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The Thinking Body

by Mabel Elsworth Todd

Movement, anatomy, and visual imagery

Regular price $29.98 USD
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AlbakiReads Editorial

Movement, anatomy, and visual imagery

First published in 1937, Mabel Elsworth Todd’s study connects physiology and the psychology of movement through her approach to neuromuscular coordination. The book presents anatomically based visual imagery and consciously relaxed volition as tools for shaping movement, placing it within the development of Ideokinesis and somatic education. This 2024 hardcover reprint reproduces the original edition as a facsimile, retaining its illustrations. Its subject sits at the intersection of dance, body awareness, and the study of how attention and intention relate to movement.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Dance students and practitioners interested in movement theory and physiology.
  • Readers exploring the history of somatic education and Ideokinesis.
  • Those interested in body awareness approaches to coordination and movement.

Themes

Physiology and movementIdeokinesis and somatic educationVisual imagery and neuromuscular coordinationAttention, intention, and body awareness

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

2024 Hardcover Reprint of the 1937 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition software. Complete with all Illustrations from the 1937 edition. Mabel Elsworth Todd is considered the founder of what has come to be known as 'Ideokinesis', a form of somatic education that became popular in the 1930s amongst dancers and health professionals. Todd's ideas involved using anatomically based, creative visual imagery and consciously relaxed volition to create and refine neuromuscular coordination. Lulu Sweigard, who coined the term Ideokinesis, and Barbara Clark furthered Todd's work. Todd's work was published in her book The Thinking Body (1937), which is now considered by modern dance schools to be a classic study of physiology and the psychology of movement. Her work influenced many somatic awareness professionals of her day, and is often cited along with The Feldenkrais method for its focus on the subtle influence of unconscious intention and attention.

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