Reflex Study
Five months of practice and theory on the origins of action
“All acts of conscious and unconscious life are reflexes in their origin.” – Ivan Sechenov
Enhance performance and learning
Reflexes provide the fundamental scaffolding of mature and skillful behaviour.
Individual differences in these foundations explain significant differences in performance, wellbeing and learning speed.
Addressing this fundamental layer can enhance motor coordination and emotional confidence.
Assess, integrate and explore
Primitive reflexes develop into mature behaviour.
Learn how to assess immature reflexes and how to integrate them.
Explore how these reflex patterns can scaffold powerful performance and expressive communication.
Understand the theory behind the reflexive control of movement.
Module One: Survival Reflexes
Primitive Reflexes: Moro Reflex and Fear Paralysis Reflex
Learn how to assess and integrate two reflexes associated with fearful behaviour, anxious feelings and interrupted motor control
Daily practices to integrate the reflexes through exercise and play.
Theory: Emotion and Attention in Reflex Control
How do mood and mind affect the reflexes? What practices, attitudes and skills can we develop so that the reflexes support our movement, instead of interrupt it?
Exploration: Recovering From Shock
These practices focus on losing and regaining balance in a variety of contexts. These contexts include with the eyes open and closed, in relation to an object and at height. These practices also include protective reflex integrations to fall with confidence and safety.
Module Two: Postural Reflexes
Primitive Reflexes: Landau Reflex and Righting Reflexes
These primitive reflexes contribute to the organisation of dynamic posture. This includes the ability to effortlessly balance, perform acrobatic movements and act with speed and precision.
Theory: Charles Sherrington’s Integrative Action
Understand the foundational theory behind modern physiology, and painstaking means used to discover it.
Exploration: Spinal Acrobatics
Explore how the head and eyes organise the spine through an innovative, safe and fun approach to acrobatics.
Module Three: Coordination Reflexes
Primitive Reflexes: Crossed Extensor Reflex and Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex
These reflexes are associated with opposite-side and same-side limb control. This module explores the specific positions that support the reflex control of these movements.
Theory: Integrating and Exploring Primitive Reflexes
Primitive reflexes are the blueprints for mature, complex behaviour. An undetermined number of individuals retain the primitive forms of these reflexes, resulting in deficits in coordination and emotional regulation. This module explores methods of integrating primitive reflexes through rhythmic exercises, evocation and play.
Exploration: Running and Jumping
These practices explore athletic and acrobatic skills related to jumping, revealing surprising insights on the nature of these movements.
Module Four: Yet Undecided :)
Reflex Study
Reflexes are the foundation of movement. Performance, injury risk and emotional wellbeing are strongly affected by how these foundations support your movement.
Learn how to assess, integrate and explore reflexes.
Gain a toolset for developing powerful movement, rapid learning and unbounded progress.
Discover insights on anxiety, confidence and movement under pressure.
Reflexes movement are easy to learn, naturally powerful and more resilient to psychological stress.
Coaches, clinicians and teachers looking deeper into performance and wellbeing will find practical tools and assessment principles to apply anywhere on the spectrum between elite athletes and elderly populations.
Course Structure
A total duration of five months* split into four periods.
*Not counting two weeks over Christmas
Selected reading material (provided by the course).
Daily practices to integrate a selection of primitive reflexes.
Physical practices to research reflexes in motor learning and skill development.
Lifetime access to course material.
Topics and authors include:
Basic physiology and neurology of reflex control from Charles Sherrington
Primitive reflex assessment and integration from Sally Goddard Blythe
Conscious and emotional interference of reflexes from Moshe Feldenkrais
Reflexes as the alphabet of movement from Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen
Reflexes as tensegrity attractors in sports from Frans Bosch