Developmental Movement Patterns
From conception through infancy and on to walking, we progress through organized movements, or patterns of skill and organization, in overlapping waves. Each movement pattern is preceded and followed by other patterns that balance the overall developmental progression. From flexing to extending, pushing to reaching, the pieces of development gradually integrate to become purposeful, pleasurable and communicative movement through space. When all of these movement pathways are available and utilized, then physical, emotional and cognitive growth from childhood to adulthood is supported.
The developmental material and exploration include the Reflexes, Righting Reactions and Equilibrium Responses (RRR). These comprise an "alphabet" of movement which, when combined in sequence, forms the "words" of our movement, which we call the Basic Neurological Patterns (BNP). Together, the Reflexes and the Basic Neurological Patterns underlie volitional movement and establish a baseline for physical, emotional and cognitive choice-making. When any of the BNP's are skipped or only partially developed, this can manifest in our lives as limitations or problems with our perceptions, movement or thinking.
