Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen

Eric Franklin, born February 28, 1957, is a Swiss dancer, educator, and writer recognized for founding the Franklin Method. This approach combines creative visualization, embodied anatomy, and physical and mental exercises to foster sustainable positive changes in the body and mind.

Franklin holds degrees from the University of Zurich and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. His career includes extensive experience as a dancer and choreographer, as well as authoring a book on Breakdance. He established the Franklin-Method Institute in Switzerland and is affiliated with the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science. His teaching and coaching have extended to elite athletes and Cirque du Soleil performers.

The Franklin Method, established in 1994, was initially for dancers and draws inspiration from figures like Mabel Elsworth Todd, Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, and Sri Aurobindo. It utilizes imagery, touch, and anatomical embodiment to enhance movement efficiency, dynamic alignment, and overall well-being, impacting connective tissues and inner organs to improve posture and balance.

Founded in 1994 and initially developed for dancers, the Franklin Method integrates scientific principles with experiential learning. It draws inspiration from various somatic and philosophical traditions, including Mabel Elsworth Todd's ideokinesis, Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen's Body-Mind Centering, and Sri Aurobindo's Integral Yoga. The method employs dynamic, science-based imagery, touch, and embodied anatomy to facilitate positive changes in both the body and mind. Using simple tools like balls and therabands, practitioners learn to achieve sustainable improvements in physical and mental function. The core aim is to activate the body and mind through imagery and reconditioning movement, leading to improved dynamic alignment and maximal movement efficiency.

The Franklin Method emphasizes the brain and nervous system's role in directing movement through appropriate imagery. This neurogenic stimulation of muscular conditions can yield immediate results, preceding any myogenic (muscle tissue) changes. The method also directly stimulates connective tissues and internal organs via touch and visualization, contributing to improved posture and a sense of inner and outer balance. A significant benefit of these exercises is the reduction of structural stress within the body. The method's effectiveness has led to its global dissemination, with courses offered at numerous universities and recognized by health providers in Switzerland. It is also frequently featured at conferences related to dance, Pilates, yoga, and physiotherapy.