Understanding Movement

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Understanding Movement
mind-body connection dance and wellness
By Dana Bender
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What is Movement?

• Movement is a Change in Position
• Movement is Locomotion or Active Travel
• Movement is Nonverbal Communication

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Movement Knowledge

• Helps with Body Awareness
• Helps Avoid Injury and Poor Posture
• (A Happy Body A Happy Self)

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What is Body Awareness?

• To sense movement, position, and change.
• HOW IT HAPPENS
• ?Proprioception automatic and subconscious
  mechanism that brings our attention to our body
  placement in space
• ?Kinesthesis conscious awareness of movement
  change through space

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The Body-Mind Connection

• Mind Affects Body
• Body Affects Mind
• Somatic Therapy deals with this!
• Dance and Yoga does too!

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What is Somatic Therapy?

• Somatic Nervous System
• (voluntary movement, sensation, effort weight)
• Enhances sensing our Mind-Body Connection
• Re-educates the neuromuscular system

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Somatic/Dance Connection

• Dancers use their somatic senses
• (touch, hear, see)
• Dancers decide on movement INTENT FOCUS
• They have continuous choice and presence

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Dancer Movement Questions!

• What Body Parts are moving?

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Question Two

• What Level and Direction?

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Question Three

• Where and What is my focus?

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Question Four

• What Am I Trying to Show?

ENDLESSCHOICES!
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The Basic Points

• Become aware of your body
• Think about your movement choices
• Wellness occurs when these are both considered!

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The End