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When the first Waldorf school was founded by Rudolf Steiner in Stuttgart, Germany in 1919, Eurythmy had been around for just seven years, taking its first steps from infancy towards school readiness. Eurythmy was born out of the desire to bring new impulses to the Arts, particularly Drama, Speech, and Dance, out of the recognition that all true art has a healing effect on the human being. As such, R. Steiner incorporated it as a pedagogical tool and subject into the Waldorf curriculum. Soon, the teachers noticed the beneficial effect the lessons had on the children, yet there were some children who they felt needed more individual and specialised attention.

In Arlesheim, Switzerland, the first anthroposophical clinic had opened with its unique approach to health and healing stemming from the same sources as Waldorf education.

Here, under the guidance of R.Steiner, the principles and movements of Eurythmy were transformed and intensified to work and be applied therapeutically for the individual needs of the patients. The artistic movements of the sounds of speech and music are modified, intensified, and repeated in such a way that, instead of being creative in outer artistic expression, they work creatively back into the bodily organism itself, reactivating and stimulating those forces in us that maintain health. Soon, this new Eurythmy Therapy also found its place in the Waldorf school to support the individual developmental, psychosomatic, and physical health needs of the children.

Eurythmy Therapy helps to restore balance in the organism. It activates or calms down life processes within us when they have become too sluggish or disordered to maintain health. The qualified Therapist works individually with children and adults on a broad range of illnesses and disorders, including correction of posture, fine and gross motor and coordination skills, disturbances in the metabolic, rhythmical, and nervous system, e.g. asthma, eczema, digestive and nervous disorders as well as psychological disturbances like anxiety and depression.

At our school, the Class Teacher may recommend Eurythmy Therapy for particular children, or parents may request it for their child.

The therapy runs in blocks of seven weeks with two sessions per week to support the children in their individual needs and well-being.

Christiane Janowski
High School Eurythmy Teacher and Eurythmy Therapist

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