„Here, time becomes space.”

Eurythmy – Movement that connects

Eurythmy is a conscious, artistic form of movement that makes language, music, and inner experiences visible and tangible. As an anthroposophic movement art, it connects body awareness, breathing, posture, concentration, and expression. Here you’ll find a comprehensive introduction, practical exercises for home, and simple ways to get started with eurythmy.

Eurythmy4you Team Performance in Sugdidi, Georgia 2025 - Watch the Video here!

What is eurythmy?

Eurythmy is a unique movement art in which language and music take shape through the body. Vowels, consonants, tones, and rhythms are experienced as mindful, living, and orderly movements. The name comes from Greek and means something like „beautiful rhythm” or „harmony in movement”. In ancient architecture, people spoke of eurythmy when a building, beyond beauty and proportion, held a secret within itself – a special, palpable harmony.

Unlike other dance or movement forms, eurythmy does not interpret; it makes the inner laws of language and music visible. It understands itself as an art that reveals meaning, sounds, melodies, and motifs as expressions of the inner world through human movement. To this end, means of design such as gestures, colors, and spatial forms are used.

Basic principles of eurythmy
Visible speech: Every sound (vowel, consonant) corresponds to a specific, organic gesture.
Visible music: Tones, rhythms, intervals, and harmonies are translated into movement.
Lawfulness: Movements are not arbitrary but follow the inner laws of language and music.
Wholeness: Body, soul, and spirit are addressed as a unity and included in the movement.
Individuality: Within the lawful framework, each person finds their authentic, personal expression.

How does eurythmy differ from other movement forms?

Eurythmy differs fundamentally from dance, gymnastics, or pantomime. While other forms often rely on personal interpretation, choreography, or purely physical aspects, eurythmy is based on objectively traceable correspondences between sound, tone, and movement.

Not dance: There are no fixed choreographic step sequences; movement arises from the inner dynamic of language or music.
Not gymnastics: The goal is not primarily physical fitness but soulful-spiritual expression and harmonization.
Not pantomime: No external actions are imitated; rather, inner processes and qualities are made visible.
Therapeutic dimension: Through lawful movements it has a profound, harmonizing, and healing effect on organ functions.

Take a look at this documentation to gain deeper insight into eurythmy and the therapeutic effect of movement (40 pages, German):

"Movement as a Principle of Life" (PDF)

History and development

Eurythmy emerged in the early 20th century and developed out of the impulses of Rudolf Steiner. Early signs of his engagement with a new movement art can be found in 1908, when he asked the painter Margarita Woloschin whether a dance interpretation of the Gospel of John would be possible.

The actual development began in 1911 with Lory Maier-Smits as the first eurythmist. Rudolf Steiner gave her fundamental exercises, such as stepping with alliterations. From 1912 onward he developed the art systematically together with Marie von Sivers (later Marie Steiner), initially within the framework of performances of his Mystery Dramas in Munich.

On 24 September 1912, Marie von Sivers proposed the name „Eurythmy”. Under her leadership, eurythmy established itself as a stage art. The first public performance took place on 24 February 1919 at the Pfauen Theater in Zurich – a historic moment for the recognition of eurythmy. After the Goetheanum was built in Dornach (Switzerland), it became the main stage. The first training centers were founded in 1924 in Dornach and Stuttgart.

After Rudolf Steiner’s death in 1925, Marie Steiner continued the development and realized, among other things, the first complete eurythmy performance of Goethe’s „Faust”.

Development of curative eurythmy

From 1921, Rudolf Steiner, in collaboration with the physician Dr. Ita Wegman, developed curative eurythmy from artistic eurythmy as a therapeutic modality of Anthroposophic Medicine. Today there are internationally recognized trainings and over 500 practicing curative eurythmists in Germany alone. A milestone was the publication of the WHO Benchmarks for training in Anthroposophic Medicine in March 2023, which explicitly include eurythmy therapy as an internationally recognized standard.

Fundamentals: Vowels and consonants

The building blocks of language and music are the “material” of eurythmy. Each sound has its own gesture that stands in a deep relationship to our inner organic and soul processes.

Vowels are expressions of soul qualities. They have a centering, ordering, and harmonizing effect. Their gestures bring calm into chaotic states and point to the essential. Consonants, on the other hand, show dynamic, form-giving forces. They shape the world around us and have a strengthening and regulating effect on specific organ processes.

Each of these sound movements can be used in a targeted way to stimulate life processes, strengthen self-healing forces, and deepen self-perception. In this way, eurythmy becomes a path to actively work on your own health and balance.

Forms of eurythmy

Eurythmy is applied in many areas of life today:

Speech eurythmy (Language): Vowels and consonants become tangible in characteristic gestures and spatial movements. This strengthens articulation, breath guidance, and presence.
Tone eurythmy (Music): Musical elements such as melody, rhythm, and intervals are moved. This promotes timing, coordination, and the experience of harmony.
Educational eurythmy: It supports the holistic development of children and adolescents in motor skills, attention, social interaction, and creativity. At Waldorf schools it is a regular subject.
Curative eurythmy (therapeutic): Individually tailored movement sequences promote regulatory and self-healing processes in acute, chronic, or degenerative illnesses.
Stage eurythmy: As a performing art, it brings works of language and musical poetry of all epochs to the stage as „visible speech“ and „visible song“.
Social eurythmy: In companies and social contexts it serves to balance one-sided movement patterns, build teams, and awaken creativity.

Effects & benefits

Regular practice of eurythmy has many positive effects:

Mindfulness & presence: You train your awareness of your own body in space and arrive fully in the present moment.
Posture & breath: Your breathing deepens, your posture straightens, and your voice gains strength.
Coordination & balance: Flowing transitions and clear use of force improve your gross and fine motor skills as well as your balance.
Expression & creativity: You experience language and music with your whole body, which enhances your expressiveness and creative potential.
Well-being & stress reduction: Many practitioners report more inner calm, energy, and centeredness. Stress symptoms can demonstrably be reduced.
Social competence: In a group, eurythmy trains the sense for social processes and spatial relationships.
Emotional balance: The exercises have a harmonizing effect on the emotional life and strengthen your emotional resilience.

Who is eurythmy for?

Eurythmy is suitable for people of all ages and constitutions, from curious beginners without prior experience to those seeking targeted deepening. It meets you where you are and supports your individual development.

Children and adolescents: To promote holistic development, concentration, and strengthen self-confidence.
Adults: As a counterbalance to working life, for stress reduction, and to unfold artistic expression.
Older adults: To maintain mobility, prevent falls, and activate mental fitness and zest for life.
People in challenging life situations: As support during illness, burnout, or life crises to strengthen inner resources.

Note: Artistic eurythmy serves personal development and does not replace medical treatment. Curative eurythmy, on the other hand, is a recognized therapy. Please always clarify health questions with a medical professional.

Curative eurythmy: The medical application

Curative eurythmy is the movement therapy of Anthroposophic Medicine. It enables you to participate actively in your own healing process. A therapist guides you through simple, targeted movements that have a stimulating and harmonizing effect on your state of health.

An illness is understood here as a disturbance in the balance of body, soul, and spirit. The curative eurythmy exercises are intended to bring these levels back into a harmonious relationship, stimulate life processes, and strengthen the self-healing forces. The exercises are adapted to the condition and constitution and can be performed with arms, hands, and legs while standing, sitting, or even lying down.

Areas of application

Curative eurythmy is prescribed by physicians and usually carried out as individual therapy within the framework of a personalized treatment plan. It is used for:

Acute, chronic, or degenerative diseases of the nervous system
Diseases of the cardiovascular system and metabolic disorders
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
Childhood developmental disorders and disabilities
Psychosomatic and psychiatric illnesses

It is also used prophylactically and in aftercare of severe illnesses. In Germany, curative eurythmy is recognized as a treatment modality by some health insurers. It is performed exclusively by certified therapists with at least four years of training.

Start online with Eurythmy4you

Scientifically grounded – practice-tested – beginner-friendly

Eurythmy4you is your comprehensive competence center for eurythmy on the internet. We combine scientific foundation with practical applicability and make the deep wisdom of this movement art accessible to everyone.

Good Eurythmy Practice (GEP) – Our quality promise

Especially with online eurythmy, it is crucial that you are not merely encouraged to imitate but to engage in your own inner activity. We call this „Good Eurythmy Practice“ (GEP).

More important than perfect outer movement is guidance toward inner activity. Our content is conveyed so that you can join in and still remain well with yourself. It is about not simply „doing“ movements but allowing them to arise through inner orientation and perception.

Take your time to arrive in a state of inner mindfulness. The effect depends on how sincerely you attempt something, not on how perfectly it succeeds.

Pay attention to the subtle counter-currents and allow the movements to arise as if by themselves.

Regular pauses to let things resonate promote a conscious relationship with yourself. Eurythmy is always an arriving in yourself.

„Eurythmy takes place within.“

Tips for your daily 10-minute program

Start small and practice regularly – even 5–10 minutes a day can do a lot. Quality before quantity: your conscious attention is more important than a long practice duration.

Structure for beginners:

Arriving (2 min): Perceive spatial directions, collect yourself inwardly.
Warm-up (3 min): Eurythmic walking to arrive in the body.
Sound work (4 min): Consciously practice 2–3 vowels and sense their quality.
Closing (1 min): Quiet standing or, even better, sitting; let it resonate and notice what has changed.

What should I start with?

At Eurythmy4you there is a whole list of courses, so you can begin exactly where your inclination and interest lie. You don’t have to follow a rigid path. In our Eurythmy Community Circle (ECC) you will also find like-minded people with whom you can exchange ideas and find support in your practice.

Excellent for getting started are, for example:

The rod exercises: These preparatory exercises help you train your body as a permeable instrument for expression and consciously perceive your own form.
Exercises for the days of the week: You receive a short exercise sequence (10–15 min.) by email every day – ideal for building a routine.
Exercises for the immune system: Learn five central curative eurythmy exercises that can demonstrably strengthen the immune system.

Our courses for personal development

Our courses support you specifically with modern challenges. Learn how to strengthen your resilience with eurythmy, cope with stress, or take better care of yourself as a highly sensitive person. Themes such as the eightfold path offer you spiritual tools for everyday life and help you find inner stability and clarity.

Discover the courses on personal development

Experience eurythmy in community: the ECC

The Eurythmy Community Circle (ECC) is the heart of our platform. Here you meet a vibrant community where you can exchange ideas, ask questions, and grow together. The ECC offers you regular live sessions, an extensive media library with exercises and recordings, as well as direct contact with experienced eurythmists. It is the perfect place to deepen your practice and feel inspired and connected.

Learn more about the ECC

Curative eurythmy 1:1 – Your individualized support

Book individually tailored sessions with experienced therapists – online or on site. After a medical history is taken, a personal practice plan is created that is precisely tailored to your needs, e.g., for stress, sleep disorders, back pain, or emotional balance.

Book a one-to-one session now

Research

Eurythmy4you is actively involved in the scientific study of eurythmy and curative eurythmy. Our focus areas include effectiveness for stress, cancer-related fatigue, and other states of exhaustion.

Here is a selection of our research projects and publications:

Activity-based Stress Reduction (ABSR): A study on the effectiveness of eurythmy in stress management.
More about ABSR and publications
Cancer-related fatigue: Research on eurythmy therapy to alleviate exhaustion during and after cancer.
More on research on fatigue
Severe persistent exhaustion (fatigue): Planning a study on eurythmy therapy for cancer-related fatigue, long COVID, and lack of drive.
To the current projects (in German)

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How do I best start without prior experience?

Our beginner courses such as the “rod exercises” or the “exercises for the days of the week” are ideal. They guide you gently and clearly to the basics. All you need is curiosity and the willingness to engage with something new.

What distinguishes curative eurythmy from a general eurythmy course?

A course serves general practice, personal development, or artistic expression. Curative eurythmy, on the other hand, is a recognized therapy that takes place 1:1 or in small groups. It is individually adapted by certified therapists based on a medical diagnosis for a specific health goal.

How often should I practice?

Regularity is more important than duration. It is better to practice consciously for 10–15 minutes daily than for an hour once a week. Even 3–4 times per week you will notice tangible effects. Find a rhythm that fits your everyday life.

Can I really learn eurythmy online?

Yes! Our online learning system is optimized for this. With clear video and audio instructions, detailed explanations from different perspectives, and the option to ask questions and receive feedback in the Eurythmy Community Circle (ECC), you are optimally supported. The GEPs (Good Eurythmy Practice) ensure that you find an inner, authentic movement.

What equipment do I need?

Comfortable clothing and non-slip socks or light shoes are sufficient to start. For some exercises, a eurythmy rod made of copper or wood is recommended. You can obtain the copper rod if needed via our partner shop Hilden Atelier.

How do vowels and consonants affect us?

Vowels (A, E, I, O, U) express soul qualities such as wonder, boundary, inwardness, or embrace. They act on our feeling life. Consonants show dynamic, form-giving forces that shape the world and affect our organ processes. In our courses you will learn the gestures and their specific effects in detail.

Is eurythmy suitable for every age?

Yes, absolutely. Eurythmy accompanies people through all phases of life. The exercises are always adapted to age and individual abilities, from playful forms for children to gentle, strengthening movements for older adults.

Our vision for 2050

Our vision for eurythmy in the year 2050: "Eurythmy has become a globally recognized movement art and therapy, which, scientifically grounded and technologically supported, is applied in the most diverse contexts. It contributes to health promotion, education, and cultural development while preserving its core qualities of mindfulness, wholeness, and humanity."

Further resources

Books and literature

Rudolf Steiner: "Eurythmy as Visible Speech" (GA 279) – The foundational work
Rudolf Steiner: "Eurythmy as Visible Song" (GA 278) – Foundation of tone eurythmy
Rudolf Steiner: "Eurythmy Therapy" (GA 315) – Fundamentals of the therapeutic application
Origin and Development of Eurythmy 1918 – 1920. Eds. Martina Maria Sam and Stefan Hasler
Margarete Kirchner-Bockholt: "Basic Elements of Eurythmy Therapy" – Practical handbook
Theodor Hundhammer: "Vom Ort zum Wort" and "Heileurythmie Quo Vadis?"