Client Love

I’ve been receiving individual functional integration sessions from Erin for the past 3 years. This work, translated through Erin’s sensitive and supportive touch, has been a fundamental part of my growing ability to ground my body to the earth, organize my movements more effectively, and reduce the pain of overuse. I feel fortunate to be able to take advantage of her work, guidance, and non-judgmental presence.

Alan Fogel
Author of Body Sense
Rosen Method Bodywork Practitioner
www.alanfogelrosenmethod.abmp.com

Erin and Carl Rabke are two of the most awake, compassionate, and embodied practitioners I have worked with. Both of them bring inspiration, subtlety and exquisite nuance to their instruction. They are deeply in touch with their audience and I would entrust anyone to their reliable hands.

Diane Musho Hamilton
http://www.dianemushohamilton.com/Home.html

Their teaching style is gentle, yet displays a deep understanding of the body and of methods for working with it. From conversations with participants, I had the sense that many carried away a new and more subtle awareness of the spaces within and how to open to them.

Michael Zimmerman
http://twoarrowszen.org/

When I found Carl I had been dealing with the residual pain from a hip injury for over a year. While I had received temporary pain relief from chiropractic visits, physical therapy, and regular massage nothing seemed to last. That all changed after finding Carl. Within two visits the recurring limping and fairly constant pain from my hip were gone and have not returned, although I have definitely returned to Carl for help with other chronic issues. I am constantly impressed with his deep academic knowledge of the body, his intuitive grasp of what will most benefit me during a particular session, and last but not least, his real belief that our bodies can remember how not to be in pain. I cannot recommend Carl’s unique blend of Structural Integration, Feldenkrais, and massage therapy enough.

Corrinne Lewis, writer, Salt Lake City, UT

I began working with Erin to address chronic neck and shoulder pain. I had tried chiropractics, massage and physical therapy, but none of these “treatments” had a lasting effect. My first six sessions with Erin helped me reconnect with my body and its supportive structure. I began to experience my neck and shoulder as integrated parts of the whole, rather than uncomfortable appendages that I had to carry around. I learned to sense where I am holding tension, as well as ways to allow gravity to do its job so that I can do mine with greater ease and less effort. When I am not working directly with Erin, I continue to explore ways to integrate Feldenkrais into my daily life. This work is a process and an investment of self-compassion. It has absolutely shifted my perspective towards my body and pain.

Christina, Salt Lake City

The work which I did with Carl resulted in an awakening in my body that has allowed me to ride my bicycle pain free for the first time in 20 years.

Leslie -Doctor of Sports Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT

Working 1:1 with Carl and Erin has given me a new relationship and connection with my body. After countless physical therapy home programs since the age of 9 to correct my posture, it has only been through Feldenkrais that I have discovered my limited body awareness and now I have begun to reconnect with myself. It has been an incredible journey, and Carl provides constant humor and insight throughout my practice. Feldenkrais affects all of my other branches of life and I am happy to be a more grounded person, providing my body with awareness, breath and alignment instead of judgement. I recommend Carl and Erin to everyone I know. It will change your life!

Denise Adams, Salt Lake City, UT

I went to see Erin for Feldenkrais after damaging my lower back in a car accident. The wounds had healed, but the deeper structural imbalances were still causing me a lot of pain, even after physical therapy and a lot of beneficial work with Yoga. I was seeing enough improvement after six weeks of general Feldenkrais classes to seek out a private, hands-on session.Erin’s comforting touch reassured my body and mind that my innate body wisdom was still there underneath all the fear and pain caused by my injuries. I woke up the day after our session with a new and wonderful way of walking: pain free.Erin had helped my mind reprogram itself to bring my body back into effortless rightness. I can’t say enough about the gratitude I feel toward Erin for the gracious way she applies her thoughtful and egoless expertise. She changed my life in the course of an hour, much for the better, and the results are still mine to enjoy.

Erin Menut,
Owner, Avenues Yoga
www.avenuesyoga.com

Thank you Carl.I’ve appreciated the existence of you and your practice over the past years as well.
The work that you facilitated was the fulcrum into a state of okayness, which became wellness, which became fitness, which is now pushing the boundaries of my own athleticism.
I cannot be more deeply and sincerely appreciative of your guidance on that path.
Sincerely,

Hannah, Salt Lake City, UT

As a fellow body awareness professional, I have the utmost respect for the amazing work that Erin and Carl do. When my clients need some extensive and specialized therapy I happily refer them to Erin and Carl because I know that they will receive the utmost care from such knowledgeable and mindful somatic awareness professionals. Each time I personally receive treatment from either Carl or Erin, I learn so much about myself through their skillful approach to navigating the body toward complete ease and freedom. I simply can’t say enough good about these two.

Scott Moore, Salt Lake City, UT
Professional Yoga Teacher

My personal experience with Feldendrais lessons, and practicing some movements for about 20 minutes 5-6x a week, has benefited my body greatly. Most noticeable is the absence of daily pain and muscle tension in my back and shoulders, that I experienced before, from sitting at a computer for 5-6 hours each day. And with my recent job change, which now requires that I am on my feet for about 8-9 hours each shift, I found a new pain in my low/mid back, which was quickly remedied with only a couple of lessons and more practice.I also find that the daily morning practice is like a meditation, or tuning in with my center,….which seems to lay a foundation that stays with me throughout the day. I feel much more peaceful and resilient on the days I practice movements in the morning.And an unexpected benefit I’ve experienced is when I do an unusual, not routine, very strenuous (for me) activity……like heavy yard work, or a yearly kayaking or backpacking or water-skiing activity, I hardly feel any strain or soreness in my muscles.Last week I water-skied for the first time in about 10 years which would normally result in feeling “crippled” for a few days, but I experienced absolutely no limitation or restriction of movement afterward and I only felt a very slight soreness to my shoulders…that I really only noticed when my husband tried rubbing my back…..amazing! At age 54…..I am moving more like I did at 35!

Alane Fry McKenna, Salt Lake City

I have been blessed to have been students of Erin’s and Carl’s over the last twelve years. The first many years of that experience was as a yoga student and now, of late, as an opportunity to re-experience Feldenkrais. Their compassion, kindness, intelligence, extensive training and incredible talent as teachers has always drawn me into their circle. There are very few better as communicators. Listening to their words and following their very poetic cues enables access to entirely new sources of movement that flow like water. This work is so powerful and integrates so well in our daily lives and activities; all else becomes more easeful, efficient, unencumbered, joyful. Their ability to teach this work is equally profound and joyful and not to be missed.

Lise Fischer
Co-Owner of Streamline Pilates Teacher Training Program
www.streamlinebodypilates.com

I was introduced to Erin and the Feldenkrais Method by a wonderful and caring friend who wanted to help me get over some frustrating, chronic, and recurrent tendon injuries. I am an avid climber, skier, runner,and biker, and I work hard as a veterinarian. I needed help treat my body more kindly.Erin, with her great teaching skills, her gentle approach, her soothing voice, and her enthusiasm, is helping me find the path towards healing and towards preventing injuries and chronic pain. I feel like she presented to me the missing link to taking better care of my body.The increased body awareness has helped me feel better in my daily activities and complements my physical therapy exercises very well. It is just the beginning for me of a wonderful journey of improved understanding of my body, a more focused and open mind, and an increased coordination between the two.Not only are the sessions with her very beneficial and enjoyable, but Erin also sends regular insightful emails and I can conveniently download exercises to do at home. She is a great teacher and her passion is contagious. I am so happy I met her!

Magali Lequient, DVM

Along the years spent in SLC, I got the chance to experience Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement classes with Erin and Carl. I did a variety of session with different focus: Shoulder and Neck workshop, a retreat at Snowbird, and more. The most life altering experiences were a series of 10 classes working along the 10 sessions of Structural Integration and also the Empelvised, Embellied, Empowered classes for women which rippled joy throughout my pregnancy. Each of their classes helped me embody my Self further more. The awareness I gained from these sessions is cumulative and empowering. I still use some of the movements whenever I experience body discomfort.
I am a Kinesis Structural Integrator and constantly talk to my clients about the benefits of Feldenkrais. I like how accessible it is, easy and slow, and how it allows the nervous system to re-pattern (so much hope in that!)But not all instructors are alike. Erin and Carl are outstanding educators. I trust their skills, I trust their heart!

Ingrid Bregand, Salt Lake City, UT

Erin and Carl have given me the tools to live an active and pain free life! I have always been involved in sports, even moving to Utah for the abundant recreational activities.After my 40th birthday I experienced a succession of joint pains; first my hip, then a frozen right shoulder, then a frozen left shoulder. Erin and Carl employed gentle Feldenkrais techniques and provided me with body awareness education that relieved me of my pain and is also keeping my pain from recurring. Before coming to Erin and Carl, I tried steroid injections and conventional physical therapy, which did not work for me and I was discouraged by my therapist’s directive to give up running as a general exercise.Now thanks to Erin and Carl I enthusiastically pursue all my favorite activities (even running 5Ks!) as well as having the courage to try new activities such as surfing and rock climbing! I feel so fortunate that I met Erin at the right time in my life-although I truly believe that meeting her earlier may have given me the tools needed to prevent the pain in the first place!

Janine Langer, Salt Lake City, UT

I’ve been working with Carl for over a year, learning how to manage a long list of over-use injuries I have accumulated through years of a desk job and outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, and biking. Relief of the most painful injury (an impinged rotator cuff) came quickly, but the longer-term gains in somatic awareness have been the greater benefit. I feel much better equipped to avoid injury by moving more freely and naturally.

John White, Salt Lake City, UT

Feldenkrais with Erin has finally cured my chronic neck and back pain. I have found that massages are a temporary fix, they do not address the root of the problem. With very little effort, Feldenkrais sessions reconnect me with my body and help me be more “awake” in my daily life. It is quite an amazing experience!

Jill Canales, Salt Lake City, UT

The Feldenkrais sessions have brought about changes that I would have never expected. My introduction into Feldenkrais was via 3 gift certificates from a friend. As I mentioned to Erin in the beginning, my “issues” have been more lung related vs. musculoskeletal, and I never had the expectation that the treatments would help me to walk more easily and freely and breathe more easily, but inexplicably it has. I also have noticed that my 51-year-old body is walking and standing straighter, in a relaxed way, but with very little thought or effort given to this. Erin is a marvel and a gentle teacher in Feldenkrais. After only 5 sessions, I have a deeper sense of how I move; I walk more easily, and feel less overall tension in my body. I come away from the sessions feeling deeply relaxed, which is a bonus.

Karen H., Salt Lake City, UT

I have had the opportunity to work with Erin Geesaman Rabke and Carl Rabke prior to a couple of back injuries which resulted in two surgeries.
Each of them hold qualities in their actions that promote a deep sense of awareness, compassion, and wisdom. The tools I gained from each of them prior to these injuries assisted in my personal recovery. Post injuries, the study of Feldenkrais has greatly contributed to many epic experiences of somatic awareness. I highly recommend private sessions for the benefit of personal results. However, the group sessions are also extremely helpful and provide the experiential knowledge, sensing how it is to be at ease in your body. The private Feldenkrais sessions with Erin have made a profound impact on my yoga practice, movement throughout the day, how I sit at a desk, drive a car, and most importantly, how I am becoming more aware of my body, allowing it to move with ease. The time after each session has also proven to be helpful because there continues to be mental/emotional/physical lightning strikes of connections happening deeply within my mind, body, and spirit. I am eternally grateful to have crossed paths with these brilliant people. I recommend them both wholeheartedly.

Lara Kandolin

It’s not very often that one meets an individual who works and creates space for self learning, exploration, and healing with such joyous rigor and grace. Well, there are two individuals like that, Erin and Carl, who just happen to be right here in Salt Lake City (and living under the same roof! ;) Their passion is so tangible and their gifts so lovingly shared. From their workshops to private sessions, I have learned so much in their presence and the family, friends, and clients I have sent their way have all returned with such high praise and gratitude for the quality of experience with Erin and Carl. I am continuously inspired by their dedication to their personal and professional practice. They are a gift to this community and I am so honored to call them friends and colleagues.

Lauren Stern

http://feralchildrenofarchitecture.com/

Words are insufficient to express how happy I am with the outcome of Carl’s structural integration work and Erin’s Feldenkrais exercises. Due to a leg injury at the age of 3, I experienced hip and lower back pain for most of my life. I did a series of structural integration sessions with Carl, focused on helping me to re-learn to walk properly, as well as a series of Feldenkrais exercises each night. The results were incredible. I no longer have back or hip pain, and I love my “new walk”. Thanks Carl and Erin!!

Lisa Carling, Salt Lake City, UT

I attended Erin’s Empelvised, Empowered, Embellied workshop in 2009 and feel confident saying that it should be a required course for all women, regardless of age. Erin is a phenomenal instructor with a gentle, easy going and humorous style of teaching. I felt overly comfortable exploring the functions of my pelvis, reproductive organs, digestive system and pelvic floor muscles. I am grateful for the knowledge that I gained and continue to use the exercises that I learned everyday. It is my hope that Erin is still teaching when my daughter is in her teenage years because, in my opinion, that is the prime time for a woman to become educated and empowered about her pelvic region and all of it’s glorious functions.

Monica Faux-Kota LMT
Co-owner of Vitalize Community Studio
www.vitalizesugarhouse.com
Co-founder of Utah Prenatal Massage Association
www.utahprenatalmassage.com

My personal Feldenkrais sessions with Carl have been subtle and very relaxing. The work however continues ever so gently to deepen over the next few days to a week, and in the last few months I’ve been able to shift and release some patterns in my body that have held pain for a long time. I am encouraged that my 42 year old body can feel more ease and require less effort on a day to day basis.My experience with Erin teaching/guiding group classes is more than positive. During class I feel a loving acceptance of my body – awesome! After class I feel relaxed and radically alive – wow!This is such a wonderful enhancement to our community. I would encourage anyone with pain, fatigue or stress (so that is pretty much everyone) to go and experience Erin’s guidance for Feldenkrais group classes and/or Yoga for Relaxation.

Pam Murray, Salt Lake City, UT

In 2002 I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis in the lower back. At the time of the diagnosis the neurosurgeon stated I would require a Laminectomy in the L3-L5 region of the spine. I elected to live with the pain rather than undergo the surgery.In 2008 -2010 I took Erin’s “Basics of Back Care” classes and it changed my state of being. The combined techniques of yoga and Feldenkrais learned in the classes have enabled me to manage my pain. I utilize these techniques today and I am happy to report that I have never needed the surgery. Thank you Erin!

Terry Prymek, Salt Lake City, UT
National Account Manager, ARUP Laboratories

What I have learned from studying Feldenkrais with Erin:To ask questions at bone-depth
To trust my inner authority
To gently inquire
To go slower, now slower, yes, even slower
That I am not stuck
That I am able to use my vision to receive, not only retrieve
That my miserable little neck is not all alone
To do things with less effort and more pleasure. The best questions go bone deep. “What does the skeleton want?’ is this kind of
question. When Erin first raised the question, I was baffled. “Who knows?” I thought.
But I was also curious. With Erin’s coaching, I began to inquire, to deeply listen.“Thanks for asking,” said my skelly, “it’s about time.” She had a list. I was amazed
to learn that my skeleton knows exactly what she wants. She wants me to trust
her integrity, to remember that she is structurally sound, to see that she was
miraculously designed to support the strain of this whole adventure. In short, she
wants me to trust her and let her do her job. Also, she likes it when I notice
that she is agile, that her spine is articulate. “Our back is not a fused block.” she says.
She doesn’t care if I know how many bones are in our feet, but she does appreciate
it when I remember that our toes move individually. When my neck is strained and
cranky from holding the weight of my head, my skeleton reminds me that my
neck is not alone on the job, but supported by the power of my supple spine. On my worst day, when tendons strain and muscles tremble, I am still strong in
my bones.
Erin taught me to trust my skeletal strength, to observe the depth of my
structural elegance. Thanks to Erin, I know that I always have a place to rest. I can
rest in the beauty of my bones.

Nan Seymour
Executive Director of Local First Utah
www.localfirst.org

An aching shoulder kept me from working at my ranch the way I needed to. It also caused me problems when sleeping. I tried physical therapy, acupuncture, and rest. Not much change. “Maybe it’s l just my age,” I thought, and almost resigned myself to it.Then I decided to ask for a session with Erin. (True confession here – she is my daughter!) It took me awhile to ask for her help.
After one session I was so amazed at the relief I felt. The discomfort returned in a few days so I asked to return for another session. After the second session, not only did my pain disappear, but she gave me self help movements to try if ever I felt it come back.My shoulder has never caused me any further problems since my Feldenkrais sessions with Erin. And that was several years ago! I am so grateful.

Linda Gardner
Blue Moon Ranch Alpacas
www.bluemoonranch.net

When I think about or practice Feldenkrais, I can here Erin’s melodious voice asking me to gently ask myself, “How can I make this easier? How can I make this more pleasurable?” I am so grateful that this practice has taught me that to do things in a way that is gentle and easy and in alignment with how my body naturally wants to move is not weak. That giving myself permission to go only as far as feels really delicious to me is not selfish. That staying with an experience in my body, gives me a stronger capacity to stay with other kinds of experiences. Spending time lying on the mat practicing these sometimes minute movements, allows me to really check in with how I pay attention to myself, with how I direct attention at myself.This sort of very subtle time spent with myself in Feldekrais has translated into an ability to feel how I pay attention to myself in other circumstances. I find that I am sometimes incredibly impatient with myself, or very hard on myself, or simply trying too hard. In these times, I am so grateful when I manage to remember Erin’s voice, “How can I make this easier? How can I make this more pleasurable?”

Jessica Frogley, Salt Lake City, UT

Thank you for your elegant classes.Each time I learn Feldenkris methods I am amazed how the awareness of moving allows freedom and grace. Instead of feeling pain, I feel like dancing!I love it all!

Dorothy Dart, Salt Lake City, UT

Lauren Stern, Salt Lake City, UT

My curiosity in Feldenkrais was piqued when my daughter told me of a professional cellist friend of hers that was finding relief for an ailing shoulder that was interfering with his ability to play music. She then had Erin come by and teach a quick class to the stylists at her and her husband’s salon so they could be better in tune with their bodies as they stand on their feet, bending over in awkward positions all day while styling hair. She raved about all of it. My back had been giving me trouble over and over since the ’70’s and I was in the throes of yet another “episode” and was easily convinced to find another method of relief, so I was in.The results of my sessions with Erin over the last several years have fulfilled any starry eyed hopes about how healthy I could feel and certainly have far exceeded any expectations one may have. I could go on and on about how my back is now manageable, how my neck no longer causes headaches, how I learned that my neck was even the cause of those headaches, how I learned new ways to play guitar without causing my shoulder grief; but I will share only one thing — the thing that got my attention after one session and kept bringing me back.It was a simple little thing that happened after the first session, but completely changed my perception as to how easy these major changes in my body could be. I was driving home after the session had completed and needed to merge into the lane to my right. I turned on my signal, swung my head around to look for any traffic in the the lane and my head swung effortlessly, further than it had been in years. I was completely blown away; so much so that I had to try it several more times so I could believe what was happening. It was like I had a new head or someone else’s neck! It was unlike anything I had ever experienced. I was completely and utterly convinced that I needed to continue Feldenkrais sessions from that point on and have never quit going.

Dale Southard, Salt Lake City, UT

I was running up Grandeur Peak the other day and was thinking so much about you, feeling deeply grateful in my heart for YOU .. experiencing what you have shared with me!!How you (by fully embodying your life) have inspired me and given me so much unconditional love.Your loving attention has moved my life so deeply in many ways.Besides having a really HAPPY BODY..my mind and heart are learning all the time to be more present with what is in my life!!
These gifts affect everyone in my life. My husband and our relationship as a couple has never been better, our intimate life has blossomed to a new level.Our 23 year old son even brags to his girlfriends that his mom does”Feldi”..(he must see and feel something sweet going on!)
I treasure my career and am able to do the work/play I need to do without any pain.
My athletic abilities have also gone to a new plateau. I have had feedback from really excellent skate skiers sharing with me that I was skiing better than ever..I fly running..being light and centered… I could go on and on..I do think I have only scratched the surface what you have given me!!!!And I know that I have only just BEGUN!!!!!THANK YOU!!!!!

Allison Shayne, Salt Lake City

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