Eutony is also known as eutonia, which is a somatic form of holistic or complete therapy that uses movement to effect balance and wellness of the mind and body. It is also considered by experts as a meditational discipline that subscribes to the belief that improved health can be attained by enhancing muscle tone with intentional simple movements. Its basic principle lies in the development of self-knowledge and personal growth through self-evaluation. It is not a direct way to acquire cure for an ailment but it can assist an individual in taking an active role to improve his own circulation, body alignment and muscle tone. Founded in 1950 by German native Gertrude Alexander, it is an approach to body awareness and physical therapy in some Western countries where it is now taught in many schools and universities and used in the treatment of physical disabilities and diseases of the nervous system. It is also used in the training of sports people, physical education teachers, dancers and musicians.
Eutony has no set of exercises but it consists of guided activities that can be learned individually or in a group session. If you want to learn it by yourself, you need stretching as a first activity to loosen your muscles and stimulate blood circulation. You also require active and inactive movements to improve your neuromuscular control before you stimulate physical perception, and explore the effects of touch and experiment with the different forms of your conscious movements. A eutony session which can be participated in by students begins with a phase of preliminaries in which, through a series of control positions, they become aware of their initial state of muscular tone. By means of physical activities under the guidance of the eutonist (as used here, it refers to the person supervising the eutony session), they then use objects such as balls, sticks and pillows to contact with the eutonist. They then gain awareness of their skin, internal body space, the bones, or their control positions or sequences of movements, that allow them to evaluate the state of their muscular flexibility.
The methods of eutony in both individual and class session are similar. They begin with awareness of body surface and of the inner space that includes the bones, internal organs, breathing and circulation before they observe the reactions of their own body, real sensations, breathing rate, muscle tension, movement and posture. By being aware of bone structure, one is given a feeling of inner security in cases of psychological disturbances. This is so because such awareness releases the tension of muscles connected with the bones as a result of liberated breathing and circulation.
There are certain benefits that can be derived from the practice of eutony. The “eu” in the word itself means good, while “tony” signifies muscle tone. It therefore leads to physical well-being and personal growth. A series of bodywork leads to a better contact with oneself through body awareness. Among the known benefits of eutony is the relief it brings from depression, sleep disorders, anxiety, stress, and from the pain in people of all ages. In some instances, it also enhances creative expression in some artists and performers in theaters and other fields of art.
