Holistic gymnastics
A path to self-discovery, a way to learn how to use your own body,
to live in harmony and without pain
What is it ?
onHolistic gymnastics is part of a regular physical activity : moving your body to prevent any damage or help it repair / restore itself.
It’s an educational, preventative and restorative method which considers the body as a whole (« holos » in Greek means « the whole »). It stimulates the natural body capacities of self-healing.
Each session is structured with an alternation of relaxation, movements performed consciously and an awareness of the effects of these movements on the body. This approach helps you to listen to your body, better inhabit it, and to reprogram your body schema and your habits.
Holistic gymnastics originates from bodywork introduced in France in the 30’s by Lily Eherenfried. She was a German doctor and physiotherapist. She was trained by Elsa Gindler who dedicated her whole life to the education of the movement.
The movements are individualized for each session. I state and describe them orally, leaving room for your personal exploration of your own abilities: no model nor competition.
Equipment (balls, sticks, paddles, etc.) is frequently used, adding a playful aspect to the session.
Holistic gymnastics is part of the disciplines of somatic education : learning to discover one’s body in motion.
The 5 pilars
Holistic gymnastics is based on 5 pillars that are developed during the sessions and contribute to rebalancing and enhancing the harmony of the body as a whole :
Behavior : Rebuilding yourself and evolving on healthy foundations
Sensory awareness : a path to autonomy
Breathing : life in motion
Tone, relaxation, release: freeing yourself from tension to better tone up
Static, balance and posture : reprogramming your body schema
For whom ?
Regardless of your age or physical condition, holistic gymnastics is suitable for maintaining the body, resuming activity or achieving overall body restoration. By acting on the entire organism, it stimulates your own regeneration capacities as well as your immune defenses.
It is also recognized for its benefits in terms of psycho-emotional management :
- Regulation of the nervous system
- Reduction of the emotional stress
- Strengthening concentration
- Sleep improvement
It is particularly suitable for health issues, such as :
- Depressive state, burn-out
- Posture imbalances in children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly
- Physical disabilities, including visually impaired individuals
- Movement limitation with or without associated pain
- Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid polyarthritis or fibromyalgia
- Certain neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson disease
As part of a health program, a consultation is required before starting this activity. During this consultation, personal objectives are jointly defined
Behavior : Rebuilding yourself and evolving on healthy foundations
Your personal implication is essential as well as your modesty. This is reflected in your ability to feel ready to freely explore and discover the richness of sensations and new experiences, sometimes challenging your believes.
Developing a kind attitude toward yourself and your ability to be present to yourself and to concentrate will help you find an “ideal” posture that respects all your body structures.
Learning to “unlearn” is a whole program ! Acting slowly, limiting effort, listening to your body messages contribute to to growing tolerance, self-awareness (and awareness to others), and empathy.
Respecting your own limits is essential for rebuilding yourself and improving relationships with yourself and to your environment.
Sensory awareness : a path to autonomy
Our body speaks to us constantly… but do we really listen?
Here are the areas in which holistic gymnastics intervenes to help us:
- Developing our sensory and bodily awareness, becoming conscious of our body in motion, after exertion and at rest.
- Finding our own levers of action to restore our bodies and act autonomously when faced with physical tensions, even pain, stressful situations, difficult life periods, or psychological or emotional troubles…
By learning to identify our own keys to well-being, we develop our ability to become agents of our own change, architects of our harmony.
Breathing : life in motion
Often underused or misused if not educated, our breathing can maintain unnecessary tensions, pain, bodily imbalances, states of stress, and various imbalances.
In order to use it instead as a permanent and benevolent ally in your daily life, throughout your life, holistic gymnastics helps to discover how to release it, tone it, play with it, learn to listen to it, read what it reveals, and become aware of the connections that exist between breathing, posture, and body movements.
In short, it is about making this unconscious mechanism conscious. Thus, breathing can provide the right and sufficient strength for the execution of a movement, revive vital energy, and spread calm and relaxation
.
Tone, relaxation, release: freeing oneself from tension to better tone up
A toned body is a body ready for movement. The search for the right effort allows us to measure the energy needed for a movement without excess, to become aware of our habits, and to correct them.
The deep muscles of the body, located near the bones, are the main muscles of posture. They are the ones that holistic gymnastics primarily targets to achieve a proper overall tone.
The times of active listening to the body contribute to developing self-respect, kindness, and harmony, which are drivers of self-confidence and overall balance.
Static, balance and posture : reprogramming your body schema
Like the tightrope walker balancing on a wire between heaven and earth, stability often arises from instability. It then becomes the expression of a certain harmony.
Playing to release our tensions and unlock our joints helps make our body more flexible and elastic. To the rhythm of our constant ebb and flow of breathing, incessant adjustments take place, our inner feelings connect with our outer environment. The harmony of the body’s curves is restored, leading to a more appropriate positioning and a new balance.
Our body schema (unconscious representation of self) adapts, reprograms itself.
F.A.Q
Can Holistic Gymnastics be practiced at any age ?
Yes. Since the movements in holistic gymnastics are tailored to each individual’s capabilities, it is accessible to everyone. There is no age limit to practice it: from adolescents to the elderly, regular practice allows one to better inhabit their body, regain natural mobility, flexibility, and tone. At any age, our body can adapt and heal.
Does the practice require good physical condition ?
One can practice Holistic Gymnastics regardless of their physical condition. Each course is tailored to the participants. In front of a particular problem (pain, discomfort, tension…), the practitioner adjusts the movements on a case-by-case basis and the course of the session.
Are there any contraindications to practicing holistic gymnastics ?
No physical contraindications. Nevertheless, before any new registration, an individual interview is required with the practitioner. This time for exchange and practice allows to assess the difficulties to consider during the sessions and to define specific areas of focus for work.
Holistic gymnastics is not intended for individuals suffering from severe psychotic disorders.
Can pregnant women practice holistic gymnastics ?
Yes, and it can even turn out to be very beneficial. The exercises help to work on breathing to better oxygenate both the baby and the mother. The movements promote the mobility of the diaphragm and the pelvis. The set therefore provides comfort to the expectant mother and the baby and improves blood circulation. The practitioner adjusts the work according to the morphology of the pregnant woman and the stage of pregnancy. The expectant mother also learns to relax overall to regenerate her strength. This is a lesson she will be able to reuse at the time of childbirth.
Is regular practice essential ?
Every holistic gym session is beneficial. However, to experience a deeper and more lasting benefit, regular practice is recommended.
Why conduct an individual assessment at the beginning of the season ?
Holistic gymnastics is part of a health education approach. This assessment allows for a review of the member’s health status, to perform some movements before joining a group class, to jointly define individualized goals, and to receive very specific advice.
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