Body Expression: Fundamentals, Benefits, and Applications in Education
Body Expression: A Comprehensive Overview
Definitions
Body language is a universal and common language that allows individuals to communicate with themselves and others, aligning with sentiment (Ledro Demerchi and Fiore, 1973). It can be defined as:
- An instrument capable of expressing itself.
- A language that can find its own expression (Schinca, 1988).
- A set of techniques that utilize the human body-language element, allowing for the disclosure of internal content (Bara, 1975).
Fundamentals of Body Expression
- Awareness: Understanding and recognizing one’s own body language.
- Body Domain: Achieving control and mastery over the body through knowledge and training.
- Knowledge Management: Learning and mastering rhythmic body movements derived from basic body coordinates in space, time, and energy.
- Embodiment of Musical Elements: Expressing musical elements through movement.
- Music as a Stimulus: Utilizing music as a catalyst for development, alongside other manifestations of language and words.
Body Expression in Relation to Other Art Forms
Body expression cultivates artistic sensitivity, aesthetic sense, creativity, and human communication. It is an energy-releasing discipline that fosters the expression of being through the organic union of movement, voice, and percussive sounds.
Distinguishing Body Expression from Rhythmic Gymnastics
Body expression encourages a fun and creative social attitude through dance, accessible to everyone. Rhythmic gymnastics, on the other hand, focuses on physical and rhythmic balance through the execution of specific exercises. The purpose of body expression differs significantly from rhythmic gymnastics and dance, as it seeks a holistic contribution of physical and mental well-being, without relying on techniques oriented towards a standardized style.
Kinesthesia: The Sixth Sense
Kinesthesia provides information on all aspects of movement and is often referred to as the sixth sense. It is triggered by stimuli within the body, with proprioceptors located in muscles, tendons, and joints. These receptors are sensitive to:
- The body part being used.
- Changes in joint position and amplitude of movement.
- Quantity and velocity of movement.
- Extension or contraction of muscles.
To develop kinesthesia, conscious attention must be paid to the information it provides. By focusing on the feeling of movement, individuals become aware of the differences in sensations across various types of movement. Kinesthesia is most effective when the sense of sight is eliminated.
Importance of Body Expression in Education
Body expression holds intrinsic value as it encourages exploration of various methods and techniques of physical expression. It promotes a process of discovery, analysis, and transformation of personal expression.
- Discovery implies recognition of one’s own body language.
- Analysis involves reflection and awareness of movement patterns.
- Transformation signifies the elimination of barriers and limitations.
Integrating body expression in the classroom offers numerous benefits:
- Energy Release: Serves as a regulatory activity for psychomotor characteristics.
- Communication Enhancement: Helps solve communication problems within oneself and with others, fostering integration within the student group.
- Creative Development: Aids in the development of research capacity and creativity.
Fields of Application
Body expression is applied in various fields, including Physical Education and Psychomotor Education.
Physical Education
Physical education focuses on the exploration of movement and the learning of techniques. It borrows techniques from drama and modern dance.
Psychomotor Education
Psychomotor education originated from “psychomotor reeducation,” which has roots in psychopathology and psychiatry. It can be defined as a psychomotor rehabilitation method for treating disorders through movement.
Key figures in the development of psychomotor education include:
- Ernest Dupré (1913): Coined the term “psychomotor,” highlighting the relationship between mental activity and motor function.
- Henri Wallon: Emphasized the crucial role of tonic and motor functions in personality development.
- Jean Piaget: Stressed the importance of physical actions in the development of mental functions.
- Julian de Ajuriaguerra: Developed a rehabilitation method using relaxation techniques, gymnastics, kinesitherapy, and psychotherapy.
Psychomotor Education aims to facilitate body mastery, relationship building, and communication with the surrounding world. It can be categorized as:
- Psychomotor education: For school children.
- Psychomotor reeducation: For individuals with psychomotor disorders.
- Psychomotor therapy: For individuals with psychomotor disorders associated with personality disorders.