Gerda Alexander
Encyclopedia
Gerda Alexander was a Danish
teacher who devised a method of self-development called Eutony. She was born in Wuppertal
, Germany
, but moved to Denmark in 1929.
Like Moshe Feldenkrais
, she emphasized intelligence, sensitivity, and awareness rather than simple physical exercise.
. The term was coined to express the idea of a harmoniously balanced "tonicity in constant adaptation to the state or activity of the moment".
Alexander's parents were believers in eurythmy
, passing on to her a similar interest in movement. Alexander as a young woman contracted rheumatic fever
and endocarditis
, suffering several crises. This forced her precociously to create movement forms that did not exacerbate her perception of symptoms. Long periods of rest stimulated her to look within herself looking for a "more economic" and more spontaneous form of movement, starting with learning regulation of tone to achieve further well-being. By means of observation and reflection on her students, their own ailments and difficulties in mobility, and the investigation of the neuro-psychological bases of human movement, she molded her own method. She postulated that "it is important, in treatment, not to give and do more than is necessary, so that the other can rely on himself. It is not that I am the great master who gives you help. Rather, I can introduce you to my work for your own self discovery."
A Eutony session begins with a phase of "inventory" in which the student, through a series of "control positions," becomes aware of his/her initial state of muscular tone. Then by a means of physical activities guided by the eutonist, which may include the use of objects (balls, sticks, pillows) or the contact between the eutonist and the student, the latter gains awareness of the different "principles." At the end of the class or session the student may be asked to repeat the control positions initially used to check the differences in both his/her states and awareness of them.
Eutony has a number of "principles" or methodological tools to be used in the classes or sessions that facilitate the student's recovery from the deviation from ideal tone.
Such principles are:
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
teacher who devised a method of self-development called Eutony. She was born in Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Wuppertal is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in and around the Wupper river valley, and is situated east of the city of Düsseldorf and south of the Ruhr area. With a population of approximately 350,000, it is the largest city in the Bergisches Land...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, but moved to Denmark in 1929.
Like Moshe Feldenkrais
Moshé Feldenkrais
Moshé Pinchas Feldenkrais was an Israeli physicist and the founder of the Feldenkrais Method, designed to improve human functioning by increasing self-awareness through movement.-Biography:...
, she emphasized intelligence, sensitivity, and awareness rather than simple physical exercise.
Eutony
Alexander's "Eutony" claims to develop the ability to be aware and able to regulate muscular toneMuscle tone
In physiology, medicine, and anatomy, muscle tone is the continuous and passive partial contraction of the muscles, or the muscle’s resistance to passive stretch during resting state. It helps maintain posture, and it declines during REM sleep.-Purpose:Unconscious nerve impulses maintain the...
. The term was coined to express the idea of a harmoniously balanced "tonicity in constant adaptation to the state or activity of the moment".
Alexander's parents were believers in eurythmy
Eurythmy
Eurythmy is an expressive movement art originated by Rudolf Steiner in conjunction with Marie von Sivers in the early 20th century. Primarily a performance art, it is also used in education — especially in Waldorf schools - and as a movement therapy....
, passing on to her a similar interest in movement. Alexander as a young woman contracted rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that occurs following a Streptococcus pyogenes infection, such as strep throat or scarlet fever. Believed to be caused by antibody cross-reactivity that can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain, the illness typically develops two to three weeks after...
and endocarditis
Endocarditis
Endocarditis is an inflammation of the inner layer of the heart, the endocardium. It usually involves the heart valves . Other structures that may be involved include the interventricular septum, the chordae tendineae, the mural endocardium, or even on intracardiac devices...
, suffering several crises. This forced her precociously to create movement forms that did not exacerbate her perception of symptoms. Long periods of rest stimulated her to look within herself looking for a "more economic" and more spontaneous form of movement, starting with learning regulation of tone to achieve further well-being. By means of observation and reflection on her students, their own ailments and difficulties in mobility, and the investigation of the neuro-psychological bases of human movement, she molded her own method. She postulated that "it is important, in treatment, not to give and do more than is necessary, so that the other can rely on himself. It is not that I am the great master who gives you help. Rather, I can introduce you to my work for your own self discovery."
A Eutony session begins with a phase of "inventory" in which the student, through a series of "control positions," becomes aware of his/her initial state of muscular tone. Then by a means of physical activities guided by the eutonist, which may include the use of objects (balls, sticks, pillows) or the contact between the eutonist and the student, the latter gains awareness of the different "principles." At the end of the class or session the student may be asked to repeat the control positions initially used to check the differences in both his/her states and awareness of them.
Eutony has a number of "principles" or methodological tools to be used in the classes or sessions that facilitate the student's recovery from the deviation from ideal tone.
Such principles are:
- awareness of the skin
- awareness of the internal body space
- awareness of the bones
- conscious contact
- experience of transport (conscious straightening reflex)
- "repousser" (to reject-to push)
- active and passive movements
- micro-movements (movements of decompression of the articulations)
- control positions (sequences of movements that allow to evaluate the state of muscular flexibility)
- eutonic movement
- vibrations (voice and bones)
External links
See also
- Feldenkrais methodFeldenkrais methodThe Feldenkrais Method is a somatic educational system designed by Moshé Feldenkrais . The Feldenkrais method aims to improve movement repertoire, aiming to expand and refine the use of the self through awareness, in order to reduce pain or limitations in movement, and promote general well-being...
- Alexander TechniqueAlexander TechniqueThe Alexander Technique teaches the ability to improve physical postural habits, particularly those that have become ingrained and conditioned responses...
- RolfingRolfingRolfing is a therapy system created by The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration and is a system whereby the alleged manipulation of the fasciae by specific methods is theorized to yield therapeutic benefit....