arrows
The alphabet is made up of 26 symbols called “letters”. The purpose of this activity is to use our whole body to express our understanding of the symbols or “letters” that we see, using a less complex alphabet. Arrows has four “letters” where orientation is highly significant
Jes Felix demonstrates with Sam the early part of Arrows.
Here Jes and Sam ramp up the Hands and Arrows activities with combinations of body parts moving at the same time. Looks easy but this will probably take some time to achieve mastery. Note also how well Sam remains balanced and allows each body part to move with grace.
Begin by explaining that “we are going to be showing/calling out the direction of the arrows as we go”. If appropriate, have your patient assign/identify the “name” of each arrow symbol. Next, ask “how could we make up an arrow out of you?” There are many ways of making an arrow with our body, but demonstrate that in the first stage, we are looking for hands together, but not clasped.
Up arrow - the arms should be pointing straight up similar to a diving posture, with feet about shoulder width apart.
Down - the body is stable and the arms are moved to point downwards.
Left or right arrows - we want the hands to remain touching, but not clasped. The arms are level with each other and parallel to the floor. The rotation takes place primarily at the waist.
The patient should “read” the chart by making the arrow shape, and calling the direction if appropriate.
The second phase asks the patient to rest their body while pointing in the direction of the arrows using one arm at a time, alternating arms.
The left arm may cross the body to reach toward the right, and vice versa.
The third phase continues on from the second part, by adding in movement of the contra lateral leg.
When the right arm is pointing the left leg is lifted straight forward with the toes pointed.
When the left arm is pointing, the right leg is lifted straight forward with the toes pointed.
