Education
This became one of the bases of body psychotherapy since many of the most influential body psychotherapists studied with her or "Sensory Awareness" with Charlotte Selver at the Esalen Institute around 1962.
This became one of the bases of body psychotherapy since many of the most influential body psychotherapists studied with her or "Sensory Awareness" with Charlotte Selver at the Esalen Institute around 1962.
From her personal experience of recovering from an attack of tuberculosis (by concentrating to breathe with her healthy lung and rest the diseased lung) Gindler helped originate an entire school of bodywork, in close collaboration with Heinrich Jacoby. What Gindler had called Arbeit am Menschen (work on the human being) emphasised self-observation and growing understanding of one"s individual physically related condition. Simple actions such as sitting, standing, walking et cetera were explored, also in everyday situations.
During the Nazi-period of Germany, Gindler used these investigations and experimental exercises with her students to covertly help people who were persecuted by the regime.
Foreign her assistance to the Jewish population of Berlin, she was distinguished as a righteous among the nations and a tree was planted in Yad Vashem in her honour. Gindler"s collaborators included
Emmi Pikler
Heinrich Jacoby (whose students included Moshe Feldenkrais)
Several of Gindler"s students went on to become influential teachers themselves:
Laura Perls (wife of Fritz Perls and co-creator of Gestalt Therapy)
Charlotte Selver (Sensory Awareness)
Carola Speads (Physical Re-Education)
Gertrud Heller
Lily Ehrenfried (Methode Ehrenfried / Gymnastique Holistique)
Clare Fenichel
Through Selver"s Sensory Awareness workshops at Esalen and elsewhere, Gindler"s work indirectly influenced most of the somatic teachers in the United States.
Other names associated with Gindler include Sophie Ludwig (1901–1997) and Ruth Matter (1904–1995).