Movement Analysis

"In order to understand outer movement, one must understand the inner intention or intention behind the movement." - Rudolf Laban

Movement Analysis

Many physically-felt complaints and ailments are manifestations of unprocessed emotions that cause blockages and stress in your body. Dance and Movement Therapy can help you eliminate these emotional blockages and release tension. In my practice, I help you achieve this by means of the Laban Movement Analysis (LMA). This is one of the most used methods in Dance and Movement Therapy. As a therapist, I have found LMA to be an indispensable tool: not only does it provide insight into inner stresses and unprocessed emotions, it also supports the healing process.

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What exactly is the Laban Movement Analysis?

The Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) was developed by Rudolf Laban. According to him, everything you show on the outside (body posture and movement) is a reflection of your personality, your mood, your thoughts and feelings. Your body language expresses what is happening inside you. The Laban method addresses that body language according to four main categories: Body, Effort, Shape and Space (BESS):

  • Body the “WHAT” of movement. What parts of our body do we use when we are moving? How do these body parts relate to each other while in movement?
  • Effort the “HOW” of movement. How do we choose to move a certain way, make certain movements? What kind of energy do we employ in order to move?
  • Shape the “WHY” of movement. Why do we choose to move a certain way? How does our movement respond to our environment and relating individuals?
  • Space the “WHERE” of movement. Where in space do we choose to move? How does our movement relate to our kinesphere, the area of space around our bodies that is sometimes referred to as our personal space bubble?

Putting LMA in practice

We use the Laban Movement Analysis to explore how your body movements correlate with your personality. In other words, we address your body language. Discovering your own movement patterns, from cause to effect, is the first step towards recognizing your full movement potential. As you acquire greater body awareness and enrich your body language, you will increase your movement space and, consequently, the ability to make changes from within.