OFFICIAL SITE Wellness Through Movement for children
Learn what the body knows, the mind doesn’t.
What is Wellness Through Movement?
Learning the physical dimension that fuels vibrant qualities of all development.
regardless of the child’s condition.
WTM > Wellness Through Movement
GSA > Get Sensational Attention program
SB > Sensory Body
What is WTM about?
Everyone understands that the way children’s brains work isn’t just in their heads. There is an inner wisdom from the body to the brain that helps stimulate intention and spontaneous actions. These impulses are what try to negotiate a given circumstance. We can help children find what is happening in their bodies, not only their brains, but their hearts.
We don’t make something happen. We watch what is happening that is trying to come into balance. When the body and mind are harmoniously aware of each other, they work better together. WTM refines the awareness of the physical faculties in perception attuned to behavior. Without having to “explain” to children, experiences are naturally discovered through an extraordinary sense. This sense is referred to here as the “Sensory Body” (SB) and not the common five senses.
Through movement, WTM blends insights from physics (the Feldenkrais® work), neuroplasticity, psychology, and the joy of being young to enhance children’s innate intelligence and help them find their fullness. Balance is not just about physical stability; it’s about the emotional and mental as well. Enhanced awareness of the interplay between the body-mind’s internal and external processing, and children find their best friend ready to help for a lifetime.
What age is WTM geared?
What does your child need ?
Children are feeling creatures, neurologist Jill Bolte Taylor says. WTM helps children learn from those “feelings.” Operate from the SB, and the nature behind their consciousness becomes an empowering guide. In the nature of their uniqueness is a tool for handling challenges in their unique ways.
How does WTM work?
All WTM methods are based on the Feldenkrais® method, the analogy of developmental movement, and the function between intention and action. Children learn how to understand their bodies to understand themselves. Once children’s senses, actions, and thoughts are integrated, they understand how to use their spontaneous reactions as a call for help.
What conditions does WTM help?
Parents report an enhancement of their children’s overall well-being.
Principal Danny Garcia, from our pilot school, praises the improvement in social-emotional behavior and the elimination of bullying school-wide. Listen to Principal Garcia’s Testimonial
Moreover, teachers say their academic performance has been boosted.
Does it sound too good to be true? We tested it. (See below) However, please note that WTM is not about getting good grades, stopping bullying, or improving health. WTM is about becoming more fully alive.
For Specific Conditions
Let’s see which audience suits you best –
just click below.
More about Testing WTM techniques
Yes. There was twenty years of research and testing of the WTM program.
For forty years studying mind-body connections and thirteen years with schools, Catherine Mitchell and a team of educators, administrators, and child development specialists collaborated, refined, and tested the techniques with children. See the Audience page for more details on what was done with children
Four elementary schools participated. Specifically, Kohala Elementary School (our pilot school) (2008 to 2016) and Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s (HPA) lower school were foundational in helping test the program. See Audience page to read more.
Video Overview of WTM
Joe Webster interviews Catherine Mitchell on WTM
Topics in the video above (click topic)
Introduction – Ages & Background
WTM Program – Main Idea, Results, Examples
Developing Intelligence– Foundation to Learning
Missing Key to Traditional Education– Adding the Other Half of Learning
Attention – Example of Internal and External Attention that Changed Learning
Internal & External– The Vessel that Learns
Home Breath– The Process and Science
Long Term Anecdotes– Sustainability
Conclusion– Helping Adults Too
What We Can Do for You
Collaborate with other programs, schools, and research using movement with children especially cognitive challenges.
Offer tips to professionals and parents how to functionally integrate methods into what they are already doing in the classroom, school, home, and movement research and programs.
Help you Feel it! This work cannot be understood from reading. The learning comes from the body so you have to feel it.
Offer free lessons, programs, and tips for education, research, and parenting.
For the adult introductory lesson see: Experience a Lesson,
For the general public, children, and schools see: Introductory lessons
For researchers & movement specialists see: Advanced Lessons
For tips with movement specialists modalities also see: Movement Teacher
If you got the book this website is especially for you. Thank you. This site will help supplement that book, A New SENSORY Self Awareness.