those with compromised motor
function or trouble with hand-eye
coordination. 3 Specially designed
equipment and methodology allows
those with compromised motor
function or trouble coordinating
movement to learn the rhythm and
symmetry associated with juggling.
The most famous example of such
specially designed equipment is
Craig Quat’s Juggle Board, a tracked
board that allows users to practice
the foundations of juggling without
having to constantly pick up drops
or go running after escaped balls.
The genius of this design is that it
makes juggling accessible to those
with limited mobility, such as the
elderly or those in wheelchairs. This
increase in juggling’s accessibility
means that nearly anyone can
experience its therapeutic benefits
regardless of performance
proficiency.
This video introduces Viktor Kee’s Juggling
Therapy Project by showing how a blind
student learned to juggle using adaptive
equipment developed by Craig Quat and Jay
Gilligan.
While juggling has many physical
and design qualities that make it
optimal for therapeutic use, perhaps
most important is that juggling
is fun. Doctors and therapists
know that even the best recovery
regimen will fail if not performed
regularly, so promoting juggling
in our own communities is an
important way to make a difference
in the health and wellness of our
community members, particularly
those coping with physical, mental,
developmental, or cognitive
challenges.
With the advent of the internet,
it’s easier than ever to learn and
to share skills, methodology, and
techniques, whether standard or
adaptive. Online video depositories,
like Juggling TV, offer anyone
the chance to explore new skills
and techniques, and to network
with juggling enthusiasts around
the world. This year Juggling TV
celebrates ten years of bringing the
larger juggling community together
by hosting historical videos as well
as hundreds of specific forums
dedicated to specific disciplines,
props, and tricks. With the benefits
of juggling becoming more and more
evident, it’s imperative that circus
educators strive to promote juggling
in their programs and, with websites
like this, it’s easier than ever before
to connect with resources that can
help.
FOOTNOTES
Irvine, Dean, “The benefits of: Juggling,”
CNN. 24 May 2007, http://edition.cnn.
com/2007/HEALTH/05/24/pl.juggling/
(Accessed Dec 2, 2017).
1
Hamzelou, Jessica, “Learning to juggle
grows brain networks for good,” New
Scientist. 11 October 2009, https://www.
newscientist.com/article/dn17957-learn-
ing-to-juggle-grows-brain-networks-for-
good/ (Accessed Dec 3, 2017).
2
Thomson, Steve, “Benefits of Juggling
and Circus Skills,” Juggling World. http://
www.jugglingworld.biz/more-juggling-re-
sources/benefits-of-juggling-and-cir-
cus-skills/ (Accessed Dec 2, 2017).
3
Nakahara, Toshihiro, et al. “Effect of
Juggling Therapy on Anxiety Disorders
in Female Patients.” Biopsychosocial
Medicine, BioMed Central. 1 May 2007,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/
PMC1876467/ (Accessed Dec 5,
2017).
4
Magowan, Nigel. “Juggle Your
Way out of Anxiety Disorders.”
Inner Changes Psychother-
apy and Counselling, 8 Apr.
2014, www.manchester-psy-
chotherapy.co.uk/treat-
ment-in-manchester/anxiety/
reduce-your-anxiety-disor-
ders-by-juggling-psychothera-
py-manchester/. (Accessed Dec 6,
2017).
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