Holistic gymnastics is a form of bodywork based on self-awareness, which aims to find a spontaneous balance. In this sheet, you will discover this discipline in more detail, its principles, its history, its benefits, who practices it and how, and finally, the contraindications.

Coming from the Greek “holos” which means “whole”, holistic gymnastics is a method of postural re-education which aims at self-awareness through movement and breathing. This makes it possible to become aware of the tensions which have deformed the body and to free themselves from them, to strengthen muscle tone and correct posture in order to regain its natural flexibility and mobility.

Holistic Gymnastics also teaches you to feel the interdependence between different parts of the body. Thus, it can be seen that a movement of the ankle, for example, relaxes the muscles of the neck, while a stretching movement of the jaw helps to free the diaphragm.

This discipline does not aim for performance, but rather to learn to be perfectly present to what you are doing and to observe carefully all your bodily sensations.

The main principles

In holistic gymnastics, there are three main areas of work which are:

• The balance : due to the stresses that apply to the body, certain parts of it tend to deform and become unbalanced. Holistic gymnastics aims to recover the natural balance of the body, in particular by working the foot first. When properly placed on the floor, it will have a positive influence on the position of other parts of the body. Little by little, we carry out several repositionings in order to achieve spontaneous balance.
• Tone: each of our muscles has muscle tone. When this tone is too high or too low, there is dystonia. In holistic gymnastics, it is postulated that the individual should be aware of muscular dystonias as they are the result of psychological imbalances. Muscle and mind are intimately linked and control each other.
• Breathing: According to the creator of this discipline, quality breathing helps improve the functioning of the tendino-muscular complex. The work on breathing is therefore fundamental. It consists of learning to “let yourself breathe”. By making the movements, we let the breath come, spontaneously, without forcing, to end up with what is called ternary breathing, consisting of an inhalation, an exhalation and a slight pause.

Holistic gymnastics and physiotherapy

Unlike the physiotherapist who handles his patient, the practitioner verbally describes the movements to be performed, without demonstrating beforehand. Thus, the participants must recreate these movements on their own.

Some physiotherapists and physiotherapists use Holistic Gymnastics to help their patients better feel the changes taking place in them.

To our knowledge, there is no clinical study that has evaluated the therapeutic effects of holistic gymnastics on health. However, this discipline is used in many cases and would be effective in:

Prevent certain health problems 

Work on posture helps prevent wear and tear on the vertebrae and the resulting pain and health problems, including osteoarthritis. It helps to improve the quality of breathing, circulation and the functioning of the whole organism.

Reduce stress

Breathing and movement exercises are said to have relaxing effects, conducive to reducing stress and improving the quality of sleep.

Be in better shape

Many people choose this approach just to keep fit or relax, while others use it to reduce stress and pain caused by serious illnesses like fibromyalgia or even cancer.

Improve your proprioceptive capacities

Holistic gymnastics allows individuals to improve their sense of balance and to be more aware of the space around them, which would help reduce the risk of accidental falls.

Reduce the risk of incontinence after childbirth

The physiotherapist Catherine Casini uses it, among other things, to reduce the risk of incontinence following a torn perineum after childbirth. The movements both strengthen the perineal muscles and improve respiratory function.

The specialist

There are holistic gymnastics practitioners in Quebec, in some European countries and in Brazil. The complete list can be found on the website of the Association of Dr Ehrenfried’s Pupils – France.

Course of a session

The Holistic Gymnastics sessions take place in small groups or individually. They are generally offered on a weekly basis and spread over several weeks. During the first (individual) meeting, the practitioner establishes a health check-up and identifies the areas that interfere with the mobility of the body. Each subsequent session includes a section dedicated to muscle relaxation and another to postural restructuring movements.

The movements are simple and can be practiced using cushions, balls or sticks. These instruments, which are used to massage and lengthen muscles, help release tension. . There are no predetermined exercise sequences in Holistic Gymnastics. The facilitator chooses the movements – performed standing, sitting or lying down – according to the particular needs of the group.

Train in Holistic Gymnastics

In France, training is reserved for physiotherapists. It includes nine three-day courses and one week of intensive training. See Doctor Ehrenfried’s Pupils’ Association – France in the Sites of interest.

In Quebec, training is intended for health professionals with a college diploma or the equivalent. Spread over two years, it includes courses, internships and supervised sessions. See Association of Students of Dr. Ehrenfried and Holistic Gymnastics Practitioners – Quebec in the Sites of interest.

Since 2008, the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) has offered, as part of its Specialized Graduate Diploma in Somatic Education, a 30-credit course with a Holistic Gymnastics profile3.

Contraindications of Holistic Gymnastics

In general, Holistic Gymnastics is for everyone, regardless of age and physical condition. It has no contraindications except fractures or severe pain.

Holistic Gymnastics was created by Dr. Lili Ehrenfried doctor and physiotherapist of German origin. Fleeing Nazism, she settled in France in 1933 where she died in 1994 at the age of 98. Not having the right to practice medicine in France, but anxious to continue her work in health, she introduced and developed a method of “body education”, judging the balance of the body essential to the balance of the body. ‘spirit. She enriched and passed on the teaching she had received from Elsa Gindler in Berlin. The latter had developed an approach based on awareness of sensations through movement and breathing which had greatly contributed to the cure of tuberculosis.

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• Aginski Alice. On the way to relaxation, Éditions Trédaniel, France, 1994.
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• Ehrenfried Lili. From the education of the body to the balance of the mind, Collection The flesh and the spirit, Aubier, France, 1988.
• Notebooks of the Student Association of Dr. Ehrenfried, Éditions Équateur, France, since 1987.
• Guimond Odette. Somatic Education: A Paradigm Shift, Without Prejudice… for Women’s Health, Spring 1999, no 18.

• ? Casini Catherine. Doctor Ehrenfried’s method: A great forgotten physiotherapy technique, FMT Mag, no 56, Sept. Oct. Nov. 2000.
• Duquette Carmen, Sirois Lise. Aging well with Holistic Gymnastics®, PasseportSanté.net, 1998.
• Mary Ronald. The opening of the body, Psychologies Magazine, no 66, 1989.
• Sensory Awareness Foundation.