contents most meaningful items were selected. The answers had congruent to FKE 
to be put on a four-ranks scale from “not right” (=0) to “very right” (=3).  
 
For measurement of psychic condition two factors “inhibited vs. spontaneous condition” and 
“disturbed general condition vs. well-being” from the Emotionalitätsinventar (EMI-B) of Ullrich de 
Muynck and Ullrich were used (1978).  An improvement of the general physical as well as psychical 
condition and decrease of inhibited behaviour and increase of spontaneous behaviour is assigned to the 
Feldenkrais method (Feldenkrais 1989). The 27 items of the two scales were introduced with the 
instruction:” During the last week I predominantly felt…”. The prevailing feelings had to be rated 
between two contrary pairs of attributes in each direction with three grades of distinction (“very 
much”, “clearly”, “more likely”). For the results these raw values were according to the instructions 
turned into scale values. The authors give/deliver T-value profiles among other things for samples of 
“clinical non-disturbed”  (n= 566) and “psychiatric patients” (n=481), though a sample of comparison 
of patients with eating disorders is missing.  
 
The Anorexia-nervosa- inventory for self evaluation (ANIS) (Fichter u. Keeser 1980) was initially 
conceptualized as instrument for recording anorectic symptoms, but is usable for all eating disorders 
and was at the time of the data collection used regularly at the clinic of Roseneck. A factor analysis 
resulted in six factors with overall 32 items. For this study the factors “consciousness of figure” and 
“feeling of being overwhelmed” was used. For answering this a six-ranks rating scale from “not at all” 
(=0) to “very strong” (=5) is available. For evaluation the raw values are being summarized to scale 
values. (For the fields of “satisfaction with ones own body”, “acceptance of own body” and the ANIS 
no norm values were available.) 
 
To meet the many conditions and dimensions of eating disorders, the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 
(EDI) (Garner 1990) was used additionally. It is used regularly in its German translation at the clinic. 
EDI is a widespread instrument for measurement of symptoms that usually come along with eating 
disorders. It delivers standardized scale values for 11 dimensions. For this study the following scales 
were used: “Drive for thinness”, “Bulimia”, “Body dissatisfaction”, “Interoceptive Awareness”, 
“Maturity Fears”, “Asceticism”, “Impulse regulation” and “Social insecurity”. The single questions 
had to be answered according to the momentary condition of the subject, using a six-ranks rating scale 
from “never” (=0) to “always” (=5). From these raw values one scale value was computed. Norm 
tables exist for one group of eating disorder patients (n=889) and additional groups of comparison.  
 
Sample 
 
As far as the therapy schedule of the clinic Roseneck allowed it, the individuals of the control group 
were selected as parallel as possible to the ones in the Feldenkrais group in terms of diagnostic criteria, 
age and preliminary time length of treatment in the clinic. (See Tab. 1).  
 
Out of 15 patients in the Feldenkrais-group, nine were diagnosed with Bulimia nervosa (BN), two with 
Anorexia nervosa (AN), one of the two had additionally the diagnosis Bulimia nervosa and four 
patients were diagnosed a (psychogenetic) Adipositas.  
Of 15 patients in the control group, nine were diagnosed with Bulimia nervosa, two with Anorexia 
nervosa  (one of them additionally with Bulimia nervosa) and four with Adipositas (two of them 
additionally with Bulimia nervosa). AN and BN were diagnosed through the therapists; they related all 
of their criteria for diagnosis to DSM-III-R (Wittchen et al. 1989). 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 
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U.Laumer et al./Feldenkrais Research Journal 1 (2004) 

Feldenkrais- group (FG) Control-group (KG) 
Subject Age Sex Diagnosis Pre-

treatment 
Subject Age Sex Diagnosis Pre-

treatment 
FG01 23 w BN 3 KG01 25 w BN 3 
FG02 26 w BN 1 KG02 25 w BN 1 
FG03 28 w BN 2 KG03 30 w BN 3 
FG04 42 w BN 0 KG04 27 w BN 0 
FG05 30 w BN 2 KG05 31 w BN 3 
FG06 30 w BN 0 KG06 30 w BN 0 
FG07 28 w BN 1 KG07 27 w BN 1 
FG08 20 w BN 0 KG08 21 w BN 0 
FG09 24 w BN 1 KG09 24 w BN 0 
FG10 29 w AN 1 KG10 30 w AN 1 
FG11 22 w AN/BN 3 KG11 18 w AN/BN 0 
FG12 41 m Ad 1 KG12 51 w Ad/BN 1 
FG13 30 w Ad 3 KG13  42 m Ad 2 
FG14 29 w Ad 0 KG14 28 w Ad 0 
FG15 35 m Ad 1 KG15 23 w Ad/BN 1 
          
 x 29,0   1,3  28,8   1,1 
 
Note: BN: Bulimia nervosa; AN: Anorexia nervosa; Ad: Hyper phage Adipositas; Pre-treatment: time of pre-treatment in weeks. 
Tab. 1:  Description of the sample of  the study 
 
The patients were predominately female, whereas the Feldenkrais group had two men and the control 
group one man. Age range of the patients of the Feldenkrais group was 20-42 years, for the control 
group 18-51 years. Both groups were matching in mean age and mean duration of preliminary time of 
treatment. Regarding the family status currently four members of each group were married, the rest 
was unmarried.  
 
The question “Do you already have any experience with body therapies (e.g. Feldenkrais, dance 
therapy, Autogenous training, yoga, etc.)?” which was asked at the first time of measurement, was 
answered with “no”  by eight patients from the Feldenkrais group. Three had experience from a former 
clinic stay with Autogenous training, four had to a small extent experience with the Feldenkrais 
method. 5 patients from the control group hadn’t had any experience with body therapies. Six had 
from a former clinic stay experience  with Autogenous training, five with Feldenkrais, six with 
progressive muscle relaxation and three with yoga (multiple answers were possible).  
 
Results 
 
Satisfaction with the own body 
 
To assess the satisfaction with different body parts resp. body regions, the participants of  the 
Feldenkrais- and of the control group were asked a list of 34 items from the “body cathexis scale” 
(BCS) (Secord u. Jourard 1953) and the “body parts satisfaction scale” (BPSS) (Berscheid, Walster u. 
Bohrnstedt 1973). The pre-and post assessments were tested with Wilcoxon-test for pair differences 
for changes. The test of significance over the sum of raw values in each group resulted for the question 
of satisfaction with hips/thighs (z= -1.88, p=0,029), buttocks (z= -2.39, p=0,008), torso (z= -1.88, 
p=0,023), arms (z= -1.86, p=0,031), general physical appearance (z= -1.73, p=0,041) as well as health 
(z= -2.25, p=0,012) in significant differences for the Feldenkrais group  between pre- and post-test 
(see pic.1). 
The control group showed no significant differences in the corresponding evaluations.  
Regarding satisfaction with feet, legs, knees, stomach, back, shoulders, hands, neck, head, hair, face, 
nose, mouth, lips, eyes, skin, weight, height, breathing, posture, body shapes, digestion, voice, ease of 
movement, elegance of movement, appetite, sleep, liveliness there were no significant changes, neither 
in the Feldenkrais group nor in the control group. But differences in the initial level of Feldenkrais 
group and control group  have to be considered as limiting here.  
 



 
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U.Laumer et al./Feldenkrais Research Journal 1 (2004) 

These results suggest that the Feldenkrais method causes improvement of satisfaction in body areas 
that are specifically problematic for eating disorders (e.g. hips/thighs, buttocks) as well as a more 
positive assessment and attitude regarding the own health.  
 

0
5

10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55

hips/ thighs butto cks upper bo dy arms general
phys.

appearance

health

FG-pre
FG –post
KG- pre
KG-post

 
Pic. 1 Change in estimation of content ness with single body parts resp. –areas, measured with 34 Items of 
the “Body Cathexis Scale” (BCS) (Secord u. Jourard 1953) und der “Body Parts Satisfaction Scale” 
(BPSS) (Berscheid, Walster u. Bohrnstedt 1973) (Numbers show summarized raw values; high values 
show a high level of content ness; Minimum = 0, Maximum = 75). FG = Feldenkrais group; KG = Control 
group. 
 
Acceptance of the own body 
 
Acceptance of the own body was tested with 21 questions of the scale “Acceptance of the own body 
and integration into self experience” from the “questionnaire for body experience (Körpererleben)” (in 
German: FKE) from Paulus (1982). The change between pre- and post-test within each group was 
tested with a Wilcoxon-test for pair differences over the summarized raw values for significance.  
 
Tab.2 shows, that participants of the Feldenkrais group describe a major improvement in the 
experience of their own movement and the acceptance of the own body in five questions, whereby for 
two of the five questions a different initial level existed. Interesting is especially the clear 
improvement in the given “If I look at myself in a mirror, I find myself sometimes strange and 
sinister”, which describes a for eating disorders typical area of strangeness  towards the own body. The 
control group didn’t show significant changes in any aspect of satisfaction with the own body. Based 
on these results it can be assumed that the Feldenkrais method promotes acceptance of the own body 
in different areas and with that especially the familiarity with the own body gets improved.  
 



 
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U.Laumer et al./Feldenkrais Research Journal 1 (2004) 

 
 Feldenkrais-group Control-group 
 
 
 

 
pre 

 
post 

 
z-value 

 
p 

 
pre 

 
post 

 
z-value 

 
p 

 
1. My body often feels uncomfortable 

 
30 

 
23 

 
- 1,717 

 
0,043 

 
28 

 
29 

 
- 0,253 

 
0,399 

2. My movement often seems awkward and 
rigid 

21 14 - 1,171 0,043 22 20 - 0,674 0,250 

3. My movement often seems clumsy 18 14 - 0,980 0,163 20 18 - 0,801 0,211 
4. I sometimes have physical experiences that 
stay unclear and puzzling to me 

15 13 - 0,591 0,277 22 24 - 0,338 0,367 

5. I look immature 13 07 - 1,135 0,088 18 21 - 1,095 0,137 
6. I sometimes feel captured in my own body 25 21 - 1,048 0,147 30 29 - 0,338 0,367 
7. It’s hard for me to make bodily contact to my 
friends and neighbours 

22 17 - 1,400 0,080 22 24 - 0,912 0,180 

8. I feel limited in my range of action through 
my physical condition 

21 16 - 1,572 0,057 24 21 - 0,943 0,173 

9. My body sometimes seems strange and far 
away 

23 20 - 0,840 0,200 28 25 - 1,213 0,112 

10. The impression I arouse with my body is 
often not congruent with my real feelings 

30 26 - 0,888 0,197 32 34 - 0,296 0,383 

11. I would feel better if I would look different 28 22 - 2,022 0,021 16 19 0,730 0,233 
12. The impression I arouse with my body is 
more negative 

24 19 - 1,352 0,088 20 19 0,000 0,500 

13. If I look at myself in a mirror I find myself 
sometimes strange and frightening 

23 14 - 2,100 0,017 24 21 - 0,591 0,554 

14. I seldom have fun with my body 30 24 - 1,681 0,046 24 21 - 0,591 0,554 
15. When I move I often feel my physical 
heaviness as a hindrance 

16 16 0,000 0,500 19 19 - 0,140 0,444 

16. I very often dislike how I behave and move 23 23 0,00 ,500 25 24 - 0,404 0,343 
17. I often feel a physical uneasiness 27 23 - 1,121 0,131 29 35 - 1,483 0,069 
18. In secret I’m sometimes afraid others could 
reject my physically 

26 27 - 0,314 0,376 19 19 0,000 0,500 

19. Physically I mostly feel unbalanced 28 23 - 1,480 0,069 27 23 - 1,095 0,136 
20. I am less content with my body than my 
peers 

23 18 - 1,078 0,140 26 26 0,000 0,500 

21. I often show a cool physical façade to the 
outside like a mask 

25 20 - 1,120 0,131 26 29 - 0,43 0,176 

 
Tab. 2:Change in the acceptance of the own body, measured with 21 questions from the scale acceptance 
of the own body and integration into self-experience” from the “Questionnaire for experience of the own 
body(Körpererleben)”(FKE) (Paulus 1982) 
(summed raw values for pre- and post-test for both groups; high values represent a low level of 
acceptance; min.=0, max.=45; significance based upon Wilcoxon-test). 
 
Psychical condition 
 
Patients’ changes of the emotional inventory (Emotionalitätsinventar) EMI-B regarding the assessment 
of the factors “disturbed general condition vs. well-being“ as well as „inhibited vs. spontaneous 
condition“ were looked at here. An analysis of variance with measurement repetition over the values 
of both scales showed no significant main- (factor group: F=2,60, df=1, p=0,012; factor time: F=1,79, 
df=1, p=0,19) resp. interaction-(F=0,94, df=1, p=0,342) effect for “disturbed general condition vs. 
well-being”. This means both groups showed no changes in the field of general condition and 
undisturbed self-evaluation. With the scale “inhibited  vs. spontaneous condition” the factor “time of 
measurement”(F=6,24,df=1, p=0,19) lead to a significant main effect. Furthermore significant was the 
interaction of the factors “group and time of measurement” (F=6,78, df=1, p=0,015) whereas the 
factor “group” didn’t show an effect (F=2,24, df=1, p=0,147). From looking at pic.2 of the interaction 
effect it is clear to see that participants in the Feldenkrais group described themselves as more 
spontaneous, more free, more open, more self-confident, less shy and less hold back in their condition 



 
10 

U.Laumer et al./Feldenkrais Research Journal 1 (2004) 

after the series of lessons.  The control group didn’t show changes in this point. With this regarding 
the psychical condition it can be said, that the Feldenkrais method has a positive influence on the area 
of spontaneity. In relation to the general well being no therapeutic effects could be shown.  
 

0
5

10
15
20
25
30
35
40

pre-test post-test

Feldenkrais
group
Control group

 
Pic. 2: Estimation of inhibited vs. spontaneous feelings (Numbers show scale means; high values stand for 
a high level of inhibition). 
 
 
“Consciousness of figure” and  “feeling of being overwhelmed”  
 
To answer this question, analyses of variance over the scales “Consciousness of figure” and “Feeling 
of being overwhelmed” from the Anorexia-Nervosa-Inventory (ANIS) were calculated. No significant 
effects were found for the “Consciousness of figure” scale (factor group: F=0,02, df=1, p=0,899; 
factor time of measurement: F=2,12, df=1, p=0,158; interaction group-time of measurement: F= 0,29, 
df=1, p=0,593). For the scale “feeling of being overwhelmed” the interaction of group and time of 
measurement was significant (F=6,42, df=1, p=0,018). Whereas the main effect didn’t reach  
significance (factor group: F=0,03, df=1, p=0,873; factor time of measurement: F=3,73, df=1, 
p=0,065). Picture 3 shows for the factor “feeling of being overwhelmed” a clear change with the 
participants of the Feldenkrais-group. These patients felt less overwhelmed after the class, whereas 
patients of the control group showed a light increase (compare pic. 3). 
 

0
2
4
6
8

10
12
14
16
18
20

pre-test post-test

Feldenkrais
group
Control group

 
Pic. 3: Evaluation of the feeling of being overwhelmed (numbers show scale means; high values stand for a 
high level of feeling of being overwhelmed). 



 
11 

U.Laumer et al./Feldenkrais Research Journal 1 (2004) 

 
Typical problems for eating disorder patients, like feelings of helplessness against outer demands and 
expectations and like feelings of inner emptiness, the seven items of the factor “Feeling of being 
overwhelmed” covered restlessness and inferiority. This result suggests improvements through the 
Feldenkrais-method regarding these feelings. A change of the general consciousness of figure, which 
was covered through the areas fasting, diet, eating behaviour and fear of gaining weight, whereas 
wasn’t detected through participation in the Feldenkrais group.  
 
Change in eating disorder specific symptoms 
 
Changes in eating disorder specific symptoms were measured according to the specifications in the  
questions of the eight scales „Drive for  thinness“, „Bulimia“, „Body dissatisfaction“, „Interoceptive 
awareness“, „Maturity fears“, „Ascetism“, „Impulse regulation“ and „Social insecurity“ of the Eating 
Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI). Tab.3 shows group medians of both groups at time of measurement 1 and 
2 as well as percentage range for the Feldenkrais and control group at time of measurement 1 based on 
norms for eating disorder patients, as determined by Garner (1990) with a sample of  n=889, based on 
patients with different eating disorders. Values for Feldenkrais as well as control group lie altogether 
in upper levels, which points to the distinctive symptomatology of the patients in this study.  
 
 
 
Tab. 4 shows results of the analysis of variance with measurement repetition.  
 
Group and time of measurement show a significant interaction effect in the scale “maturity fears”, in 
which eight items capture the wish to return to the security of childhood. These fears decreased clearly 
in the Feldenkrais group (scale means: before 15.7, after 13.2) and a increased lightly for the control  
group (scale mean: before 17.7, after 18.5). The Feldenkrais method  decreased the wish to return to a 
childlike dependence and supported a more mature behaviour and the acceptance of responsibility. 
 
 
Subscale Drive for 

Thinness 
Bulimia Body 

Dissatisfaction
Interoceptive 
Awareness 

Maturity 
Fears 

Asceticism Impulse 
Regulation 

Social 
Insecurity 

FG, MZP1 22.2 21.6 33.0 26.9 15.7 14.2 20.5 21.7 
KG, MZP1 22.9 17.0 26.5 29.8 17.7 13.9 21.3 23.7 
FG, MZP2 21.3 16.0 31.6 26.3 13.2 12.2 20.0 20.3 
KG, MZP2 20.6 11.4 28.4 28.3 18.5 15.1 22.6 23.4 
FG, MZP1 
percentage rank 
(Prozentränge) 

99 99 99 99 96 93 99 99 

KG, MZP1 
percentage rank 
(Prozentränge) 

99 88 84 99 98 90 99 99 

 
Tab. 3: Group means of the Feldenkrais group (FG) and control group (KG) at the point of measurement 
(MZP) 1 and 2 for the 8 used subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory as well as Prozentränge for FG 
and KG at MZP 1 regarding the norms of a group of eating disorder patients (Garner 1990) (High values 
represent a high level of eating disorder specific symptoms). 
 
 



 
12 

U.Laumer et al./Feldenkrais Research Journal 1 (2004) 

 

 
Tab. 4: result of the analysis of variance over the scales of the eating disorder inventory (EDI). 
 
 
The factor “time of measurement” leads to a significant main effect for the scale “bulimia” (comp. 
Table 4). Both groups showed improvement for exactly the same amount (Feldenkrais-group scale 
mean: before 21.6, after 16.0; control group scale mean: before 17.0, after 11.4). But since the initial 
level for both groups was very different in this case, this result is not being interpreted any further.  
 
The scales „Drive for Thinness“, „Body Dissatisfaction“, „Interoceptive Awareness“, „Ascetism“, 
„Impulse Regulation“ and  „Social Insecurity“ showed no significant effects and thus there were no 
specific consequences of the Feldenkrais method observable.  
 
Discussion 
 
The following aspects should be regarded critically: The sample of this study was quite small with two 
times 15 persons. But an extension of the groups would have caused non-reasonable waiting time for 
many patients. Additionally it wouldn’t have made sense to work with a substantially larger group for 
the Feldenkrais-class program, because it would have critically limited the possibility to survey  the 
group, individual care  and the development of a group feeling. Also both groups contained patients 
with different diagnoses of eating disorder to avoid a too long waiting time for many patients. 
As a result the groups were heterogeneous. This kind of group formation however was congruent with 
the concept of treatment in the clinic, in which patients with different eating disorders are staying in 
the same unit and take part in the different group therapies. Further uncontrolled stayed which effects 
other, non-body oriented elements of the stationary therapy program could have on the measured 

 
 
 

 
df 

 
MS 

 
F 

 
p 

Scale: Drive for Thinness main effect:      
- group 1 0,02 0,00 0,991 
- time  1 40,02 2,57 0,210 
Interaction:  
-group/time 

 
1 

 
7,35 

 
0,47 

 
0,498 

Scale: Bulimia main effects:      
- group 1 317,40 2,47 0,127 
- time 1 459,27 15,03 0,001 
Interaction:  
- group/time 

 
1 

 
0,00 

 
0,00 

 
0,999 

Scale: body dissatisfaction main effects:      
- group 1 360,15 1,57 0,220 
- time 1 0,82 0,04 0,849 
Interaction:  
- group/time 

 
1 

 
40,02 

 
1,81 

 
0,189 

Scale: Interoceptive Awareness main effects:      
- group 1 91,27 0,82 0,372 
- time 1 17,07 1,10 0,304 
Interaction:  
- group/time 

 
1 

 
3,27 

 
0,21 

 
0,650 

Scale: Maturity Fears main effects:      
- group 1 198,02 2,05 0,163 
- time 1 10,42 1,19 0,286 
Interaction:  
- group/time 

 
1 

 
40,00 

 
4,55 

 
0,042 

Scale: Asceticism main effects:      
- group 1 25,35 0,69 0,414 
- time 1 2,82 0,26 0,614 
Interaction:  
- group/time 

 
1 

 
40,02 

 
3,69 

 
0,065 

Scale: Impulse Regulation main effects:      
- group 1 45,07 0,49 0,489 
- time 1 2,40 0,14 0,707 
Interaction: 
- group/time 

 
1 

 
13,07 

 
0,78 

 
0,383 

Scale: Social Insecurity main effects:      
- group 1 96,27 2,00 0,168 
- time 1 11,27 1,94 0,174 
Interaction:  
- group/time 

 
1 

 
4,27 

 
0,74 

 
0,398 



 
13 

U.Laumer et al./Feldenkrais Research Journal 1 (2004) 

variables. Facing these aspects as well as regarding the lack of evaluative studies concerning this topic 
and regarding the difficulties to measure short-term changes in this area with the existing tools 
adequately, this study had the character of a pilot study to show first hints of possible effects of the 
Feldenkrais method in stationary therapy of eating disorders.   
 
A clinically observable sign of all eating disorders according to Bruch (1973) is a disturbed 
relationship to the own body. Patients suffering from eating disorders are dissatisfied with their own 
body and their body image is distorted. The Feldenkrais method as a body therapy method works 
towards an improvement of body perception and a clarification of the body image, with which among 
others the satisfaction and acceptance of the body should improve 
 
From the assessment of satisfaction  of the patients with various body parts and regions a confirmation 
for the effectiveness of the Feldenkrais method can be concluded especially for the problematic zones 
typical for eating disorders (Garner 1990), like hips, thighs and buttocks as well as torso and arms as 
described in the literature.The general physical appearance receives a more positive assessment and 
attitude  which points to a generally improved body feeling and  improved relationship with the own 
body.  
 
Concerning the acceptance of the own body it is shown that after Feldenkrais lessons the body feels 
more pleasant. The own movements are perceived as less awkward and inflexible , which is explicable 
with the method specific proceeding, aiming towards more quality and flexibility of movement 
(Feldenkrais 1978). The own body is regarded with more pleasure, which is congruent with the 
already mentioned improvement of satisfaction with certain problematic zones and the general 
physical appearance. Decrease of strangeness and fear while looking at oneself in a mirror is an 
interesting result and points to a clarification of a distorted body image. Through the development of 
bodily awareness  the subjective image of the own body  approximates the real body structure and the 
perception of the body becomes more realistic (Feldenkrais 1978). Through sensing and moving and 
occasionally palpating of the own body it becomes more familiar.  So the own mirror image looks less 
strange. 
 
Feldenkrais (1988) states that the unity of body and mind is a concrete reality, that they are not 
somehow connected things, but in their functions an inseparable whole. Physical behaviour has as well 
impact on thinking and feeling of a human being as well as thinking and feeling have impact on the 
body and behaviour. Compulsive behaviour in different forms is symptomatic for all eating disorders 
and is always also expressed through physical behaviour in posture and action. 
 
New possibilities of behaviour and spontaneous possibilities of reaction, adjusted to the respective 
situation, arise if an immoderate increased  or a slack tonus of musculature gets regulated and if rigid, 
habitual posture and movement patterns become more aware (Feldenkrais 1989). The participants of 
the Feldenkrais group showed on the referring factors of EMI a decrease of inhibited and  compulsive 
and an increase of spontaneous, open and self-assured condition and behaviour. This confirms the 
assumption of Feldenkrais (1989), that through physical movement compulsive behaviour can be 
decreased and spontaneous behaviour can be increased.  
 
Recent development in the area of eating disorders moved more towards an understanding of 
especially Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa as disorders with multiple conditions and 
dimensions, in which the patterns of symptoms are only ultimately the expression of numerous 
different developments. As mentioned biological, psychological, family and sociocultural factors are 
relevant for the development of eating disorders, although the influence of each single factor in the 
heterogeneous population of patients can vary quite a bit. (Garner 1990). Quite some of these issues 
can be found in the scales of the Anorexia-nervosa-inventory (ANIS) and the Eating-disorder-
inventory (EDI) , which were used in this study. The Feldenkrais group showed improvements 
referring to the feeling of helplessness against demands from the outside, inner emptiness, restlessness 
and inferiority, which were measured within the “feeling of being overwhelmed” with the referring 
scale from the ANIS. The feeling of ineffectivity is typical for all eating disorders (Bruch 1973) and 
based on the result it can be said that through the development of body awareness also the felt sense of 



 
14 

U.Laumer et al./Feldenkrais Research Journal 1 (2004) 

self and self-consciousness is being promoted and with that also the ability to deal with demands from 
the outside in a constructive way. The Feldenkrais group showed a surprising improvement in the 
EDI-scale “Maturity fears”, which captures the wish to return to the security of early childhood. This 
confirms one of the basic assumptions of the Feldenkrais method – as expressed in “Body and Mature 
Behaviour” (1949), which is that through the movement lessons which themselves are based on motor 
development of a child as a red thread , a sort of maturation- or post-maturation process at the physical 
level and with that on the entire personality is evoked. Based on the result of the EDI-Scale “Bulimia”  
it can be said, that for eating disorder patients in general the tendency decreases to think of 
uncontrollable eating attacks or  to give way to them. Since both groups improved here in exact the 
same range, one can say that the Feldenkrais method doesn’t show an additional effect but that the 
standard therapy program of the clinic is very effective in that point.  
 
Since the satisfaction with the own body measured with typical problem zones increased, one could 
also expect a significant result in the EDI-Scale “body dissatisfaction” , which measures also 
dissatisfaction with these problem zones. The means show indeed a decrease of dissatisfaction in the 
Feldenkrais group, but it is not significant. No significant changes were found in other subscales 
“Consciousness of figure” (ANIS) as well as “Drive for Thinness” (EDI), “Interoceptive Awareness” 
(EDI),  “Asceticism” (EDI) und  “Social Insecurity” (EDI). 
 
Summarizing the results the Feldenkrais method “Awareness through movement” with its cautious and 
structure building procedure and the resulting development of body awareness and felt sense of self 
can be seen as a valuable part of a stationary therapy program for eating disorders. But a course with a 
quite little number of lessons has obviously its limitations. 
 
Based on the experiences of this study the used program could be further developed and optimized 
(see comments). Different elements, like perception, touch and palpation of the own body, developing 
a feeling for inner and outer space, as well as for  body boundaries or  working with lips, tongue, 
mouth cavity and especially breath hereby seem useful. Thinkable would be also the offer of 
continuation classes in the stationary setting or a combination of participation in group lessons and 
individualized single lessons in the Feldenkrais method “Functional Integration” (Hanna 1994, 
Rywerant 1985) as well as the realization of Feldenkrais groups in the setting of post-care- and self-
help groups. Future studies on the topic of “Feldenkrais and eating disorders” could investigate the 
impact of Feldenkrais on different forms of eating disorders (Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa, 
Adipositas). Furthermore a comparison of the Feldenkrais method with other movement and body 
therapeutic methods would be informative.  
 
Note 
 
The participants of the Feldenkrais group answered additionally to the quantitative questionnaires an 
interview after finishing the study. Most-mentioned topics formed categories like “kinaesthetic 
experience”, “conscious body perception”, “relaxing effect”, “pleasant exercises” and “problems 
during the lessons”. They also reported concrete “effects regarding the eating disorder”, “trance 
inducing effect” and “interest in further engagement” with the Feldenkrais method. 
 
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