Watermelon StepUps
What are Watermelon StepUps?
Students stand behind an 8 inch step stool. They count down, "4, 3, 2, 1".
They step up then step down. Each step is on a syllable of the word, 'wa ter mel on'.
It stool are not available, this can be done stepping over a rope or line on the floor.
What is important is stepping rhythmically alternating each foot.
Purpose of this lesson:
Watermelon step ups teach a student to have a well develop integrated gate that is pendululm like.
This integration in movement and rhythm helps bring a whole felt stability to the whole person.
The Watermelon Step Up develops a more precise control of movement and rhythm. When asked to step up and down from a stool, many students
will plant one foot on the stool and then step over it or step down with the same foot that they stepped up with.
Here we ask students to step up right foot then left foot and step down right foot and left foot. To do this, their weight and center of gravity has to cross the mid line of the body.
This cross involves and activates both brain networks and muscle groups. Doing this move may be a bit challenging at first, yet it increases a students stability and flexibility.
This move also develops even rhythmic arm and leg coordination which ideal for drumming and other rhythmic oriented movement. (piano, running, bicycling swimmming).