The Thinking Body

by Mabel Elsworth Todd

Mabel Elsworth Todd is considered the founder of what has come to be known as 'Ideokinesis', a form of somatic education that became popular in the 1930s amongst dancers and health professionals. Todd's ideas involved using anatomically based, creative visual imagery and consciously relaxed volition to create and refine neuromuscular coordination. Lulu Sweigard, who coined the term Ideokinesis, and Barbara Clark furthered Todd's work. Todd's work was published in her book The Thinking Body (1937), which is now considered by modern dance schools to be a classic study of physiology and the psychology of movement. Her work influenced many somatic awareness professionals of her day, and is often cited along with The Feldenkrais method for its focus on the subtle influence of unconscious intention and attention.

Genres: Nonfiction, Bodies, Psychology, Self Help, Classics, Science, Academic

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1937

Reviews

[kit]

Required reading for anyone with a body.

[Janie]

I'm reading this in conjunction with my anatomy & physiology class. The book is an important companion to a clinical approach to the subject. Todd offers a dancer's perspective, bringing an experiential, intuitive, holistic view of anatomy & physiology. It's information traditional education doesn't give you, but that's so vital to understanding the physical body. Not just defined by it's structural parts -- the body is intricately bound with the emotional, cultural, psychological, and spiritual components that make us complete human beings.

[Francis]

Overrated and obsolete. Nothing but out-dated kinesiology. Also, quite a lot of erroneous ideas.

[Wangdo Kim]

Although substantive from kinesiological standpoint, the work was also rich with examples of body engineering simplified into imagery. The process which sustained concentration upon images Although substantive from kinesiological standpoint, the work was also rich with examples of body engineering simplified into imagery. The process which sustained concentration upon images could effect change in habits of posture and movement was also a central theme. The publication of thinking body brought a new wave of recognition for Todd's ideas that sustained her studios through the early 1940's.
This is Todd's statement: "Imagination itself, or the inner image, is a form of physical expression, and the motor response is the reflection of it."
Two major figures in favor of information-processing movement are Gibson and Todd. effect change in habits of posture and movement was also a central theme. The publication of thinking ...
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[Sam]

I had my curiosity peaked about this book when I found out that Marilyn Monroe had read it. If you think that means it's an easy read, you'd be wrong.

One must really have a fascination with the human body and all the muscles and bones that we take for granted so we can move. That aside I still think this or something similar to this should be taught in basic biology.

[Alan]

A book given me by a dance student, helped me get started in martial arts back in 70s.

[Izarra Moore]

A book before its time, filled with (truly!) novel ideas about the origin of human movement. A bit of a slog — as any 80-year-old book tends to be—but still: not to be missed if you're a movement professional.

[Monty Martin]

Carries the psychological, and emotional aspects of the human mind and body in correlation to human form and posture as well and bone, muscle and nerve structure.

A positive supplement if institutions implement it for study.

[Rob Martin]

Classic reading for movement/dance peeps...

[Claire]

I love this book! Todd does an amazing job of presenting the relationships between the skeletal structure and the muscles that work to keep the body in balance. It wasn't the prescriptive book that I expected it to be, and was much more technical than I had anticipated, but I learned so much from her research and advice! I really wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who hasn't at least taken a skeletal bio course, and knowledge of muscles would also be helpful. But this book in companion with Isaac Asimov's "The Human Body", and "Anatomy of Yoga" is a really helpful resource for mindful bodywork.

[Tarifa]

This book is a classic among dance teachers and movement educators. It was required reading for my graduate studies at NYU in Dance Education. I highly recommend this book to all dancers and athletes as well as dance and fitness instructors.

[Pedro Alcantara]

Quite a helpful way to look at the body, posture, and movement. The technical vocabulary is demanding . . . with a glossary, this book would get an extra star.

[Karina Gomez-trejo]

Marked it as to-read

[Chara]

It's very interesting, I want to read more in order to write a more complete review

[Denis Tabak]

very good book

[Sal]

Written 80+ years ago but is as relevant today as it was ahead of its time then.