Rhythmic Movement Training

Rhythmic Movement Training (RMT) explores the role of babies’ natural automatic response patterns during various stages of development:

• Before birth
• The first six months after birth
• As they get up on their hands and knees
• As they learn to walk

These automatic response patterns, called primitive reflexes, are sensory triggered to connect brain and body for physical, emotional and physiological functions and control.  They are crucial for laying down the foundations of neural network pathway, growth and myelination in the central and peripheral nervous systems. They are important for establishing head control, muscle tone and posture, the basis of our ability to move through life with ease and choice.  

Primitive reflexes are active when higher functioning neurological connections are not established or damaged.  When these automatic and involuntary response patterns are retained beyond their intended stage of development,  they are not only signs that further development would be beneficial, they also present challenges to our coordination, sensory processing, concentration, learning and other physiological functions. 

RMT exercises are specially designed that imitate baby movements.  They are mainly floor exercises which provide stimulation to sensory receptors from head to toes on the skin, our sensory organs (eyes, ears, nose, etc), our muscles, joints and organs.  These exercises look simple but require good neurological connections to be able to perform them rhythmically, well coordinated and controlled.  With an appropriate combination of these exercises, encouraging the cooperation of various parts of the brain, the retained primitive reflexes can be integrated.  

RMT works with integrating the retained, or underdeveloped, primitive reflexes that are involved in learning challenges such as ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, writing problems, focussing and comprehension challenges, co-ordination difficulties and Asperger’s Syndrome. It has also been successful in working with people with anxiety, panic, emotional imbalances, behavioural problems, cerebral palsy, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s, psychosis, PTSD and general overwhelm.

For more information about RMT, please check out www.rhythmicmovement.com  www.rhythmicmovement.co.uk