Aideen McIlroy - Experiential Movement Practitioner

27/03/2026

✨ Visiting Practitioner – Ireland (June 2026) ✨

I’m delighted to share that senior ABM NeuroMovement® practitioner Juan Carlos Co**ha will be coming to Mullingar this June to offer a limited number of intensive lessons.
This is a wonderful opportunity for families (and adults) to access high-level, hands-on movement work without having to travel abroad.

This approach is:
• Gentle and hands-on
• Based on neuroplasticity
• Focused on improving movement, coordination, comfort, and overall function

It can be helpful for:
✨ Cerebral Palsy
✨ Autism / ADHD
✨ Developmental delays
✨ Neurological conditions or injury
✨ Anyone looking to move with more ease and less effort

🗓 Dates: 17th–21st June 2026
📍 Location: Mullingar
⚠️ Space for 1-2 families left

If you’ve been curious about this type of work, or would like to explore whether it could support you or your child, this is a great opportunity to experience it with a very experienced practitioner.
You can find more details at:
🌐 www.jcconcha.com
Or feel free to message me directly if you’d like to chat about whether it might be a good fit.
Aideen 💛

23/03/2026

Sylvia has one spot remaining in her NeuroHorizons®️Training in Frankfurt, starting April 8th. You can get the details here:
www.NeuroHorizons.eu

11/03/2026

Over the past few months I’ve had the privilege of working with some wonderful new children and families. It’s always an honour to be invited into a child’s learning process and to see the small (and sometimes big!) changes that unfold after an intensive.

Parents have shared some lovely feedback in the weeks following sessions, including children:

✨ Trying to stand independently
✨ Taking a step
✨ Becoming more vocal with new sounds or clearer speech
✨ Moving their arms with more ease for the first time
✨ Being more willing to try things themselves
✨ Showing a general sense of ease and being more relaxed in their bodies

Every child’s journey is different, and changes can look different too. Sometimes they are very subtle at first, but they often continue to unfold as the child explores movement at home.

It’s always a joy to see what becomes possible when the brain is given new information and the child is supported to learn at their own pace.

Thank you to all the families who invite me to work with their children 💛

[photos from a recent intensive with a very clever little girl]

07/03/2026

Sylvia has a new Training start in Frankfurt/ Germany, on April 8th!
There are a few spots left if anyone would be interested in training. I can not recommend it enough!

Visit Sylvia's website for more information: https://www.neurohorizons.eu/
[Photo from my top-up training last summer]

08/02/2026

What I look for when a child comes for their first movement lesson

When a child comes to me for the first time, I’m not looking for what they can’t do.
I’m observing how they move, how they rest, and how they respond to the world around them.

I look at things like:
• How they organise their head, spine, and pelvis
• Where they feel safe and where they don’t yet
• How easily they can shift weight and transition
• Whether movement feels effortful or curious
• How are they leaning through their pelvis, arms, knees and feet.

These small details tell me far more than milestones ever could.

From there, the work is about offering gentle movement experiences that help the nervous system feel safer, more organised, and more capable so development can unfold at the child’s own pace.

No forcing or pushing ahead. Just learning, connection, and possibility.

If you’re curious about whether this kind of work could support your child, feel free to get in touch.

[Image of me working with my son, helping him to feel his spine and pelvis in standing]
®

28/01/2026

✨ Spaces Remaining – Belfast Intensive ✨

Hello, I’m organising a movement therapy intensive with senior Anat Baniel Method® practitioner Marianne Nelissen.

The Anat Baniel Method® is a gentle, brain-based approach that uses slow, precise movement lessons to support the nervous system. Rather than forcing exercises or repetition, the work focuses on helping the brain learn new options for movement, coordination, comfort, and function.

This work can be helpful for:

- Children with neurodevelopmental challenges such as Cerebral Palsy, ASD, Global Developmental Delay, genetic conditions, or motor delays
- Adults with neurological or movement challenges, including MS, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or injury
- Anyone looking to improve ease of movement, balance, coordination, or reduce pain and effort

Lessons are always individualised, respectful, and adapted to the person’s needs, age, and abilities.

📍 Location: Belfast

📅 Dates: 5th–9th March

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Availability: Space for 1–2 families / individuals

Intensives allow the brain to take in new information over several days, often leading to meaningful changes that continue to unfold after the sessions finish.

If you’re curious, would like more details, or want to discuss whether this might be suitable for you or your child, please feel free to send me a message. I’m very happy to chat things through.

The Anat Baniel Method is a remarkable method that improves health through movement with awareness. Overcome limitations by pain, injury or disease.

20/01/2026

Hi everyone 👋
My name is Aideen, and I’m based in Maghera. I wanted to introduce myself again and share a little about the work I do.
I’m a certified NeuroHorizons® movement specialist, working with babies and children who have developmental challenges such as Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, motor delays, genetic conditions, and autism. My work is very gentle and child-led, using slow movement lessons to support the brain and nervous system rather than pushing or practicing milestones.
I came to this work through my own son, who has 4-limb Cerebral Palsy. After trying many therapies with limited progress, we discovered this movement-based approach when he was one year old and it was the first thing that truly helped him feel more comfortable in his body and begin to develop new movement and communication. That experience led me to train in Europe so I could support him myself, and now other families too.
Sessions are usually offered in short intensives over a few days, allowing children time to absorb and integrate new movement patterns at their own pace. Parents often notice changes in ease, awareness, comfort, and new developmental steps emerging over time.
I’m sharing this here simply to raise awareness that this option exists in Northern Ireland (I’m currently the only practitioner here). If anyone would like to ask questions, learn more, or have a look at my page, you’re very welcome to reach out — even just for a chat.
Thanks so much for reading 💛
https://www.aideenmcilroy.co.uk/

06/01/2026

I had a great weekend working with two wonderful children during a recent movement intensive.

Together, we explored:
✨ Rolling onto the side and towards the belly
✨ Improving head control through gentle work along the spine and pelvis
✨ Leaning and supporting through the arms and elbows
✨ Approaching the next developmental milestone in a safe, respectful way

Each child made noticeable changes during the intensive, and these changes often continue to unfold in the weeks that follow as their brains integrate the new movement experiences at home.

If you’re curious about a gentle, brain-based approach to supporting your child’s development, feel free to get in touch.

14/12/2025

Great interview with Moshe Feldenkrais (the originator of the method) Great to see how he approached lessons and his mindset around it!

06/11/2025

** ABM in NI **
I have been told that Juan Carlos (ABMNM Practitioner) may visit Ireland (North) in December 17-21. If anyone is interested, please get in touch!

24/09/2025

✨Spaces Remaining✨
Hello, I am organising intensive therapy with senior Anat Baniel Method practitioner Marianne Nelissen.
This method involves using slow and gentle movements which can help with neuro-developmental challenges (e.g. CP, ASD, GDD) or other neuro-rehabilitation (MS, stroke or Parkinson’s disease).
The intensive will be in Belfast from 6th-9th November. There is space for 1-2 families. Please get in touch if you have any questions or if you would be interested in getting some lessons for yourself or your child!

The Anat Baniel Method is a remarkable method that improves health through movement with awareness. Overcome limitations by pain, injury or disease.

04/08/2025

Last month I travelled to Germany to complete my "continuing education" component of the course. I loved having the opportunity to revisit some of the material Sylvia has developed for her course. And it was great to be back with some of my colleagues from afar! It served as a great reminder for me of how powerful it can be to receive the work in this way. As always, I am looking forward to bringing this learning home to help kids in Ireland. If you are interested in learning more, I have included some information on my website: https://www.aideenmcilroy.co.uk/
You can also get information on Sylvia's upcoming courses here: https://www.neurohorizons.eu/
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