Because touch, more than any other sense, has such ready access to young babies’ brains, it offers perhaps the best possible opportunity, and one of the easiest, for molding their emotional and mental well-being.Lise Eliot, Ph.D, Research Scientist and Author
In my 35-year career as a physical therapist, I have studied many treatment techniques in an effort to better help the children I work with. In my opinion, the best overall technique for working with babies is Child’Space. In addition to addressing the relationship between parent and infant, Child’Space addresses all areas of development: gross motor, fine motor, cognitive, vision, speech and language. Child’Space is very effective.Carol R Bettndorf, PT, MS, PCS; Birth to Three & Beyond, Pediatric Therapies LLC, Chicago
Both Private and Small Group Classes
Victoria is now offering individual sessions and group classes in the Child’Space Method. One of the exciting aspects of Child’Space, in addition to working hands-on with babies and young children, is the aspect of parent education, helping parents and caregivers to learn through movement and touch how to support their child’s overall well-being. The classes Victoria offers are for parents with well babies as well as parents who have babies with special gifts and special needs. These semi-private classes benefit the babies and parents in many fruitful ways. The videos on this site and a phone call with Victoria will give you more specific information.
Weekly classes taught at Grow
Thornes Market
Thornes Market, 150 Main Street, Northampton
Grow is a haven for new parents. Every time I’m there, I see new parents connecting to other parents and/or to one of the many, many helping professionals from different fields . . . super warm, friendly and supportive. I can’t rate Grow highly enough.Rachel S., Haydenville
NOTE For All Classes: Class size limited to 6 babies and moms (other caregivers welcome), please be sure to pre-register before the class you want fills up.
Newborns
For babies 0-5 weeks. Drop-in when you can!
Wednesdays, 11:00-11:45
December 3-March 25 (NOTE: excluding Dec. 24 and Dec. 31)
$15 per class, drop in
Pre-crawlers 1
For babies 5 weeks to 5 months. In this joyful, gentle class, parents learn to support their baby’s development through touch and movement. After experiencing new movement patterns, babies find a wider range of movement than they might discover on their own, and become more comfortable in any positions and improve movement including tummy time and rolling over. Parents learn answers to their questions about their baby’s development and also, notice other positive changes in their babies after learning the Child’Space Method, such as reduction of colic, improved ability to self-soothe and improvements with feeding. Please bring a receiving blanket to lay your baby on for this class.
Wednesdays, 12:30-1:15
December, first 3 Wednesdays only. $60 for the month
January-March, 4 Wednesdays, $80 per month
Pre-crawlers 2
5 months and up.
Parents and caretakers bond as you learn to encourage the movements that are building blocks for balanced, coordinated sitting, crawling, standing, walking and more. Break up your daily routine with new ideas to use outside of the class, meet new parents and babies, and address questions or concerns you may have about your baby’s development.
Wednesdays, 1:30-2:15
December, first 3 Wednesdays only. $60 for the month
January-March, 4 Wednesdays, $80 per month
Register
Reserve your spot!
NOTE For All Classes: Class size limited to 6 babies and moms (other caregivers welcome), please be sure to pre-register before the class you want fills up.
Call Grow to register: (413) 341-5282
Call Victoria to arrange a small group class in your home.
Training, Experience and Care
Victoria working with a physically-challenged young girl.
Victoria’s Work with Children Spans 40 Years
Victoria began working with children with special needs when she was 19, in 1974. Her work included children with a wide variety of physical and mental challenges, and brain injuries. While not a comprehensive list, these children lived with diagnoses of cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and developmental delays, as well as children and adults who were Deaf, blind, deaf-blind and sometimes, with multiple physical challenges as well.
The Feldenkrais Method
In 1978, when Victoria began to study directly with Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, at age 23, she realized that this was the missing piece from her previous work. Victoria was helped to walk and move more freely through the Feldenkrais method, and she decided to bring this very unique sense of well being, increased mobility and hope to differently-abled people of all ages. She has continued her study, as well as her work directly, with babies, children and adults who face many challenges.
Working with Babies, Young Children and Parents
Over the almost four decades of her Feldenkrais practice, Victoria’s work has always included babies. And she went on to study further with various Feldenkrais teachers who specialize in working with babies and young children. Now Victoria is thrilled to share even more with families after completing a formal training studying directly with Dr. Chava Shelhav from Israel: Child’Space, The Chava Shelvav Method. Dr. Shelhav is the only Feldenkrais teacher, and the only one of Dr. Feldenkrais’ original students, who has written a Ph.D. on working with babies and children with various brain injuries, c.p., etc.
Victoria is an inspiration. She has brought hope to us and our 7-year-old daughter who has cerebral palsy. After only 2 sessions we can see huge difference in our child and Victoria is just an awesome presence.Lisa Keller
Dr. Chava Shelhav received her masters at Boston University. Her thesis, Working with Brain Damaged Children Using the Feldenkrais Method, was published in 1989. Her doctorate is from the University of Heidelberg. Working in the Departments of Sociology and Life Sciences, her thesis examined the effects of the Feldenkrais Method on learning processes and other aspects of childhood.
Child’Space moves with the Child’s Pace.
Get more information or register for a lesson today.
Gift Certificates Available.
Victoria Ahrensdorf • Northampton Feldenkrais Studio • 43 Center St, Suite 201 • Northampton, MA 01060 • 413.563.7553
Email: victoria@feldenkraisnoho.com