Background
The paper focuses on the Bartenieff Fundamentals. The set of principles by Irmgard bartenieff are studied about the content of the Fundamentals, the application and areas of application. In particular, the area of Patterns of total body connectivity and the primary six concepts are studied. Irmgard Bartenieff developed the set of principles based on elements of kinesiological functioning. The form of a set of exercises was made in a way that they can be applied in a wide range of infinite movements of the body. The physical therapist, in particular, developed the principles of dynamic alignment, rotary factor, spatial intent, Dynamic Alignment, Breath Support, Effort plan, among others.
Basic 6
Basic six has developed over time as one of the most popular movement sequences by Bartenieff. The group of body movements focuses mainly on preparations of breath, body half, arm circles and diagonal sit-up, diagonal knee reach, rocking, pelvic shift (forward) and hip lift as the main elements. Each of these has a set target purpose which works to cause a particular type of awareness in the body (Bartenieff and Lewis 230)
The Lateral pelvic shift has the mobilization transfer of body weight. Hip lifting or twisting are excluded in this as the pelvic and hamstrings are used to flex and abduct in the hip intersection. Closely related is the half body preparation, which works to give the vertical mid-line awareness. The result is the stabilization of one-half of the body, which helps in the balancing of the other body half. The other preparation that brings awareness to the pelvis and spine area is the rocking prep. The purpose of this special prep is to alternate actions in the hamstring area and the iliopsoas-heels, which are connected to the pelvic floor.
Thigh Lift also known as hip flexion has the purpose of the flexing the hip effectively with the iliopsoas excluding superficial muscles. Also, it also encourages the folding depth in the inguinal section as well as minute pelvic area tilt. Hamstrings are used to ground the upright leg while the cross extensor reflex is returned. The abdominal hollowing breath is also promoted by iliopsoas initiation the diagonal knee reach works to bring awareness in the lower body by twisting the upper body. Also known as the knee drop, the movement promotes pelvic floor awareness as well as the iliopsoas as the connecting upper and lower knee drop reach. A unique preparation action is the arm circles and diagonal sit-up which brings about awareness sin the arm-shoulder area connecting to the lower torso.
A full dimension rotation is achieved in the shoulder joints too. At the same time, the sit up achieves the head eye and arm movement integration. Finally, there is the awareness of narrowing and widening across the sternum area. The breath preparation covers the wider body awareness via a flow of the breath in the body. In essence, awareness is felt in the minute interior changes in the mouth cavities as well as the chest and abdomen areas (Bartenieff and Lewis 241).
Patterns of Total Body Connectivity
The patterns of total body connectivity are based on the developmental aspect of the body. The ontogenesis form concerns the baby to adult development while the phylogenies focus on the amoeba to primate transformation. The human body focus is chiefly based on the developmental movement and basic neurological patterns. The breath to find one's core builds on the concept of the growth and shrinking as one mass which is not differentiated. Therefore, the implication is that the most critical movement is in the saturation of cells where expansion and condensation rhythms occur. Mouthing as a navel radiation helps in distinguishing the oral area from the spine genesis. The mouth is opened wide and moved in the general food reaching direction. Form the top of the spine, the body extends and expands as it opens.
New options are achieved in these movements as a way of opening up the notions that have been stagnated or fixed. In other words, the movement allows for the possibility enabling for any curiosities that one might be having. Contra lateral body integration is another movement which helps in opposing the locomotors of a person (and other higher mammalian life) by forward limb movements. It is related to the homologous and homolateral body movements. The homologous focuses on upper-lower for functions units’ integration while the homolateral focuses on the half body movements. It supports counterbalances in the left and right body contrasts. There is no reaching pattern here, and there must be the full space reach by the half body limbs to achieve the push. We can sum up this movement with the connotations attached to it of opposition, dichotomies, and polarized differentiation. All these, however, have a convergence when simultaneous or cumulatively done.
Works Cited
Bartenieff, Irmgard and Dori Lewis. Body Movement. New York: Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, 1980. Print.
