MADISON, Wis. (JAN. 7, 2002) -- The yearning to pull, plant and prune each spring is as predictable for the avid gardener as the change of seasons. But the joy of digging into a new gardening season after months of winter reprieve can take a toll on the body. The Effortless Gardening Program, a new audio and video program, can help gardeners prepare for and alleviate aches and pains often assumed to be the price of a beautiful garden. Based on the Feldenkrais Method® of Movement Education, the Effortless Gardening package includes a videotape with movement demonstrations, two audiocassette instruction tapes and an instructional booklet. Effortless Gardening can be ordered for $49.95 (plus tax and shipping/handling) by calling toll free, 1.866.EZGARDEN (1.866.394.2733), or online at www.effortlessgardening.com.

Effortless Gardening provides hands-on techniques to help gardeners reap the benefits of being aware of the interaction of the mind and body. "Seemingly simple actions such as pruning a rose bush can cause a lot of pain if not done correctly," said Miriam Levenson, Effortless Gardening creator and internationally certified Feldenkrais practitioner. "Most people don't realize the amount of repetitive motion in gardening. Unfortunately, the ill affects of these movements aren't felt until after the damage is done."

The Feldenkrais Method, on which Effortless Gardening is based, works with a person's ability to regulate and coordinate their movements. Unlike chiropractic sessions that adjust bones, or massage therapy that works with muscles, the Feldenkrais Method uses awareness as the primary tool to identify and adjust ineffective movements.

The 23-minute Effortless Gardening video provides the viewer with do's and don'ts of using the body to facilitate effective gardening activities. "Gardeners need to be as diligent and organized with their body movements as they are with their gardens," added Levenson. "Gardeners often become so consumed and driven by their hobby that they ignore warning signs of strain." The goal of Effortless Gardening is to reduce even minor strain in the short term, and hinder the onset of long-term pain.

More than two hours of audio instruction builds on the principles introduced in the Effortless Gardening video. The audiotapes include several Awareness Through Movement® lessons, which are a primary teaching tool of the Feldenkrais Method, and coaching on specific garden tasks. Awareness Through Movement lessons help gardeners relax and improve flexibility, range-of-motion and awareness. Gardeners can tie together all the instruction by listening to the audiotape coaching sessions while they garden.

A printed program guide offers suggestions on how to best use Effortless Gardening. It individualizes the program according to learning preferences and explains how to make the most of the Awareness Through Movement lessons.

Levenson believes the Feldenkrais Method of Movement Education is especially suited for gardeners because, just as gardening is an ever-evolving project, the Feldenkrais Method is based on the continual expansion and refinement of action. It focuses on how people can make adjustments to act more effectively in a given environment.

Developed by Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais (1904-1984), an Israeli physicist and engineer, the Feldenkrais Method is now taught in more than 30 countries by almost 5,000 certified practitioners, such as Miriam Levenson.