What is neurodynamic gymnastics?
A system of physical exercises and games aimed at developing sensorimotor integration – the ability of the brain to combine and process information coming from sensory organs. These sessions are useful for almost all children, as sensorimotor integration is a necessary step of mental development.
What issues does this solve?
Sensorimotor integration begins to form in the intrauterine period of life on the basis of vestibular, proprioceptive and tactile systems. Usually this process should be done around the age of four, but for many children this happens at a later stage.
Today’s children experience a deficit of spontaneous physical activity, which is why their brain does not receive enough information about the body’s location in space. The process of sensorimotor integration is disrupted. This prevents other mental functions from development. Poorly developed sensorimotor process is also being observed among children of school age, despite taking part in sport activities. These sessions trigger an active speech for children that don’t speak and children that have speech disorders.
How are classes conducted?
The classes are conducted in a specialised hall, where a child experiences various sensations that are necessary for the maturity of the nervous system. Neurodynamic gymnastics involve active games that make use of specialised equipment that allow a child to experience vestibular, proprioceptive and tactile sensations.
It is very important for the child to be active during these sessions as sensorimotor integration is only formed when movements are conducted intentionally. So an adult does not force his rules, but instead builds a dialog with the child around those games that the child chooses. This kind of partially structured interaction with an adult that implies alternation between spontaneous movement and movements that are instructed by an adult are very important for developing emotions, muscles, speech and neural links between the brain and the body.