SPACE OF ITS OWN
Saratoga Awareness opens new location on Wells Street
SARATOGASPRINGS, N.Y. » Local business Saratoga Awareness has a new home in the Spa City.
Saratoga Awareness recently celebrated the grand opening of its new space at 7 Wells St. in Saratoga Springs at a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
Since 2015, when Saratoga Springs native Evan Rock founded Saratoga Awareness, she has offered therapeutic massage and Feldenkrais functional integration services, as well as Awareness Through Movement classes, within the local community.
Over the past five years, Rock has built her client base, and she recently decided to expand her business.
For the first time, Saratoga Awareness nowhas a space of its own. Previously, Rock practiced in places shared with other businesses.
In this new setting, Rock provides therapeutic massage and one- on- one Feldenkrais functional integration services.
The Feldenkrais Method is an approach to holistic fitness which uses movement to communicate with an individual’s nervous system about its tendencies and functioning. This communication can reveal potential for more optimal and efficient movement patterns, more variety and spontaneity in action, and more power and precision through the body.
“The Feldenkrais Method works at reeducating the nervous system for more efficient movement,” said Rock,
who is the only Feldenkrais practitioner in the region.
This modality is meant to provide a learning opportunity for the nervous system to relieve itself from pain and habitual inhibition which may not necessarily serve it in its present, daytoday functioning.
The Feldenkrais Method was developed by scientist, physicist and engineer Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais of Israel in the 1940s and introduced to the United States in the early 1970s.
Always intrigued by biology and the study of the human body functions, Rock took an interest in the F el den kr a is Method shortly after earning an associates of applied science degree in massage therapy.
After witnessing and experiencing the results of the Feldenkrais Method, Rock decided it was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life.
She studied the F elden kr a is Method in a four-year practitioner training program with David Zemach-Bersin, one of Feldenkrais’ original American students, and a team of renowned Feldenkrais practitioners from around the world, at the Feldenkrais Institute of NY in Manhattan.
Following this training, Rock established Saratoga Awareness as a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner and Awareness Through Movement Teacher.
Rock says the Feldenkrais Method is for all human beings who have a nervous system. “That’s the cool thing about it, is that it can be applied to everyone because it’s within your own body, and it’s your own body learning to do what it can do,” she said.
While the method is popular among dancers, athletes, and people looking to improve their balance and posture, Rock believes it can be helpful for everybody.
“It really empowers people to take their health into their own hands,” she said. “I’ve seen so many of my clients that just continue to grow and do more and more of the things that they want to do.”
Saratoga Awareness client Deirdre Leland of Ballston Spa was first introduced to the Feldenkrais Method through Rock, who she now sees for massages every other week.
“When you finish with a Feldenkrais massage, you stand up and you feel like you’re five inches taller,” Leland said. “It’s very relaxing, plus your posture, your stance, your body is just lined up. It really is amazing. I strongly, highly recommend it.”
Looking ahead, Rock’s goal is simply to share this experience with more people. “I’m happy to be here,” she said about the new space, “and I’m excited to share more of my work.”
Appointments can be booked by calling or texting 518-368-9112, email emailing Saratoga Awareness@ gmail.com, or through the Saratoga Awareness website.
In addition to one-on-one services, Rock plans to resume teaching Awareness Through Movement group classes at Saratoga Health and Wellness in the future.
More information about Saratoga Awareness is available online at saratoga awareness.