Paneurhythmy

Paneurhythmy (Bulgarian: Паневритмия) is a system of physical musical exercises developed by Peter Deunov between 1922 and 1944, focused on achieving inner balance and harmonization.

[1] The composer of the music and movements of paneurhythmy, Peter Deunov (also known as Beinsa Douno) developed the exercises in the 1930s in Bulgaria in an adaptive process, excluding some and adopting others in order to discover their optimal form.

[3] Based on Deunov's recommendations, paneurthythmic exercises were to be done in the early morning and outside, preferably in a green meadow, and were most effective in the Spring, beginning 22 March.

In his opinion, this was the time when nature was most receptive and contained the most prana, or living energy that could be absorbed by the human body.

[4] Over time, Paneurhythmy has attracted the attention of people from different cultures and nationalities, despite the 40-year communist regime in Bulgaria that forbade such practices.

All exercises, as well as the three sections, are arranged in a meaningful sequence, they are believed to represent successive moments of individual and collective human development.

The third and fourth movements symbolize liberation from this circle and the subsequent joy associated with such release, as expressed through the singing and clapping of the participants.

[1][2] The exercise is performed with five pairs of participants which move and exchange places, symbolizing that the positive virtues of an individual must be in motion in order for the qualities to have effect.

[14] Due to the diversity of the exercises, it is theorized that they engage muscles and joints to improve the locomotion and balance of the human body.