Hello
Thank-you for your question.
Bothmer Gymnastics is intended to foster balance, not just physical
balance but mental and spiritual balance too. It's sometimes
associated with the phrase 'spatial dynamics' as it aims to help older
children (and adults) explore the relationship between their body and
its position in space.
Teachers hope that Bothmer will help their students to feel physically
free even when they can no longer play as spontaneously as in early
childhood. Each stage of development has its corresponding exercises.
For instance, teenagers are helped to cope with the changes brought by
puberty. The exercises emphasise harmony and co-ordination. Unlike
conventional gymnastics they do not include any competitive or
'aggressive' elements, nor are they vigorous enough to have an
'aerobic' effect.
Children I know who have experienced Bothmer Gymnastics in a Waldorf
school think of it as more like dance and eurythmy and do not connect
it with sport. For me this confirms that the lessons are cultivating
grace and confidence more than muscular and technical skills.
I hope these quotes from interviews with Bothmer teachers will help
illustrate their work:
"The child with his first movements wants to step out into the world.
He moves freely around...... When the child goes to school we start to
confine his life and movement. It is important that the gym teacher
teaches the child - through movement of course - that his body is not
a prison."
"..........certain exercises correspond to a certain period of the
child's development. Let's take the age of puberty as an example. At
around the age of 14 the child's body goes through dramatic
changes.......The exercises that they did as young children helped
them to get to know their own bodies. Those exercises which the
children learn during puberty teach them how to stand upright, how to
create a harmonious relationship with the space..."
"The Bothmer Gymnastics exercises are significant not only as a
training of the physical body but also can help with the inner work. "
Interview with Alheidis von Bothmer
http://www.bothmer-gymnastik.com/bothmer/Inteview/avbothmer.html
"So movements need to be matched to the physical development and to
the personal, or individual development also..... If a young child is
taught karate, the purpose of the movement is quite transparent.
......Whenever these movements are then made, the images are
triggered and aroused.....[of] aggressive behaviour. It is possible
for a teacher......to give more constructive purpose to movement."
"I believe that if a child enjoys movement and is able to play with
self-confidence, that has an effect on other things too. The joy to be
capable of doing something, to achieve something reflects in their
relationship to life and learning. "
Interview with Martin Baker
http://www.bothmer-gymnastik.com/bothmer/Inteview/baker.html
As you may have already found, a lot of the information on Bothmer
Gymnastics is unfortunately not available in English. 'Spacial
dynamics' (yes, spacial spelt with a 'c') is closely related and it
might help you to look at information about that, too. Some of what is
written about adults will also apply to children. Bothmer work with
adults is partly about correcting unhelpful physical and mental
attitudes developed while growing up; for children it is about
supporting healthy development.
Bothmer gymnastics - site partly in English
http://www.bothmer-gymnastik.com/verband/verband.html
'Spacial dynamics'
http://www.spacialdynamics.com/page3.html
"This is an art of movement......which emphasises awareness of space
around the child. From eleven to twelve years, emphasis is placed on
springing and swinging, harmony and graceful movement."
Quote from Raphael House in New Zealand
http://www.raphaelhouse.school.nz/index.php?pid=34
I hope this is helpful. Please let me know if anything needs
clarification.
Regards - Leli
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