Bothmer Gymnastics

Hi friends,

Here is some info I found about Bothmer Gymnastics. Additionally, we have tremendous resources here at Luther with Jane Hawley and her students studying movement fundamentals. I can share some info I have about developmental movement and its role in brain development, you can also look up a program called "Brain Gym." It is gaining acceptance in more mainstream locations but may take awhile to catch on. There is research but it is limited, into the effectiveness. We sponsored a Brain Gym training here in Decorah back in 2000, and I have basic basic level training. Love, Parker

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