What is Therapeutic Eurythmy?
Therapeutic Eurythmy is a movement based on modified artistic eurythmy movements. (See website listing below for more information regarding artistic eurythmy.) It works on compromised body wellness to help restore harmonious balance, health and well-being. In this way, it is used for many chronic situations, but may also be practiced preventatively.Background and History
Therapeutic Eurythmy was begun in 1921 and was developed by Rudolf Steiner and Ita Wegman. It was initially developed to aid in the care of special needs children. It expanded more fully into the medical field and has been used to support patients and enhance the effects of medical therapy. There are several clinics worldwide that offer Therapeutic Eurythmy as an integral part of a patient’s wellness therapy.What Does It Do and How Does It Do It?
Therapeutic Eurythmy works with the forces that enliven our physical bodies, read: Chi, life force, energy fields. The effect of these forces can be experienced when we rise each morning. We should feel refreshed and renewed, ready to start the day with reinvigorated energy. Therapeutic Eurythmy enhances, stimulates, strengthens, and harmonizes these restorative forces of our bodies.What To Expect
When coming to a Therapeutic Eurythmy lesson, one should wear comfortable, unrestricted clothing for ease of movement. The practitioner usually provides a soft-soled shoe. The client will be taught to do specific movement exercises based on the doctor’s diagnosis and suggestions. The client is gradually brought into the exercise’s full movement. This may involve jumps, movement on various forms in space, or other sorts of rhythmic movement. After each lesson the client rests to allow the movements to reverberate within the body.The client is encouraged to practice the movements at home on his/her own for a period of time, usually 7 weeks in length. Further lessons may be scheduled or a "check-up” appointment may be scheduled to assess the movement and add to, modify, or reinforce the exercises as done by the client.
A client should plan to meet weekly with the practitioner for a 7-week period. (Some practitioners may use a 14-week cycle.) After this time the client and practitioner may discuss the need for further lessons to anchor the movements more solidly for the client.
Cost
Practitioners charge different rates. Some work on a sliding scale. Expect to the cost to be anywhere from $40 to $70 per lesson.How Do I Contact a Practitioner?
Your physician will provide the names and contact information for practitioners in your area. Depending on the area, this may be limited to one practitioner.Training and Qualification Therapeutic Eurythmists train for a minimum of four years in the realm of artistic eurythmy and then a further 2 years as a therapeutic eurythmist. They are certified by the Medical Section of the Goetheanum, which is the organization overseeing and upholding the standards for therapeutic eurythmists worldwide. After receiving certification, practice must be renewed through continuing education courses and conference work on a regular basis. The professional organization that overseas continuing education of therapeutic eurythmists in the United States is ATHENA.
Further Information Below are several websites that offer information regarding eurythmy and Therapeutic Eurythmy. (Some of the websites listed are based in the UK. These sites may contain information that may be different than what can be expected here in the States. This is due to variations in medical practice and medical law.)
IMAGES OF EURYTHMY | VIDEOS OF EURYTHMY
For information on Therapeutic Eurythmy:
www.therapeuticeurythmy.org/
www.anthromed.org/Article.aspx?artpk=486
www.hermeshealth.co.uk/euryth.htm
www.eurythmy.org.uk/faq/faq3.html
http://www.youandyourchildshealth.org/
Learn more about Artistic Eurythmy
Watch the Video | Read the Article
- provided by Virginia Efta, Therapeutic Eurythmist