Written by Libby Brandt

As a physical therapist for the past 48 years, I have collected many useful tools for my toolbox. This month’s Blog will begin to touch on the core and center from which all development springs forth. Like a wheel with its center, our navel is our center and the spokes that travel outwardly are our head, our tail, our arms, and our legs.

I first became acquainted with NAVEL RADIATION when I took a class with Cecelia Koesters and a class titled MOVEMENT BASED LEARNING. This technique/tool is very valuable on many different levels. It is calming. It provides attentional and intentional awareness of the entire mind/body system. It integrates and supports all bodily functions that radiate outwardly and inwardly whether it is making sounds and facilitating the intricate and detailed mechanisms of breathing and speech, the distal articulation of the fingers, or the ability to roll/crawl/creep/stand/walk/etc.

The technique ( I have found several YouTube videos that include typically abled children and music and the use of Navel Radiation. )

  • CATCH A BRAIN WAVE FALL
  • TUESDAY WITH TWOMEY NAVEL RADIATION AND CATCH A BRAIN WAVE

My experience includes this technique that I learned with CC Koesters and can be applied to any age or ability.

CEPHALO-CAUDAL

  • Client is Supine ( or Prone ) Lying
  • Place your hand ( or holding a small ball ) at their navel ( or lumbar spine opposite their navel )
  • Stationary hand remains at navel or lumbar spine if doing in prone lying
  • Traveling hand ( can hold and roll a small ball ) out from the navel and up to the head- and then returns back to navel
  • Stationary hand remains at navel-
  • Traveling hand ( can hold and roll a small ball ) and travel to the tail and back again to the navel

UPPER EXTREMITIES

  • Stationary hand at navel
  • Traveling hand travels out to right arm/hand and rolls ball or gently squeezes hand and back to navel
  • Traveling hand travel out to left arm/hand and rolls ball or gently squeezes hand and back to navel

LOWER EXTREMITIES

  • Stationary hand at navel
  • Traveling hand travels down right leg to toes and bottom of foot and back to navel
  • Traveling hand travels down left leg to toes and bottom of foot and back to navel

HOMOLATERAL

  • Stationary hand at navel
  • Traveling hand travels up right arm to hand and then to navel and down the right leg to foot and back to navel
  • Traveling hand travels up left arm to hand and then back to navel and down to left leg to foot and back to navel

CONTRALATERAL

  • Stationary hand at navel
  • Traveling hand travels up right arm to hand and then back to navel and down right leg to foot and back to navel
  • Traveling hand travels up left arm to hand and then back to navel and down right leg to foot and back to navel

This circuit is now completed with one more integrating step. Place one hand on navel and the other hand on back and opposite side of navel.