Learn time-tested somatic movement methods to develop enjoyable, efficient movement techniques that enhance your balance, flexibility, strength, and resilience.
Maintain your strength and activity levels as you age, and increase your mental and physical flexibility to adapt and thrive in the midst of life's demands, ensuring a radiant and vital life.
Did you know that your movement habits, from the way you stand and walk to your facial expressions, can significantly impact your balance, flexibility, and overall wellbeing? And that these habits, formed over a lifetime, may be contributing to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility as you age?
You may already be feeling some of the effects of declining physical function — from the more subtle experiences of reduced balance, limited flexibility, and decreased strength... to obvious challenges, such as chronic pain, osteoporosis, and a fear of falling.
Or, maybe you just want to work on your physical health NOW, to prevent these symptoms and limitations from taking root.
With cases of age-related physical decline at an all-time high, what are you doing to ensure that you maintain healthy movement, balance, flexibility, and strength into your golden years?
According to body language expert and movement educator, Lavinia Plonka, there are many factors that can chip away at our physical wellbeing, starting at a very young age — from developing poor posture habits, to experiencing injuries or traumas, to living a sedentary lifestyle, to enduring chronic stress and emotional challenges.
As a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Teacher®*, founder of Kinēsa®, and a lead instructor of the Emotional Body®, Lavinia has helped people improve their movement, behavior, health, and careers for over 35 years. She’s taught the Feldenkrais Method® for over 30 years, and has trained in theater, dance, yoga, and martial arts.
Lavinia’s rich background contributes to her unique approach and led her to create Kinēsa®, which uses the intersection of posture, movement, emotions, and spirit to inform your whole being wellness.
She shares that if we don’t intentionally exercise our body’s resilience — our ability to adapt and recover — we can start losing mobility, confidence, and independence — vastly decreasing our quality of life and mental and emotional health as we age.
The good news, Lavinia says, is that regardless of your stage of life and what’s happened to you in the past, there are many simple movement techniques you can begin today to rejuvenate, restore, and enhance your balance, flexibility, and strength, counteracting and preventing the often negative impact of aging on your body.
That’s why we’re excited to invite you to join her in a brand-new 12-week live and highly experiential course, during which Lavinia will guide you through a wide variety of potent techniques for holistic wellness in every session.
She’s divided the course into what she calls the four pillars for graceful aging: Balance, Flexibility, Strength, and Resilience, providing you with wisdom around posture, breathing, self-image, and more — to help you cultivate and sustain vibrant health... and keep it that way for as long as you’re here on this planet. Every class is a movement lesson, but most are done lying down, and many of them can even be done in bed.
In the Balance section, you’ll learn how to find both inner and outer balance. You’ll discover how to ground yourself to improve stability and movement, exploring the crucial connections between your feet, ankles, knees, and hips. Through eye exercises and movement lessons, you’ll expand your vision and peripheral awareness, leading to better balance and faster response times. Lavinia will also teach you how to cultivate dynamic stability, helping you move freely and confidently by finding symmetry in your body and understanding the relationship between your pelvis and spine.
Moving on to Flexibility, you’ll learn that a flexible body leads to a flexible brain. You’ll explore functional flexibility, learning how to bend, reach, and navigate life’s challenges with ease. Lavinia will guide you in unlocking your core (what she terms your “treasure chest”) to achieve better posture and freer living, using less effort for better results. You’ll even discover how to give yourself a natural facelift through facial exercises and relaxation techniques.
In the Strength pillar, you’ll discover that building strength isn’t just about lifting weights. You’ll learn how to leverage your body for effortless strength and efficiency, teaching you how to use your larger muscle groups effectively to prevent injury and maintain mobility. You’ll also gain valuable insights into bone health, learning practical strategies to strengthen your skeleton and prevent conditions like osteoporosis.
Finally, in the Resilience section, you’ll learn how to get back on your feet, both physically and emotionally. Lavinia will empower you to reclaim your presence, build confidence, and radiate a quiet strength through your posture, breathing, and self-image.
During this life changing course, you’ll:
- Discover how to tune into your body from the ground up, starting with your feet, to enhance balance and prevent common issues like plantar fasciitis
- Learn to use your eyesight and eye movements to improve balance and cognitive function, expanding how you perceive and interact with the world around you
- Explore dynamic stability to move with more freedom and confidence, reducing stiffness and enhancing your ability to navigate everyday environments
- Develop practical flexibility through daily activities, learning to move without strain and maintain excellent posture effortlessly
- Experience a natural facelift by relaxing facial muscles, which reduces signs of aging and boosts your mood and health
- Learn the art of leveraging your body to use strength efficiently, preventing injury and maintaining muscle tone as you age
- Reclaim your presence and build confidence through movement, breathing techniques, and self-image work
- Acquire a toolkit of physical and mental strategies to enhance your resilience and ability to recover from setbacks
- And much more...
By the end of this 12-week journey, you’ll have a comprehensive toolkit full of exercises, techniques, and strategies you can immediately implement to enhance your resilience, recover from setbacks, and navigate life’s challenges with grace and ease...
... helping you heal, protect, preserve, and enhance your physical and emotional wellbeing for the rest of your life.
What You’ll Discover in These 12 Weeks
In this 12-week transformational course, Lavinia will guide you through the fundamental skills and competencies you’ll need to successfully improve your balance, flexibility, strength, and resilience through intelligent and enjoyable Feldenkrais Method® and Kinēsa® movement practices, promising you a future brimming with vitality, grace, and enduring wellbeing into your golden years.
Join the Livestream — or Stream Later to Watch at Your Convenience
You’ll connect with Lavinia and experience her teachings through livestreaming video via any connected device. This connection is easy to use and will enhance the impact of Lavinia’s transmissions. Can’t make it live? After each class, you can stream the video and audio recordings to enjoy anytime and anywhere at your convenience..
Course Sessions Thursdays at 1:00pm Pacific
This course will feature LIVE teachings, interactive sessions, experiential practices, and Q&A with Lavinia. Each session will build harmoniously upon the previous ones, so you’ll develop a complete holistic understanding of the practices, tools, and principles you’ll need to enhance your balance, flexibility, strength, and resilience through the enjoyable movement techniques of the Feldenkrais Method® and Kinēsa®, helping you live the rest of your life with vitality, grace, and sustained wellbeing.
PART I: BALANCE
Module 1: Get Grounded to Improve Your Stability & Movement (June 13)
Your journey to better health begins from the ground up — literally, at your feet. Often overlooked until pain arises, conditions like plantar fasciitis, bunions, and hammer toes stem from lifelong habits of incorrect posture, standing, and walking.
Your feet and ankles are your primary contact points with the earth and are vital for balance and stability. Prepare to be surprised and delighted as you unlock new flexibility from your soles to your hips by enhancing your connection with the ground.
In this session, you’ll:
- Discover how the movement of your toes influences your standing posture
- Take an experiential tour of the anatomy of your feet and lower legs
- Learn several movement sequences that boost the flexibility and stability of your ankles
- Explore the crucial connections between your ankles, knees, and hips
- Develop strategies for a more balanced and efficient walking technique
Module 2: Expand Your Vision to Enhance Your Balance & Perception (June 20)
Balance involves more than just your inner ear — it’s about being able to see what’s ahead and having the tools to respond effectively. As we age, our range of movement and ability to expand our visual field may diminish, impacting both balance and cognitive function.
This module explores how your eyes communicate with your brain and spine to broaden your worldview, equipping you with the tools to respond proactively rather than reactively.
In this session, you’ll:
- Discover how tension in your eye muscles impacts your neck and spine
- Experience a movement lesson aimed at improving your peripheral vision and your ability to turn
- Learn why “deer in headlights” eyes affect your balance and response time
- Find out how changing your focus can improve your eyesight
- Explore how enhancing your “inner vision” can deepen your perception
Module 3: Cultivate Dynamic Stability to Move Freely and Confidently (June 27)
Too often as we age, our focus often shifts to merely maintaining stability, which can result in stiffness, tension, and a loss of free movement. Dynamic stability, however, keeps us grounded while providing flexibility to turn, retreat, and navigate challenging environments.
This session explores the critical relationship between your pelvis and spine, showing you how the mobility of your hips connected to your chest is essential for maintaining flexible uprightness.
In this session, you’ll:
- Learn how to find more symmetry between your two sides
- Understand how the shape of your spine influences your walk
- Participate in a movement lesson that boosts both your balance and your strength
- Explore dynamic stability in how you move and how you move through life
PART II: FLEXIBILITY
Module 4: Enhance Functional Flexibility to Move With Ease and Confidence (July 11)
Flexibility isn’t just about touching your toes or performing complex yoga poses — it’s about being able to bend while weeding your garden or reaching into your dryer... stepping onto a ladder without fear of injury... or just enjoying a power walk.
This module focuses on the practical aspects of flexibility, allowing you to expand beyond your perceived limitations and fully enjoy life’s activities. You’ll learn how the relationship between the muscles on the front and back of your body can improve your posture effortlessly, helping you work with gravity rather than against it.
In this session, you’ll:
- Discover how to use your imagination to enhance movement
- Participate in a lesson to increase the flexibility of your back
- Explore the connection between your breath and the movement of your ribs
- Learn how tension restricts your movement possibilities
- Develop strategies to improve your posture without strain
- Understand the link between your back and hip joints to relax the hips effectively
Module 5: Unlock Your Treasure Chest (Your Core) for Better Posture & Freer Living (July 25)
Shoulders back! Suck it in! Squeeze that butt! Exactly how is a person supposed to enjoy life when it feels like you’re holding everything in? What if you could trust your body’s core centers — your pelvis, gut, diaphragm, and heart — to support you effortlessly?
This module reveals how the muscles of your trunk are interconnected with your organs, skeleton, and brain, impacting everything from your breathing to your sense of safety. Discover the freedom that comes from a supportive and responsive core, helping you navigate life’s challenges with ease and confidence.
In this session, you’ll:
- Understand the dynamic between your flexor and extensor muscles
- Learn about the crucial role of your diaphragm in maintaining good posture and facilitating effective breathing
- Discover how using less effort can lead to better results
- Practice a movement lesson to enhance support in your trunk, usable anytime, anywhere
- Explore how laughter can contribute to a strong and healthy spine
Module 6: Give Yourself a Natural Facelift to Refresh Your Appearance & Rejuvenate Your Health (August 1)
Remember when you were a kid and parents would say, “Keep making that face and it’ll stick that way”? It turns out there”s some truth to that. Our habitual facial expressions can indeed shape our features and age us even more than the sun.
This module explores how expressions like a furrowed brow or a pinched nose can impact not just your appearance but also your posture and overall health. Conversely, adopting a relaxed, happy facial expression can not only uplift your own spirit but also the spirits of those around you. By learning to relax your facial muscles, you’ll essentially give yourself a mini-vacation and spa treatment all in one, shedding years off your appearance and brightening your demeanor.
In this session, you’ll:
- Experience a soothing eye treatment to ease tension
- Learn exercises for relaxing the muscles of your face
- Understand how facial muscles express emotions and impact your appearance
- Discover the link between TMJ pain and eye strain
- Explore the physiological benefits of smiling and how it can improve your health and wellbeing
PART III: STRENGTH
Module 7: Learn to Leverage Your Body for Effortless Strength & Efficient Movement (August 8)
While strength training is essential for maintaining muscle tone as we age, there’s another path to strength that doesn’t rely solely on muscle building. This module introduces the concepts of leverage, ergonomics, and skeletal support, teaching you how to achieve more with less effort by ensuring all parts of your body work in harmony rather than in isolation.
Whether lifting a grandchild, swinging a golf club, or reaching to prune a branch in your garden, you’ll learn to use the strength in your larger muscle groups effectively, allowing you to continue enjoying everyday activities without strain.
In this session, you’ll:
- Discover what happens to muscle tone and strength as we age
- Learn strategies for preventing injuries caused by overexertion
- Participate in a movement lesson that teaches you to redistribute effort more functionally
- Explore how strengthening your back muscles can fortify your entire core
Module 8: Fun & Practical Strategies to Strengthen Your Skeleton for Bone Health (August 15)
Osteoporosis, often called the silent bone thief, can turn robust bones into fragile skeletons, significantly impacting our vitality and independence as we age. While there are entire programs designed to keep your bones healthy and strong, this class will offer some simple, logical, and fun strategies for keeping your body supple and your bones strong.
While osteoporosis risk factors range from genetic predispositions to dietary habits, there are effective measures you can take today to bolster your skeletal health and maintain bone integrity for years to come.
In this session, you’ll:
- Learn about the causes and dangers of osteoporosis
- Participate in a movement lesson specifically designed for bone health
- Discover how vibration positively affects bone density
- Explore how the floor can be used as a tool for supporting bone strength
Module 9: Reclaim Your Presence, Build Confidence & Increase Your Visibility Through Movement (August 22)
Lavinia and a friend went out for a walk one day. Her friend wore old sweats and a ratty sweater. Shrugging, she looked at Lavinia and said, “Why should I bother with anything else? You know we’re invisible now.”
That feeling of shrinking away, losing personal power, and abandoning our agency becomes more common as we age. But you don’t have to turn into the Invisible Woman or Man. How you stand, walk, the quality of your voice, and even the way you breathe can signal that you’re a force to be reckoned with.
This module empowers you to reclaim your space in the world through the very essence of how you move and present yourself. Learn to radiate confidence through posture, stride, voice quality, and simple breathing techniques. You don’t need to be loud or pushy; walking through life with quiet confidence can affirm your presence and influence.
In this session, you’ll:
- Engage in a movement lesson to strengthen and align your spine
- Undertake a process to recalibrate your self-image and reclaim your magnificence
- Develop strategies to boost your confidence and courage in daily interactions
- Explore breathing techniques that enhance physical strength and emotional support
PART IV: RESILIENCE
Module 10: Embrace Gravity to Leverage Your Body’s Power to Rise Up With Ease (August 29)
Gravity is an immutable law of the Universe, dictating that what goes up must come down. But in this module, you’ll learn that what goes down can indeed help you rise up !
One of the common struggles as we age is the challenge of getting up. We’re often fighting against gravity rather than using it to our advantage. By partnering with the floor and employing your body’s larger muscles, you’ll discover a lighter, more efficient way to rise. This session isn’t just about successfully standing up; it’s about transforming your approach to movement and embracing the support gravity offers.
In this session, you’ll:
- Understand the relationship between your body’s structure, function, and gravity
- Learn new methods for coming up to sitting during our movement lesson
- Discover how the large muscles in your pelvis contribute to sustained mobility and strength
- Realize how embracing failure can actually help you improve anything you do
- Connect your thoughts to your actions to realize your dreams
Module 11: Learn Physical Tools to Cultivate Emotional Calm & Resilience During Life’s Storms (September 5)
By the time we reach the later stages of life, we’ve certainly faced our fair share of challenges — illness, loss, disappointment, and the stark realization of our own mortality. These trials often leave us perpetually on “yellow alert,” reacting to life’s stressors with tension and anxiety rather than responding with calm deliberation.
This session introduces tools to help you navigate these emotional storms, using your breath, body awareness, and simple movements to transform internal turmoil into spaciousness and ease. You’ll learn how to maintain your health and peace of mind amidst the inevitable ups and downs of life.
In this session, you’ll:
- Explore the link between emotional and physical tension
- Learn how controlled breathing can dramatically alter your mood
- Experience a movement meditation to cultivate inner spaciousness
- Acquire simple, effective strategies to calm down during stressful situations
- Engage in an emotional assessment process to better understand your reactions
Module 12: Gain Mental, Emotional & Behavioral Flexibility for Enhanced Resilience and Recovery (September 12)
You heard about it and shuddered — the famous morbidity study that proved that the more difficulty you have getting up off the floor, the shorter your life expectancy. It’s not just about the floor. It’s about having the tools, strategies, and supports you need to help you recover from any of life’s challenges — from a crack in the sidewalk to a devastating phone call.
The American Psychological Association defines resilience as “the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.”
Regardless of your current ability to get down to the floor and back up again, in this session, you’ll gain practical insights and techniques to improve your resilience, recovery, and flexibility in all aspects of your life.
In this session, you’ll:
- Identify major causes of falls and failures
- Learn how fear can compromise the immune system and affect mobility
- Discover the benefits of making friends with the floor to enhance protection
- Gain a deeper understanding of leveraging your body for effective recovery
- Explore movement strategies that improve your chances for softer landings and quicker recoveries
The Graceful Aging Using the Feldenkrais® & Kinēsa® Methods Bonus Offering
In addition to Lavinia’s transformative 12-week online course, you’ll receive this special bonus offering to complement the course and take your understanding and practice to an even deeper level.
Your Self Image
Audio Teaching From Lavinia Plonka
“We act according to our perceived self-image,” said Moshe Feldenkrais, the engineer and physicist who founded the Feldenkrais Method. Self-image has many definitions. Neuroscientists equate self-image with self-esteem and identify the white matter in our pre-frontal neocortex as the home. But self-image can be defined in another way: the way you stand, where your perceived center of gravity is, how you balance your head, and even the length of your footsteps. All of these things contribute to how you show up in life. These four audio downloads (totaling 175 minutes) from Lavinia will help you clarify how you move and help you move in more empowering ways, so you can begin to know, from the inside out, who you really are.
Register by May 25 to claim this bonus before it expires.
The Little Book of Falling (and Getting Up)
Ebook From Lavinia Plonka
Do you (or does someone you know) live in fear of falling? This 40-page ebook will help you understand the deeper reasons behind this common concern and teach you how to identify risk factors that contribute to falls. You’ll learn practical strategies to prevent falls, including simple movements to improve your resilience and maintain your balance. By addressing the root causes of your fear and developing effective techniques to reduce your risk, you can regain your confidence and independence.
Register by June 6 to claim this bonus before it expires.
Your Brain and Movement: An Interview With Martha Peterson
Video Dialogue With Lavinia Plonka and Martha Peterson
Join two renowned somatic movement educators in a 30-minute lively conversation exploring the rich territory connecting movement, intelligence, function, and possibility. Lavinia Plonka, founder of Kinesa® and a Feldenkrais Method® master teacher interviews Martha Peterson, creator of Essential Somatics® and a Certified Clinical Somatic Educator.
Fall Softly, Recover Quickly
Audio Teaching From Lavinia Plonka
These seven audio lessons from Lavinia will help you learn how to maintain your balance and recover quickly from the pull of gravity through seven easy-to-follow movement lessons. They can be practiced in the comfort of your own home or even on your bed, and have helped thousands prevent falls and recover more swiftly using simple techniques. Designed to be accessible and easy to understand, this program is suitable for anyone looking to improve their balance and reduce their risk of falling.
What Graduates of Lavinia’s Courses Are Saying...
“I experienced deep healing and a profound shift on all levels throughout all sessions.”
I joined this course mainly for support with managing recurring back problems, which were due to emotional/mental stress. I experienced deep healing and a profound shift on all levels throughout all sessions. I was particularly impressed with the depth of subtle movements, and appreciated the exploration of the seven bodies, which Lavinia so expertly presented in a holistic way. I am deeply grateful for this unique and powerful “being in the moment” experience.
— Christiane,
Llandovery, West Wales, United Kingdom
“... if I remain in the process I see the shift and am so grateful for being presented with what I thought was too difficult.”
Some of the movements were difficult for me at first, but I soon realized that in time my imagining being able to do them was really laying a foundation for what I EVENTUALLY would and could do. Imagining is like paying attention to what I want (to move more freely), making an intention to open myself to be empowered by doing what I can in the moment, believing in the power of the attention/intention, and realizing that I will eventually move more freely without pain. It may take time, but if I remain in the process I see the shift and am so grateful for being presented with what I thought was too difficult. Thank you!
— Eileen,
West Hempstead, New York
“Many thanks and heartfelt appreciation for the important work you do.”
I also want to thank you for the series on self-image. Over the past couple of weeks, I noticed that I seemed to have more confidence and assurance, but didn’t really make the connection to your class. Last week I was marveling at how I seem to be flowing along in my life and managing things in a more confident way. Then, the lightbulb went off and I realized it was the lessons. Through the processes, I released the negativity I had taken in over the summer, even though I didn’t know I had embodied the experience. Many thanks and heartfelt appreciation for the important work you do.
— Nancy Holland
“I enjoyed this last series very much — as usual.”
I enjoyed this last series very much — as usual. Interesting observation: When I was in residence at our retirement community on St. Simons in late spring, I fell backwards onto a concrete sidewalk when I stepped off the sidewalk onto a paved — but uneven — asphalt surface. Amazingly, I experienced no soreness or lasting discomfort after the shock of the unanticipated landing. My body apparently went into “auto-pilot” and reacted as though I were in a Feldenkrais class.
— Kirk Callahan
“I believe that doing Feldenkrais is the single most important thing that I am doing for my overall health...”
I just wanted you to know that I believe that doing Feldenkrais is the single most important thing that I am doing for my overall health (mental, emotional, and physical.) It is truly amazing! After today’s lesson I feel my world opened up more, I’m already much more observant, aware of my surroundings it’s thrilling! Thanks so much for everything! THANK YOU!
— Bettie Campbell
Join the Global Community
Graceful Aging Using the Feldenkrais® & Kinēsa® Methods offers some of the most advanced online teachings available, within a thriving global community of learning and practice.
Join fellow students and practitioners to support and inspire each other as you integrate the teachings and practices Lavinia Plonka will share in this powerful program.
You’ll join an international community on the leading edge of manifesting a world grounded in the principles of cooperation, harmony, and reverence for all of life.
Here’s What You’ll Receive
Twelve 90-Minute Class Sessions With Lavinia Plonka
Experience a unique opportunity to be mentored by and learn from a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Teacher® and the founder of Kinesa® Lavinia Plonka — from the comfort of your own home. Each class session includes a livestreaming video option and will guide you to learn intelligent and pleasurable movement techniques to fortify your balance, flexibility, strength, and resilience, helping you live with radiant vitality for the rest of your life. Course sessions are on Thursdays at 1:00pm Pacific.
Twelve Video Recordings of Class Sessions
After each class, the video will be available for you to stream in a high-quality format. You’ll never have to worry about missing a session, and you can watch anytime and anywhere at your convenience.
Twelve Audio Recordings of Class Sessions
After each class, the audio will be available for you to stream. You’ll never have to worry about missing a session, and you can listen anytime and anywhere at your convenience.
Twelve Transcripts of Class Sessions
You’ll also receive the entire class transcription after each session is completed. You can then review, print, and highlight the most important insights and practices you were given.
Twelve 30-Minute Interactive Sharing Calls
With live class attendance, there will be a 30-minute optional interactive practice session directly following each class. You’ll be placed in an intimate group with several other participants on the Zoom call to interact, share, and do additional practices to help further integrate the weekly lessons. Practice sessions are available for live attendance only and are not recorded for playback. If you’re unable to attend the calls live, the Facebook online community group allows you to connect with each other and find alternative times to interact.
Interactive Exercises and Questions for Each Lesson
Between class sessions, you’ll have the option of completing related exercises, practicing new tools, and answering questions to accelerate your learning and integrate each week’s lesson.
Online Community
Our exclusive Facebook online community is the perfect place to continue your discovery process after each class. Here, you can continue the discussion about your course materials and interact with your fellow students to take your exploration to an even deeper level.
The Graceful Aging Using the Feldenkrais® & Kinēsa® Method Bonus Offering
- Your Self Image
Audio Teaching From Lavinia Plonka
- The Little Book of Falling (and Getting Up)
Ebook From Lavinia Plonka
- Your Brain and Movement: An Interview With Martha Peterson
Video Dialogue With Lavinia Plonka and Martha Peterson - Fall Softly, Recover Quickly
Audio Teaching From Lavinia Plonka
An Unprecedented Opportunity to Join the Online Course, Graceful Aging Using the Feldenkrais® & Kinēsa® Methods
We feel honored that Lavinia Plonka has chosen to partner with The Shift Network to offer this exclusive LIVE online course. This is a unique opportunity to interact directly with a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Teacher and the founder of Kinēsa whose powerful insights and pioneering work are helping us heal and awaken ourselves and our world.
If you’re serious about learning Feldenkrais and Kinēsa movement techniques to strengthen your balance, flexibility, strength, and resilience, helping you age gracefully, then you owe it to yourself, your loved ones, and our world to take this one-of-a-kind program.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your own evolution, click the register button below to reserve your space now.
Your Satisfaction Is 100% Guaranteed!
Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed! If you don’t absolutely LOVE Graceful Aging Using the Feldenkrais® & Kinesa® Methods — or don’t feel that it meets your needs — please submit your refund request form on or before June 27, 2024 and we’ll happily issue qualifying customers a refund.
More Praise for Lavinia Plonka...
“...feeling taller, stronger, pain-free, and awakened...”
In practicing Feldenkrais, it looks and feels like you’re doing next to nothing, yet the effects are profound. Taking Lavinia’s classes always leaves me feeling taller, stronger, pain-free, and awakened to the potential of a better me. The power in the art of the subtle can’t be emphasized enough, and Lavinia delivers it with fun, precision, and grace.
— Merina Ty-Kisera,
bestselling author of Acupressure and Essential Oils
“...free up our bodies, relax our minds, and open our hearts.”
Lavinia Plonka is one of the most engaging, brilliant, fun instructors I have ever experienced in any field. My students in the Florida Keys and I personally have benefited from Lavinia’s unique blend of somatic modalities that free up our bodies, relax our minds, and open our hearts. Lavinia’s profound understanding and easy-to-follow teaching of the Feldenkrais Method is refreshing, entertaining, and life-changing.
— Judy Greenman,
Body Brain Freedom
“...unlocking the power of the Feldenkrais Method to free attention and create greater ease...”
Lavinia Plonka has an easy, understated teaching style that gracefully unwinds her vast formal and intuitive knowledge of the body and its metaphors, unlocking the power of the Feldenkrais Method to free attention and create greater ease — in our bodies and in our lives. If you have an opportunity to study with her, I recommend it.
— Mike Morrell,
co-founder of ReWilder and collaborating author with Richard Rohr on The Divine Dance
“Lavinia... helps you know your body in easy and accessible ways that lead to transformation.”
Lavinia is an engaging and expert movement teacher who helps you know your body in easy and accessible ways that lead to transformation. I’m consistently amazed at how small movements have huge effects.
— Leanne Cusumano Roque,
president of Shine Like the Sun and author of the award-winning book, Live Light: Simple Steps
About Lavinia Plonka
Body language expert Lavinia Plonka has helped people improve their movement, behavior, health, and careers for over 35 years. Her unique expertise connects the dots between posture, movement, emotions, and the mind. Lavinia is the founder of Kinēsa®, an educational process that integrates movement, science, and ancient wisdom traditions.
Lavinia’s training and professional career have included theater, dance, yoga, and the martial arts. A former vice president of the Feldenkrais Guild of North America, she has taught the Feldenkrais Method® for over 30 years, is a lead instructor of the Emotional Body® and an ISMETA Master Somatic Movement Educator. Her theater credits include the Guggenheim Museum’s Learning Through Art program, international tours, commercials for Nickelodeon, and more.
Lavinia has written several books exploring the intersection of movement, awareness, and wellbeing, including What Are You Afraid Of? which has been translated into seven languages. She is director of the Asheville Movement Center in North Carolina, where she maintains a busy private practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What’s a virtual course?
A: It’s a great way to engage with live and pre-recorded teachings and each other from the comfort of your home! All you need is any connected device. We use Zoom video conferencing to make it just like an in-person event, where you can ask questions and deepen your exploration of the course themes.
Can I still benefit from the course if I miss the live classes?
A: Absolutely! You can stream the recordings and download the transcripts of all course sessions, so you never need to worry about missing live calls. You can also engage with the full community and leaders in our private online community group.
Q: Can you tell me about the private online community group?
A: We’ll have a private online community group for all course participants on Facebook that will support you in making connections with others, sharing insights, engaging in discussions, and completing homework assignments that can supplement your transformational journey. You’ll have the ability to share your experiences, projects, and growth throughout the course.
Q: Are there scholarships available for this training?
A: Yes, we always make a certain percentage of spaces available for partial scholarships, for those who otherwise would not be able to enroll at the regular rate. If you’d like to apply for a scholarship, please review our guidelines, which include a link to our online application form.
Q: What’s your refund policy?
A: Your satisfaction with The Shift Network and this course is our highest priority! We offer a satisfaction guarantee so that you can sample the course risk-free. The deadline to receive a full refund is June 27, 2024. To request a refund, please click on this refund request form and submit your request. Qualifying refunds will be processed within five business days and an email confirming the refund will be sent. However, we’d love to have a chance to address and resolve your concerns first. If there’s something we can assist you with, please email us at support@theshiftnetwork.com and we’ll be happy to help! (No refund requests accepted after the above date or with scholarship awards.)
Q: How can I reach Customer Support?
A: Please visit our Customer Support Center, where you should be able to find the answer to your question or the solution to your problem. And if you can’t, you can submit an online request form and we’ll get right back to you.
*The following is a service marks, trademarks, collective, or certification mark of the Feldenkrais Guild® of North America in the US: Feldenkrais®. This event does not give participants the right to use FGNA service marks, and that only individuals who have received authorization from FGNA are allowed to use FGNA service marks or offer Feldenkrais lessons, or other services related to the practice of the Feldenkrais Method of somatic education.
