Exercise Principles

Functional Purpose

• All Harmony exercises contain critical functional elements, i.e. elements that are normal for typical or expected human daily function.

  • For example: Exercise 1a contains elements of walking, 8b contains elements of pushing a cart, 5c contains elements of throwing, 10c contains elements of lifting a heavy object. 11c contains elements of running.

• For this reason, exercises without an explicit functional propose (like handstands) are not acceptable as a StarBarre Harmony exercise despite other possible virtues.

The Exercise Chain

• Each exercise of the Harmony sequence 34 exercises (Except for Good Vibrations) is part of a of an exercise chain, consisting of three exercise: a, b and c.

  • Exercise ‘a’ in the chain is a basic functional movement.

  • Exercise ‘b’ a functional progression to ‘a’.

  • Exercise ‘c’ a functional progression to ‘b’.

• For example: Chain 1 Exercises 1a, 1b, 1c.

Exercise Postures and Movements

• Starting Position

  • Usually, the starting position is the upright standing position, with arms relaxed by the body, looking at the horizon.

    • The distance of standing from the barre depends upon the exercise.

• Movement

  • Harmonious movement requires complex multiple full body actions as well as breathing in perfect timing. For example, in Exercise 1a the central area stabilizes the posture while the distant ankle and knee movement move the upright body forward and backward.

  • All movement components of the full-body start moving at the same time, work in harmonious coordination during the movement and end moving at the same time.

  • When the complex movement phase is precise, the body reaches the stretch accurately and efficiently.

• Stretch

  • A full body action:

    • When one area is being stretched, another area is stabilizing the stretch, and another area is relaxing in good posture.

    • The stretch should last for about one second. As soon as the correct stretch is felt, it is time to release and start the return phase.

      • Like a natural dog or cat stretch, performed multiple times a day.

    • Some exercises involve simultaneous stretches in multiple joints, like exercise 6c.

    • In some exercises the stretch is maintained during movement, for example exercise 8c (circumduction) and 2b (vertebral ‘wave’).

    • In some exercises the starting position involves some sort of stretch, like 4b and 4c.

• Return

  • Usually the movement phase in reverse.

  • The purpose is to return to the starting position harmoniously to complete the exercise cycle.

  • Once back at the starting position, movement is paused for a second in this position to relax and prepare for next repetition (climatic meditation).

Breathing

• As with all mind-body methods, StarBarre Harmony regards breathing as a primal element of movement harmony, responsible for all its subsequent benefits.

• While performing the Harmony sequence, users experience a holistic journey of practicing a wide variation of breathing patterns (and emotions) within the time space of a few minutes:

  • Easy exhale 1a

  • Moderate exhale 4a

  • Vigorous exhale 4c

  • Prolonged exhale 1b

  • Karate style exhale 3c

  • Extra heavy load exhale 10c

  • Big inhale 8c

  • Free breathing with movement 9b 

Body Lines

• Learning, identifying, and practicing the Harmony exercise body lines is the easiest way to understand how the body moves mechanically in the most efficient, safe and clever way.

Timing

• Synchronized timing of trunk and all limb movements, together with accurate breathing are essential for a movement to be harmonious.

• In all StarBarre exercises, all the movement elements start, move and end the exercise cycles together.

Tempo

• The tempo is equal between the four movement stages – Move, stretch, return, relax (starting position). It is good to practice with suitable music to train the desired cyclical beat of movement.

Harmonizing Movements

• During all stages of the exercise, users should avoid over-robotizing the movement. Instead, the areas which are required to be relaxed (for example, the shoulders) are relaxed in the correct posture, and grace, beauty, strength, and natural confidence are added in to the movement.