Movement Disciplines Used In the Ready Steady Move! Programme

Ready Steady Move! actions and exercises utilize a wide range of different movement disciplines
that make the lessons beneficial for children and feature the following:

1. Well-rounded and healthful physical workouts that are kept fresh and never boring
2. Optimum stimulation and integration of right and left-brain hemispheres for better learning
3. Easy-going , fun atmosphere, where children always feel welcome and encouraged

Martial arts techniques

Our lessons incorporate Martial Arts techniques that help focus the children’s energy. These activities are all based on movements and breathing exercises from Tai Chi, Aikido and a special version of Yoga for Children - similar to Yoga for schools or fitness centres, but with age-appropriate movements accompanied by charming stories. All are designed to improve the circulation of the body’s intrinsic energy that eastern philosophies call Chi or Ki.

Whole brain learning

These activities, called ‘Brain Jogs’, stimulate both brain hemispheres to function together, thus promoting whole brain learning. In addition, the exercises appeal to different learning styles in children by involving various senses: visual (seeing), auditory (hearing) and kinesthetic (feeling and movement).

1. Midline movements: These involve actions that cross over the midline of the body. This is especially important in developing binocular vision, binaural hearing and two-handed coordination.
2. Energy exercises: These help to establish neural pathways between the brain and the rest of the body, which supports the body’s directionality, centredness and focus. In addition, these help the brain organize the relationship between our bodies and objects in the environment.
3. Lengthening exercises: These reset our body’s pro-preceptors (neurons which supply our brains with information about movement derived from muscular, tendon, and arterial sources), to aid relaxation and readiness to participate in the lesson.

Pilates

This exercise method is designed to elongate, strengthen and balance the body, based upon an anatomical understanding of the muscular and skeletal systems. Pilates for Children means we keep it fun, playful, and age appropriate, in contrast to Pilates for schools or fitness centres. All however provide a holistic approach that osteopaths, physiotherapists and GPs recommend as beneficial, regardless of age and fitness level.

Dance movements

Creative, musical and fun, our dance/fitness routines introduce various types of dance movements while also encouraging children to use their imagination to express new and different ways of moving their own bodies to songs and stories.