Ideokinesis

Author: Andre Bernard
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
ISBN: 155643569X
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 225

Book Description
Mabel Elsworth Todd pioneered ideokinesis in the 1920s. Her book, The Thinking Body, described new ways to use all the senses as well as inner feeling and imagination to retrain the body to move with ease and balance. The system became an invaluable tool for generations of dancers, actors, and performance artists, thanks largely to one of its most important teachers, André Bernard (1924-2003). This book presents an introduction to the practice as well as a lengthy interview with Bernard and two meticulously detailed workshop protocols illustrated with 52 photographs and line drawings.

Teaching Dancing with Ideokinetic Principles

Author: Drid Williams
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
ISBN: 0252036085
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 146

Book Description
In examining ideokinesis and its application to the teaching and practice of dancing, Drid Williams introduces readers to the work of Dr. Lulu Sweigard (1895–1974), a pioneer of ideokinetic principles. Drawing on her experiences during private instructional sessions with Sweigard over a two-year span, Williams discusses methods using imagery for improving body posture and alignment for ease of movement. Central to Williams's own teaching methods is the application of Sweigard's principles and general anatomical instruction, including how she used visual imagery to help prevent bodily injuries and increasing body awareness relative to movement. Williams also emphasizes the differences between kinesthetic (internal) and mirror (external) imagery and shares reactions from professional dancers who were taught using ideokinesis. Williams's account of teaching and practicing ideokinesis is supplemented with essays by Sweigard, William James, and Jean-Georges Noverre on dancing, posture, and habits. Teaching Dancing with Ideokinetic Principles offers an important historical perspective and valuable insights from years of teaching experience into how ideokinesis can shape a larger philosophy of the dance.

Human Movement Potential

Author: Lulu E. Sweigard
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781626549449
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 334

Book Description
Nerves. Muscles. Bones. These are the three basic components necessary for human movement. Driving this function is the nervous system: the initiator and controller. In Human Movement Potential: Its Ideokinetic Facilitation, Dr. Lulu Sweigard explores the capacity of our nervous system to uncover the most efficient and healthy neuromuscular interactions for movement. Based on her research and insight, we can improve the relationship between our skeletal, muscular, and neural function, achieving our optimal movement potential. At the heart of Sweigard's work is ideokinesis, which uses imaging and thought in order to produce better mechanical balance and neuromuscular coordination. Human Movement Potential masterfully explores ideokinesis not only as a theory but as a practical, applicable tool, making it an essential resource for performers, dancers, bodyworkers, and anyone interested in optimizing physical performance, reducing unnecessary strain, and banishing fatigue. Diligently researched and based on well-documented scientific trials, this groundbreaking work on the human body skillfully shows that with simple changes in movement and thought, we can make deep and significant improvements in how we function and the way we feel. Dr. Lulu E. Sweigard was a leading authority on posture and movement. Throughout her career she explored many complex topics related to the human body. Sweigard served on the faculties of the University of Northern Iowa, Teachers College of Columbia University, New York University, and The Juilliard School.

A Guide to a Somatic Movement Practice

Author: Nancy Topf
Publisher: University Press of Florida
ISBN: 0813072336
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 189

Book Description
An introduction to embodied movement through the work of a dance education pioneer In this introduction to the work of somatic dance education pioneer Nancy Topf (1942–1998), readers are ushered on a journey to explore the movement of the body through a close awareness of anatomical form and function. Making available the full text of Topf’s The Anatomy of Center for the first time in print, this guide helps professionals, teachers, and students of all levels integrate embodied, somatic practices within contexts of dance, physical education and therapy, health, and mental well-being. Hetty King, a movement educator certified in the Topf Technique®, explains how the ideas in this work grew out of Topf’s involvement in developing Anatomical Release Technique—an important concept in contemporary dance—and the influence of earlier innovators Barbara Clark and Mabel Elsworth Todd, founder of the approach to movement known as “ideokinesis.” Featuring lessons written as a dialogue between teacher, student, and elements of the body, Topf’s material is accompanied by twenty-one activities that allow readers to use the book as a self-guided manual. A Guide to a Somatic Movement Practice is a widely applicable entry point into the tradition of experiential anatomy and its mindful centering of the living, breathing body.

The Thinking Body

Author: Mabel Todd
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781881914051
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

Book Description
Mabel Todd's The Thinking Body (1937) still stands today as a classic study of human anatomy and kinesiology that introduces many of the founding principles of somatic movement education. TBI Media offers a Special Edition of the book which replicates the style of the original cover, typography and drawings and provides an updated index.

Improvised Dance

Author: Nalina Wait
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1000868419
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 263

Book Description
This book elucidates the technical aspects of improvised dance performance and reframes the notion of labour in the practice from one that is either based on compositionally formal logic or a mysterious impulse, to one that addresses the (in)corporeal dimensions of practice. Mobilising the languages and conceptual frameworks of theories of affect, embodied cognition, somatics, and dance, this book illustrates the work of specialist improvisers who occupy divergent positions within the complex field of improvised dance. It offers an alternative narrative of the history and current practice of Western improvised dance centred on the epistemology of its (in)corporeal knowledges, which are elusive yet vital to the refinement of expertise. Written for both a disciplinary-specific and interdisciplinary audience, this book will interest dance scholars, students, and practising artists.

Dictionary of Natural Healing

Author: Deborah R. Mitchell
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ISBN: 1466869046
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 315

Book Description
Find out about the newest natural remedies and what they can do for you! With the hundreds of complementary treatments available today, this new, up-to-the-minute A-Z reference lets you quickly and easily investigate all the natural approaches for your health needs. Whether you've wondered about the mind-body healing methods of SHEN (Specific Human Energy nexus) and Reiki, or been intrigued by alternative approaches to illness, such as using glucosamine sulfate or cayenne in arthritis therapy, Deborah R. Mitchell's Dictionary of Natural Healing gives you all the information you need to know in a concise, comprehensive format. Filled with fascinating facts and covering over 250 subjects, the Dictionary of Natural Healing is an essential volume for anyone interested in alternative therapies and a holistic approach to health. Each entry includes: - Definition, Pronunciation and other spellings - Conditions for which the therapy or product is used - How it is performed or applied - Cross-references Plus, appendices provide helpful facts on... - Finding a qualified practitioner in dozens of specialties - Product information - Further reading and reference materials

Discovering the Body's Wisdom

Author: Mirka Knaster
Publisher: Bantam
ISBN: 0307575500
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 433

Book Description
In an attractive, oversized format, enlivened with illustrations, sidebar quotes, personal accounts, techniques to try, and profiles of leaders in the field, Discovering the Body's Wisdom is a basic resource for well-being and natural health. Body disciplines and therapies have enjoyed phenomenal growth in the past decade, becoming a major alternative to mainstream medicine and traditional psychotherapy. But with more than 100,000 practitioners and dozens of methods available in the United States alone, how can consumers choose the right one for themselves? Mirka Knaster's richly informative guide provides an overview of the principles and theories underlying the major Eastern and Western body therapies, or "bodyways." It shows readers how to befriend their own bodies, getting back in touch with their internal sources of health and wisdom. It also describes more than 75 individual approaches, answering such questions as: How does each therapy work? What can we expect from one session or a series? What are the reasons for selecting this method? How do we find a qualified practitioner? What, if any, are the "consumer-bewares"?

The Embodied Teen

Author: Susan Bauer
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
ISBN: 162317189X
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 376

Book Description
The first book to offer a somatic movement education curriculum adapted to the unique needs of adolescents Susan Bauer presents a groundbreaking curriculum for teaching teens how to integrate body and mind, enhance kinesthetic intelligence, and develop the inner resilience they need to thrive, now and into adulthood. Designed for educators, therapists, counselors, and movement practitioners, The Embodied Teen presents a pioneering introductory, student-centered program in somatic movement education. Using the student's own body as the lab through which to learn self-care, injury prevention, body awareness, and emotional resilience, Bauer teaches basic embodiment practices that establish the foundation for further skill development in sports, dance, and leisure activities. Students learn the basics of anatomy and physiology, and unlearn self-defeating habits that impact body image and self-esteem. By examining their cultural perceptions, they discover their body prejudices, helping them to both respect diversity and gain compassion for themselves and others. Concise and accessible, the lessons presented in this book will empower teens as they navigate the volatile physical and emotional challenges they face during this vibrant, powerful stage of life.

Therapeutic Voicework

Author: Paul Newham
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
ISBN: 9781853023613
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 596

Book Description
Based on Paul Newham's experience as a voice therapist and on his work running a professional training course in the psychotherapeutic use of singing, this text explores both the theory and practice behind the use of voice and singing in expressive arts therapy.