What is Eurythmy?
Our entire world is created through movement and this is
reflected in the human organism. We move our limbs, our organs have
subtle movements and our emotional life is in constant flux (the
word emotion contains within it "motion"). A body in movement is
both healthy and alive. Eurythmy brings to expression those
archetypal creative movements that underlie speech and music. Dr
Steiner describes how, when human speech or music sounds forth, the
air is "sculpted" into gesture. Through Eurythmy this hidden
gesture of our speech organs or of musical tone is made visible
through the entire human body. The archetypal movements of creation
are thus revealed "in miniature". Participating in this
movement helps to bring about harmony in the totality of our being
and our relations with the world.
The Development of Eurythmy
Eurythmy developed as a stage art and continues to be
practised as such. Some years after its inception its potential in
education was recognised and it became a core part of the Steiner
Waldorf curriculum. Today Eurythmy is taught to children and young
people in Steiner Waldorf schools throughout the world. Another
recent application has been the use of Eurythmy in the work place
where much has been achieved in developing new ways of team
building.
What is Eurythmy Therapy?
Therapy is a further branch of Eurythmical work. When the human
organism loses its equilibrium an imbalance results and illness may
ensue. The intervention of Eurythmy therapy can affect a change to
restore the organism towards balance. This may avoid the
development of illness or encourage a positive return to
health.
Eurythmy has a rich vocabulary of movement and
gesture for both speech and musical tone. As described earlier
these are the visible manifestations of the "scultped air" that
arises when speech or music sounds forth.
When used therapeutically these Eurythmical
gestures are modified, intensified and repeated. The gestures for
the consonants and vowels of speech can stimulate the organic
functions in our body and lead them into balance, allowing the body
to return to health. Musical elements such as intervals and
tones can also have specific therapeutic effects, bringing a
rhythmic balance to opposing tendencies in both our physical and
emotional lives.
Other elements used in Eurythmy Therapy include the
stepping of rhythms perhaps with copper rods or balls; the moving
of forms to poetry or music and the so called "soul exercises"
which combine a vowel with a particular gesture representing an
inner attitude.
Many of these other elements have a general
"hygienic" effect of balancing body processes, allowing the
specific speech and musical exercises to work more intensively.
Specific combinations of exercises will be
determined for each individual patient in close collaboration with
a doctor. A medical consultation with an anthroposophical doctor
(who will have knowledge of Eurythmy Therapy) is recommended as a
first step.
True healing is about more than the disappearance
of symptoms. Eurythmy is an active process allowing the patient to
consciously participate in the process of achieving balance and
good health. Many conditions can be addressed by Eurythmy Therapy
although it is not used in acute or inflammatory situations.
Some of the more common conditions for which
eurythmy therapy is used are listed below:
* Asthma & respiratory disease
* Heart and circulatory disease
* High/low blood pressure
* Menstrual problems
* Stress & fatigue
* Hormonal imbalance & weight control
* Epilepsy
* Strokes & nervous disorders
* Digestive disorders
* Psychiatric conditions
* Learning difficulties
* Developmental problems
* Sleep disorders
* Diabetes
* Allergies & immune conditions
* Systemic disease inc. HIV and cancer
How does the therapy work?
The patient learns the exercises with the Eurythmy
therapist over a course of around seven weeks. Ideally sessions
take place several times a week. For adults each session lasts
about 30 - 40 minutes. The patient is encouraged to take a rest
after each session.
Professional Qualifications
All Eurythmy therapists undergo two trainings. The first
in the art of Eurythmy, followed at a later stage by the
specialised training in Eurythmy as a therapy. All therapies allied
to anthroposophical medicine is currently engaged in a process of
consultation on further professional regulation and
accreditation.
(Content copied with kind permission from Hermes
Health.)