Franklin Method

Eric Franklin (1957–) is a Swiss-born dancer, choreographer, and movement educator. He studied at the University of Zurich and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, began teaching imagery techniques in 1986, and established the Franklin Method in 1994.

This method builds on a tradition of imagery-based movement education in dance dating back to the early 20th century. Franklin states that he was influenced by Mabel Elsworth Todd's Ideokinesis and Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen's Body-Mind Centering. His major work, *Dynamic Alignment Through Imagery*, is the book most often recommended to people new to the method. Instructor training programs now operate in several countries.

This method holds that the image you form in your mind before moving changes the quality of your movement. Franklin calls this Dynamic Neurocognitive Imagery (DNI) and divides it into two broad types.

• Anatomical imagery — Accurately picturing what bones, joints, and muscles actually look like and how they move. Examples include imagining the shapes of the bones that make up the pelvis or how the shoulder blade moves along as you raise your arm.
• Metaphorical imagery — Using metaphors that evoke sensations, such as "the spine ripples like a wave" or "the soles of the feet take root in the floor."

The method explains that movement becomes smoother and more efficient when guided by imagery rather than by forcing the muscles to work. It also overlaps with motor imagery—the practice of mentally picturing movements—used in sports and rehabilitation, so it is sometimes discussed in terms of motor learning and proprioception.

• Imagery guidance — The instructor offers verbal imagery, such as "Imagine your pelvis as two bowls joined together side by side."
• Movement — While holding the image in mind, you slowly walk, sit down and stand up, raise your arms, or roll through your spine. You compare how the sensations change with each new image.
• Props — Small balls, resistance bands, rollers, and similar props are used to apply pressure to parts of the body or awaken sensory awareness. Bone models and anatomical illustrations may also be used to visually explore the body's structure.
• Format — Options include one-to-one sessions, small-group classes, workshops, and online classes.
• Duration — Classes often last around an hour.

Researchers are also exploring uses of this method, including a published randomized trial that used Dynamic Neurocognitive Imagery for pelvic awareness training in people with Parkinson's disease.

• People in professions that require fine control of the body, such as dancers and musicians
• People who find their posture or movement uncomfortable and want to understand the body's structure
• People who are unsure which muscles to use or how to use them during exercise
• People who teach movement, such as yoga or Pilates instructors
• People looking for a way to develop sensory awareness rather than exercise through force

• You don't have to search for the right answer. If you find it difficult to picture an image, feel free to tell your instructor. Looking at illustrations or models together can make it much easier to understand.
• Try the same movement with different images. Comparing how it feels to walk while picturing the bones in the soles of your feet with walking without thinking about them can give you a sense of the method.
• You can try it at home, too. While seated, gently roll your sitting bones (ischial tuberosities) against the chair and notice the areas of contact. Even a short time can leave your body feeling different.
• You don't need to memorize anatomical terms. It's enough if just one or two images stay with you as a bodily sensation.

The Feldenkrais Method encourages self-discovery by exploring variations in slow movement, while the Alexander Technique develops awareness of habitual patterns of use, focusing on the relationship between the head and spine. The Franklin Method differs in using anatomical imagery as a guide and incorporating props to help people understand their bodies. All of these approaches fall under Somatics, and many people study them as complementary methods.