Mabel Elsworth Todd (1880 – 1956) is known as the founder of what came to be known as '

Ideokinesis Ideokinesis is an approach to improving posture, alignment, and fluency of movement through structured guided imagery that uses metaphors, such as visualizing an object moving in a specific direction along various muscle groups throughout the body, ...

', 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 Physiology (; ) is the scientific study of functions and mechanisms in a living system. As a sub-discipline of biology, physiology focuses on how organisms, organ systems, individual organs, cells, and biomolecules carry out the chemical ...

and the psychology of movement. Her work influenced many somatic awareness professionals of her day, and is often cited along with the

Feldenkrais method The Feldenkrais Method is a type of exercise therapy devised by Israeli Moshé Feldenkrais (1904–1984) during the mid-20th century. Participants are led through varied patterns of body movement, either hands-on or verbally guided, with the aim ...

and Body-Mind Centering for its focus on the subtle influence of unconscious

intention Intentions are mental states in which the agent commits themselves to a course of action. Having the plan to visit the zoo tomorrow is an example of an intention. The action plan is the ''content'' of the intention while the commitment is the ''a ...

and attention.

Publications

* Todd, M. ''Early Writings, 1920-1934''. Reprint. New York: Dance Horizons.
Todd M. ''The Thinking Body''
1937. Reprint. New York: Dance Horizons. * Todd M. ''The Hidden You''. Reprint. New York: Dance Horizons, 1953.

References

Exercise instructors Creative arts therapies Dance writers 1880 births 1956 deaths Somatic therapists Burials at Oakwood Cemetery (Syracuse, New York) {{Dance-bio-stub