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I joined the YMCA to use the equipment to rehab after a serious injury. After about a year, I sampled classes. Each class either did not accommodate my injury or was too boring. Then I found Feldenkrais, Awareness through Movement.

Each class is a different lesson of cumulative small movements which allow you to experience and change the habitual way you use your body to do what you intend with less effort. Guided by the teacher’s constant instructions (like a guided meditation) and questions, broken up by rests of your mind and body, pain is not allowed; movements are either altered or done solely in your imagination.

The lessons are interesting because you can never tell at the beginning what you will be doing in the end. The result of Feldenkrais is a different type of connection with your body in everyday life and a more effective use of your skeleton and large muscles to accomplish the regular things you do with ease.

The teacher says the lessons establish new neural pathways in the brain. So four years later, at 65, I think of Feldenkrais as Alzheimer’s prevention.

Written by: Dona Hoard
Member since 2005

We are blessed with an abundance of yoga in the Bay Area. Over the past ten years the number of students seeking yoga classes and the number of quality teachers offering them has grown tremendously as people have discovered the transformative power of the practice. Once predominantly taught in a studio setting, yoga classes can now be found in a wide range of locations; fitness centers, gyms, spas and resorts, medical centers, corporate offices, schools and YMCAs are a few of the places one might find classes offered.

 

Although the venues for yoga have diversified considerably, there is still a lingering perception that the classes taught at some of these locations might be of lesser quality than those taught in a studio. As a yoga instructor who teaches in a variety of locations here in the Bay Area, including studios and the Downtown Oakland YMCA, I can say with confidence that this is rarely the case. Great teachers are to be found in all locations, and taking classes exclusively at a studio does not guarantee superior quality. On a quality/cost basis, I truly believe that Our YMCA is one of the best yoga values to be found. We have well-trained, dedicated and talented teachers who are up to the challenge of serving an incredibly diverse community, and I am very proud to be a part of this excellent program.

 

Like yoga itself, the Downtown Oakland YMCA yoga program will continue to evolve in an effort to meet the needs and interests, and hopefully touch the hearts of the growing number of people who are seeking a way to not only connect to their bodies and with themselves, but to others as well. 

 

There is no shortage of exemplary volunteers at the Downtown Oakland YMCA so to be recognized as Volunteer of the Year an individual must really distinguish themselves as having gone above and beyond in their dedication to the needs of our Y. This year’s recipient, Jeffry Kalmon, has done exactly that. He is the new chair of our Branch Board of Managers, he co-chaired our 2008 Teams campaign to exceed our goal of raising over $120,000, and he can be found at 5:30 am Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays co-leading our Boot Camp class under the honorary title of Captain. Kym Sterner, co-instructor from the program, describes Jeffry as” an incredibly generous person, full of integrity and character rounded out the a warm welcoming personality.” But perhaps his most heartfelt work occurred when a dearly loved YMCA member Juan, became ill and needed homecare. Jeffry recruited and organized other YMCA volunteers to provide home care for Juan. He personally stayed close to him and sent email updates to all the volunteers as his health deteriorated due to his battle with cancer.”

 

Jeffry is filled with compassion and caring for others” says Jack Holleman , YMCA Director. There are not enough words to illustrate the spirit of positivity and dedication that Jeffry Kalmon brings into our Y community every day. For his consistent and untiring service to our facility and its diverse community, his motivating personality and his lived example of the YMCA Core Values, the Downtown Oakland YMCA is proud to recognize Jeffry “Dudley Do-Right” Kalmon as our 2009 Volunteer of the Year.