Laban/bartinieff Movement Fundamentals and how they can help those with Autism, Developmental Disabilities and Physical Disabilities compiled by Petrina Olson

The Fundamental Patterns of Total Body Connectivity form the basis for our patterns of relationship and connection as we live our embodied lives. They provide models for our connectedness. This patterning of body connections is fundamental to development. Habitual ways of organizing the body to deal with relationships within the body and with other people and the environment are constantly being laid down in the neuromuscular system. Some patterns such as primitive reflexes, righting reactions, equilibrium responses, and the tendency to progress through stages of movement are built into our neuromuscular systems.

Each Fundamental Pattern of Total Body Connectivity represents a primary level of development and experience, and each is relational. Each organizes a way of relating to self and to the world.

These Fundamental Patterns are:
Breath
Core-Distal Connectivity
Head-Tail Connectivity
Upper-lower Connectivity
Body-Half Connectivity
Cross-lateral Connectivity.

When these patterns are not achieved the individual will develop compensatory patterns that might not effectively support the next stage of development and may lead to either physical or psychological problems later on.

Patterning Body Connections is Fundamental. But sometimes certain ones need to be experienced and expressed again by the body member. They need Re-membering (re-member-ing). The early patterns of Total Body Connectivity in children and adults with learning disabilities or difficulty relating to themselves and others have not been solidly mastered.

Stressing working the connection between body parts rather than emphasizing holding one part and moving the others against it (as in traditional physical therapy exercises) is the basis of the “whole-bodied” movement/therapy approach. Acknowledging parts of the body (self) as separate but alive and interconnected.