Certified Movement Analyst (CMA) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which Shape quality describes movement that narrows the body by pulling the arms inward horizontally?

Enclosing (Correct answer)
Rising
Retreating
Sinking

Correct answer: Enclosing

Enclosing is the horizontal shape quality of gathering or narrowing the body inward, like wrapping arms around oneself.

Question 2: Which Effort factor is most associated with the mover's relationship to gravity and physical force?

Flow
Weight (Correct answer)
Time
Space

Correct answer: Weight

The Weight Effort factor relates to the mover's inner attitude toward gravity and physical impact, ranging from strong to light.

Question 3: The Space Harmony concept of 'transverse' planes refers to movements that:

Move strictly along the vertical axis
Follow the sagittal midline of the body
Combine two dimensions in a tilted diagonal plane (Correct answer)
Cut across the body from side to side horizontally

Correct answer: Combine two dimensions in a tilted diagonal plane

Transverse movements combine two dimensions at once, creating tilted, oblique planes that rotate around the body's center.

Question 4: A CMA working with children must obtain informed consent from:

Only the CMA's institutional supervisor
The child alone if they are over age seven
A parent or legal guardian, and where developmentally appropriate, assent from the child (Correct answer)
The school principal as the in loco parentis authority

Correct answer: A parent or legal guardian, and where developmentally appropriate, assent from the child

Working with minors requires parental or guardian consent plus age-appropriate assent from the child to respect their developing autonomy.

Question 5: In LMA, 'Shaping' (also called 'Carving') refers to:

Controlling breath during movement
The effort qualities used in movement
Three-dimensional volumetric shaping of the body in relationship with the environment (Correct answer)
Moving along the sagittal axis only

Correct answer: Three-dimensional volumetric shaping of the body in relationship with the environment

Shaping or Carving is the three-dimensional, sculptural forming of the body around objects, people, or space in the environment.

Question 6: Why is spatial awareness important in movement observation?

To interpret movement in space (Correct answer)
To set furniture layouts
To determine personality traits
To design spaces

Correct answer: To interpret movement in space

Spatial awareness is crucial for a movement analyst to understand how an individual interacts with and navigates their environment. It involves observing the pathways, directions, and dimensions of movement, as well as the relationship of the body to the surrounding space. This helps interpret the intent and impact of movements within a given context, providing a holistic view of spatial engagement.

Question 7: Which Shape mode is most self-referential and least related to the external environment?

Directional Arc-like
Directional Spoke-like
Carving / Shaping
Shape Flow (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Shape Flow

Shape Flow is the most self-referential mode — the body grows and shrinks in relation to its own center rather than in relationship with the environment.

Question 8: How should ethical complaints be handled?

Blame the client
Follow official grievance procedures (Correct answer)
Discuss on social media
Ignore them

Correct answer: Follow official grievance procedures

Handling ethical complaints appropriately is crucial for maintaining professional accountability and trust within any field. Instead of ignoring or improperly discussing them, professionals must follow established official grievance procedures. This ensures a fair, impartial, and structured process for investigating and resolving complaints, protecting both the client and the professional's integrity.

Question 9: In Shape theory, 'retreating' refers to movement that:

Moves the body backward in the sagittal plane, away from the environment (Correct answer)
Rises upward in the vertical dimension
Encircles or wraps around an object
Opens outward to the side

Correct answer: Moves the body backward in the sagittal plane, away from the environment

Retreating is a sagittal Shape quality in which the body or body part moves backward, withdrawing from the forward-facing environment.

Question 10: In LMA, the four Shape qualities associated with planes are:

Rising/Sinking, Spreading/Enclosing, Advancing/Retreating, Growing/Condensing (Correct answer)
Float/Punch, Glide/Slash, Wring/Dab, Press/Flick
Peripheral/Central, Straight/Curved, Fast/Slow, Open/Closed
High/Low, Wide/Narrow, Far/Near, Strong/Light

Correct answer: Rising/Sinking, Spreading/Enclosing, Advancing/Retreating, Growing/Condensing

The four pairs of planar Shape qualities are Rising/Sinking (vertical), Spreading/Enclosing (horizontal), and Advancing/Retreating (sagittal), plus Growing/Condensing overall.

Question 11: When a CMA notes that a mover's Flow Effort is primarily Bound, what behavioral tendency might this indicate?

Lightness and upward levity
Strength and grounded stability
Restraint, control, and readiness to stop (Correct answer)
Ease, release, and going-ness

Correct answer: Restraint, control, and readiness to stop

Bound Flow indicates controlled, held movement that can be stopped at any moment, often linked to caution or precision.

Question 12: What does good body mechanics help prevent?

Fatigue
Muscle growth only
Emotional stress
Strain, injury, and inefficiency (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Strain, injury, and inefficiency

Good body mechanics involve using the body in the most efficient and safe way possible during any activity. By maintaining proper posture, alignment, and movement patterns, individuals can significantly reduce the risk of muscle strain, joint injury, and chronic pain. It also enhances overall movement efficiency, conserving energy and improving performance in daily tasks and physical activities.

Question 13: Which of the following movements would most exemplify 'carving' or 'shaping'?

Performing a straight-armed punch
Hugging another person, wrapping the arms volumetrically around them (Correct answer)
Breathing in deeply
Pointing a finger at a light switch

Correct answer: Hugging another person, wrapping the arms volumetrically around them

Hugging exemplifies carving/shaping because the arms and body mold three-dimensionally around another person in the environment.

Question 14: In somatic movement education, 'interoception' refers to:

The mapping of external space during locomotion
The kinesthetic sense of another person's movement quality
The movement of attention outward to the environment
The perception of the body's internal physiological state (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The perception of the body's internal physiological state

Interoception is the sense of the body's internal state — including organ sensations, heart rate, hunger, and visceral feelings — increasingly recognized as central to somatic practices.

Question 15: Why are ethical standards important in movement analysis?

To promote personal interests
To limit client options
To increase competition
To ensure respect and professionalism (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To ensure respect and professionalism

Ethical standards are fundamental in movement analysis to build and maintain trust with clients. They ensure that practitioners conduct themselves with integrity, respect client autonomy, and uphold professional boundaries. This framework guarantees that all interactions and analyses are performed with the client's well-being and best interests as the priority, fostering a professional and respectful environment.

Question 16: The 'Action Drive' in Effort theory is unique because it:

Omits Flow, making it the most functionally action-oriented drive (Correct answer)
Emphasizes emotional expression over function
Combines all four Effort factors
Only uses Space and Time

Correct answer: Omits Flow, making it the most functionally action-oriented drive

The Action Drive omits Flow and combines Weight, Space, and Time, producing the eight basic effort actions used for functional task completion.

Question 17: Which of the following best describes 'Directional Movement' in Shape theory?

Movement that changes the overall body shape volumetrically
Movement that creates a spoke-like or arc-like line from the body toward the environment (Correct answer)
Movement that only uses bound flow
Movement within the sagittal plane only

Correct answer: Movement that creates a spoke-like or arc-like line from the body toward the environment

Directional Movement creates spoke-like (straight) or arc-like lines that reach from the body toward the environment without shaping around it.

Question 18: The Hakomi Method, developed by Ron Kurtz, integrates somatic awareness with which psychological tradition?

Gestalt therapy exclusively
Mindfulness-based body-centered psychotherapy (Correct answer)
Freudian psychoanalysis
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Correct answer: Mindfulness-based body-centered psychotherapy

Hakomi is a mindfulness-based, somatic psychotherapy that uses body sensations, posture, and movement as doorways to unconscious material and core beliefs.

Question 19: In LMA, which Effort quality describes movement that proceeds along a clear, predetermined path in space?

Strong
Indirect
Sustained
Direct (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Direct

Direct Space Effort means movement follows a single, focused line or trajectory in space.

Question 20: Which statement best describes the relationship between Shape and Effort in LMA?

Shape relates to the body's form changes while Effort relates to the dynamic qualities of movement (Correct answer)
Shape and Effort are always observed simultaneously and never independently
Effort always precedes Shape in any movement phrase
Shape is only relevant to dance and Effort only to therapy

Correct answer: Shape relates to the body's form changes while Effort relates to the dynamic qualities of movement

Shape describes how the body's form changes in space, while Effort describes the inner dynamic qualities — they are distinct but interrelated LMA categories.

Question 21: Which of the following is NOT a component recorded in Labanotation?

Direction of movement
Level of movement
Costume color (Correct answer)
Duration of movement

Correct answer: Costume color

Labanotation records movement parameters such as direction, level, duration, and body part — but not visual design elements like costume color.

Question 22: What is a key ethical responsibility toward colleagues?

Ignoring collaboration
Respecting and supporting professionalism (Correct answer)
Criticizing them openly
Competing aggressively

Correct answer: Respecting and supporting professionalism

A key ethical responsibility toward colleagues is to foster a professional and supportive environment. This involves treating colleagues with respect, engaging in constructive collaboration, and collectively upholding the standards and reputation of the profession. Such behavior strengthens the professional community and contributes to a higher quality of service across the field.

Question 23: Which somatic practitioner developed 'Ideokinesis,' using mental imagery to re-pattern neuromuscular coordination?

F.M. Alexander
Mabel Todd (Correct answer)
Moshe Feldenkrais
Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen

Correct answer: Mabel Todd

Mabel Todd developed Ideokinesis, the use of anatomical imagery to facilitate postural change through the nervous system without conscious muscular effort.

Question 24: If a CMA practitioner experiences personal burnout that begins to affect the quality of their movement observations, the ethical response is to:

Increase their caseload to build resilience through challenge
Conceal the burnout from supervisors to maintain professional credibility
Seek personal support, reduce caseload if necessary, and consult a supervisor to protect client welfare (Correct answer)
Switch to purely theoretical work without disclosing the reason to clients

Correct answer: Seek personal support, reduce caseload if necessary, and consult a supervisor to protect client welfare

Self-care and self-monitoring are ethical obligations because compromised practitioner wellbeing directly risks client welfare.

Question 25: In Laban Movement Analysis, the concept of 'effort observation' raises ethical concerns primarily because:

Movement observations can be misused to make psychological inferences beyond what the data supports (Correct answer)
Space Harmony calculations are proprietary and copyrighted
Clients are legally permitted to refuse all effort assessments
Effort qualities are too complex to observe accurately

Correct answer: Movement observations can be misused to make psychological inferences beyond what the data supports

Effort observation describes how movement is done but should not be overextended into unwarranted psychological diagnoses or character judgments.

Question 26: In the LMA Space Harmony framework, which spatial pull refers to movement oriented toward the High-Right-Forward diagonal?

Door plane vertical
Left-low-back diagonal
Sagittal forward axis
Right-high-forward diagonal (RHF) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Right-high-forward diagonal (RHF)

Space Harmony maps movement pulls along diagonals, axes, and planes within the Kinesphere; RHF is one of four primary diagonals.

Question 27: In Bartenieff Fundamentals, the 'Body Half' pattern develops the mover's ability to:

Move the upper and lower body simultaneously
Coordinate eye and head movement with spinal sequences
Connect breath to distal movement
Articulate one side of the body independently from the other (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Articulate one side of the body independently from the other

The Body Half developmental pattern establishes left–right differentiation by activating one side of the body at a time.

Question 28: Body-Half (homolateral) connectivity pattern emphasizes the relationship between:

The upper and lower halves of the body at the waist
The arm and leg on the same side of the body (Correct answer)
Opposite limbs such as right arm and left leg
The axial spine from head to tailbone

Correct answer: The arm and leg on the same side of the body

Body-Half connectivity involves ipsilateral coordination—right arm with right leg or left arm with left leg working together.

Question 29: Bartenieff Fundamentals (BF) were developed primarily to:

Facilitate efficient, expressive, and healthy movement by integrating body connectivity (Correct answer)
Standardize theatrical movement vocabulary
Create a dance notation system
Prescribe exercises for athletic performance

Correct answer: Facilitate efficient, expressive, and healthy movement by integrating body connectivity

Bartenieff Fundamentals are a set of movement principles and exercises developed by Irmgard Bartenieff to support healthy, integrated, and expressive movement.

Question 30: The three dimensions of Shape Flow are:

Up/Down, Side/Side, Forward/Back (Correct answer)
Strong/Light, Direct/Indirect, Sudden/Sustained
Ascending, Descending, Rotating
Bound/Free, High/Low, Wide/Narrow

Correct answer: Up/Down, Side/Side, Forward/Back

Shape Flow changes occur along three dimensions: lengthening/shortening (up/down), widening/narrowing (side/side), and bulging/hollowing (forward/back).

Question 31: What is emphasized during somatic education sessions?

External performance evaluation
Speed running
Self-exploration and inner awareness (Correct answer)
Powerlifting

Correct answer: Self-exploration and inner awareness

During somatic education sessions, the primary emphasis is on self-exploration and cultivating inner awareness. Participants are guided to pay close attention to their internal bodily sensations, movements, and feelings, rather than focusing on external performance metrics or comparisons. This internal focus empowers individuals to discover and modify their own movement patterns, fostering greater comfort, efficiency, and self-understanding.

Question 32: The Head-Tail body connectivity pattern primarily emphasizes which aspect of movement organization?

Cross-body coordination between right and left sides
Connection along the spinal axis from cranium to coccyx (Correct answer)
The relationship between the arms and the legs
The relationship between the upper and lower body halves at the waist

Correct answer: Connection along the spinal axis from cranium to coccyx

Head-Tail connectivity involves awareness and active use of the spinal/axial connection from the cranium to the coccyx.

Question 33: In choreology, 'general space' differs from 'personal space' in that it refers to:

The rhythm of the breath cycle
The relationship between body parts
The effort qualities used in movement
The space shared with others in the environment (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The space shared with others in the environment

General space is the shared environmental space that all movers occupy together, distinct from the personal kinesphere of each individual.

Question 34: In Bartenieff Fundamentals, 'body half' connectivity refers to:

Upper body independence from lower body
The right side and left side working together in opposition
Using only one side of the body while the other is still (Correct answer)
Breath flowing to one side at a time

Correct answer: Using only one side of the body while the other is still

Body half connectivity focuses on the right or left half of the body as an integrated unit, strengthening lateral differentiation and organization.

Question 35: In LMA, 'proximal initiation' means a movement begins at:

The fingertips, toes, or top of the head
The midpoint of a limb such as the elbow or knee
The cranium or coccyx endpoints of the spine
The joint closest to the trunk where the limb attaches (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The joint closest to the trunk where the limb attaches

Proximal initiation begins at the joint nearest the body's core—shoulder or hip—and travels outward toward the distal end.

Question 36: The Shape Quality 'Sinking' is associated with which directional tendency?

Narrowing the body width
Rising upward away from the ground
Enclosing the body toward the center
Descending toward the earth (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Descending toward the earth

Sinking is a Shape Quality in the vertical dimension reflecting the body's movement downward toward the earth.

Question 37: A CMA applies Flow effort analysis to categorize a client's movement as predominantly 'Bound' and shares this in an interdisciplinary team meeting. The ethical risk in this scenario is:

The Flow category is not recognized by most interdisciplinary teams
Team members without LMA training may misinterpret 'Bound' as a negative diagnostic label rather than a neutral movement descriptor (Correct answer)
Using the word 'Bound' which may be trademarked by the Laban Guild
Sharing effort analysis in team meetings always violates HIPAA

Correct answer: Team members without LMA training may misinterpret 'Bound' as a negative diagnostic label rather than a neutral movement descriptor

LMA terminology can be easily misunderstood by non-practitioners, requiring CMAs to contextualize and translate movement descriptors carefully in interdisciplinary settings.

Question 38: The LBMS (Laban/Bartenieff Movement System) practitioner code requires that advertising and marketing of CMA services:

Be accurate, honest, and not misrepresent the scope or efficacy of movement analysis (Correct answer)
Include testimonials from anonymous clients to build credibility
Make bold claims to attract clients in a competitive marketplace
Guarantee specific outcomes to demonstrate clinical confidence

Correct answer: Be accurate, honest, and not misrepresent the scope or efficacy of movement analysis

Professional marketing must be truthful and accurately represent what movement analysis can and cannot accomplish.

Question 39: A CMA observes a client whose movement lacks volumetric shaping and relies entirely on spoke-like directionals. A likely implication is:

Highly advanced spatial intelligence
Excellent three-dimensional relationship with the environment
Over-reliance on bound flow
Limited ability to form adaptive, enveloping relationships with people or objects (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Limited ability to form adaptive, enveloping relationships with people or objects

Without volumetric shaping, the mover cannot adapt their body three-dimensionally around others or objects, limiting nuanced environmental interaction.

Question 40: Shape Flow Support refers to:

The floor or surface the body rests on
The way Shape Flow changes underlie and support Effort expression (Correct answer)
The memorization of spatial scales
A technique for supporting injured movers

Correct answer: The way Shape Flow changes underlie and support Effort expression

Shape Flow Support describes how the body's growing/shrinking three-dimensional changes serve as a substrate that supports and facilitates Effort expression.

Question 41: Which somatic discipline uses guided imagery?

Running drills
Ideokinesis (Correct answer)
CrossFit
Kickboxing

Correct answer: Ideokinesis

Ideokinesis is a somatic discipline that specifically utilizes guided imagery and mental visualization to improve movement patterns, posture, and body alignment. Practitioners imagine specific anatomical movements or sensations, which can subtly influence muscle tone and coordination without direct physical effort. This method leverages the mind-body connection to re-educate the nervous system for more efficient and graceful movement.

Question 42: In somatic practices, 'proprioception' is best described as:

The visual perception of the body's location in space
The sense of body position and movement arising from muscles, tendons, and joints (Correct answer)
The auditory feedback used in voice-based movement therapy
The emotional awareness of physical sensations

Correct answer: The sense of body position and movement arising from muscles, tendons, and joints

Proprioception is the sensory system providing information about body position, movement, and force through receptors in muscles, tendons, and joints.

Question 43: The 'Passion Drive' in Effort theory omits which motion factor?

Flow
Weight
Time
Space (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Space

The Passion Drive combines Weight, Time, and Flow while omitting Space, giving it an intense, emotionally driven quality without spatial focus.

Question 44: In LMA, 'middle initiation' means a movement begins at:

An intermediate joint of a limb such as the elbow or knee (Correct answer)
The tips of the extremities such as the fingers or toes
The midpoint between two active body parts
The body's navel center

Correct answer: An intermediate joint of a limb such as the elbow or knee

Middle initiation begins at intermediate joints—elbow or knee—rather than at the distal tips or the proximal joints near the trunk.

Question 45: A 'spoke-like' directional movement in Shape theory creates:

A three-dimensional volumetric enclosure
A straight line from the body toward a point in the environment (Correct answer)
A rotational pathway
A curved arc through space

Correct answer: A straight line from the body toward a point in the environment

Spoke-like directional movement creates a straight linear reach, like a spoke on a wheel radiating from the hub to the rim.

Question 46: The Shape quality of 'spreading' relates to which spatial dimension?

Rotational (twisting)
Forward/Back (bulging)
Up/Down (lengthening)
Side/Side (widening) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Side/Side (widening)

Spreading is the widening or opening sideways — a Shape Flow change in the side-to-side or width dimension of the body.

Question 47: A CMA observes a surgeon making small, controlled, precise incisions. Which Effort quality is most evident?

Bound Flow (Correct answer)
Indirect Space
Free Flow
Sustained Time

Correct answer: Bound Flow

Bound Flow is most evident in surgery because the movements are highly controlled, restrained, and could be stopped at any moment.

Question 48: Which of the following is an example of a 'sagittal' movement in LMA Space Harmony?

Reaching forward and pulling back (Correct answer)
Lifting and lowering the shoulders
Swinging the arms side to side
Rotating the torso left and right

Correct answer: Reaching forward and pulling back

Sagittal movements travel forward and backward along the anterior–posterior axis of the body.

Question 49: The developmental movement pattern called 'homolateral' involves:

Both arms and both legs moving simultaneously
Opposite arm and leg working together
Only the spine moving
Same-side arm and leg working together (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Same-side arm and leg working together

Homolateral movement involves ipsilateral patterning — the arm and leg on the same side of the body working together, as in some reptile movements.

Question 50: Free Flow in Effort analysis is associated with movement that:

Cannot easily be stopped once initiated (Correct answer)
Uses strong weight throughout
Requires deliberate muscular effort to continue
Stays bound to one location

Correct answer: Cannot easily be stopped once initiated

Free Flow is characterized by an unrestrained, ongoing quality — the movement has momentum that makes it difficult to stop abruptly.

Question 51: 'Bound' Flow in Effort analysis describes movement that is:

Rapid and explosive
Freely streaming without restraint
Controlled, held, or restrained in its release (Correct answer)
Directed toward a specific point in space

Correct answer: Controlled, held, or restrained in its release

Bound Flow is characterized by restraint, control, and resistance to flow, giving movement a held, cautious, or precise quality.

Question 52: In observing Effort, a CMA would identify 'indirect' Space Effort in a mover who:

Sustains movement over a long time
Meanders, taking a roundabout path and attending to many things at once (Correct answer)
Uses strong physical force
Moves in a straight line toward a target

Correct answer: Meanders, taking a roundabout path and attending to many things at once

Indirect Space Effort is seen when a mover's attention is flexible and multi-focused, leading to roundabout, flexible paths rather than straight lines.

Question 53: Which term describes the LMA observation that movement qualities occur in pairs of opposing polarities?

Polarities principle (Correct answer)
Monochromy
Effort gradation
Motion factors duality

Correct answer: Polarities principle

Each Effort motion factor exists on a continuum between two polar opposites (e.g., Light vs. Strong, Sudden vs. Sustained).

Question 54: In BF, 'yield and push' describes which aspect of movement development?

The relationship between bound and free flow
The developmental process of giving weight into a surface and then pushing away from it to mobilize (Correct answer)
The alternation of strong and light Effort
The breath cycle of inhale and exhale

Correct answer: The developmental process of giving weight into a surface and then pushing away from it to mobilize

Yield and push is a developmental movement function: first yielding weight into a surface (establishing connection), then pushing away from it to mobilize the body.

Question 55: A CMA discovers an error in a previously submitted movement analysis report that could affect a client's treatment. The ethical obligation is to:

Wait to see if the error causes harm before taking action
Inform the relevant parties of the error promptly and provide a corrected report (Correct answer)
Discard the erroneous report and issue a new one without informing the client
Deny the error to protect professional reputation

Correct answer: Inform the relevant parties of the error promptly and provide a corrected report

Professional ethics require prompt disclosure of errors that may affect client welfare, followed by corrective action.

Question 56: A movement described as 'sudden' refers to which Effort motion factor?

Weight
Space
Flow
Time (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Time

Suddenness is the condensed, urgent quality of the Time Effort factor, contrasting with the lingering quality of sustained.

Question 57: A CMA using BF principles with a client who lacks core connectivity would most likely address:

The integration of the core with the rest of the body through fundamental movement repatterning (Correct answer)
Effort variation exercises exclusively
Spatial scale practice before body work
Only peripheral limb strengthening

Correct answer: The integration of the core with the rest of the body through fundamental movement repatterning

BF principles address core connectivity through fundamental movement repatterning, linking the body's center to its extremities for integrated movement.

Question 58: Which behavior could breach ethical standards?

Reporting data breaches promptly
Respecting client privacy
Securing private records
Sharing client records without permission (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Sharing client records without permission

Sharing client records without explicit permission is a severe breach of confidentiality and ethical standards. Client records contain highly sensitive personal and health information that must be protected. Unauthorized disclosure undermines trust, violates privacy rights, and can lead to significant legal and professional repercussions for the practitioner.

Question 59: In LMA Shape observation, 'Spoke-like' directional movements are best characterized by which description?

Three-dimensional carving through space
Curved arcs that trace the body's contour
Movement that projects outward along a straight line from the body center (Correct answer)
Self-contained shrinking and growing

Correct answer: Movement that projects outward along a straight line from the body center

Spoke-like (Arc-like being the contrasting form) directional movement goes straight out from the center like a spoke of a wheel.

Question 60: What is informed consent in movement practice?

Obtaining voluntary agreement after full disclosure (Correct answer)
Skipping client education
Surprising clients with practices
Assuming consent for all sessions

Correct answer: Obtaining voluntary agreement after full disclosure

Informed consent is a vital ethical principle that upholds client autonomy in movement practice. It requires the professional to provide comprehensive information about the proposed practices, including their purpose, procedures, potential benefits, risks, and alternatives. Only after this full disclosure can the client provide voluntary agreement, ensuring they make educated decisions about their participation.

Question 61: Which combination of Effort qualities produces the 'basic action' called 'punch'?

Strong, Indirect, Sudden
Light, Direct, Sustained
Strong, Direct, Sudden (Correct answer)
Light, Indirect, Sustained

Correct answer: Strong, Direct, Sudden

Punch is one of Laban's eight basic effort actions, combining Strong Weight, Direct Space, and Sudden Time.

Question 62: The Effort action 'float' combines which three qualities?

Light, Direct, Sustained
Strong, Direct, Sudden
Light, Indirect, Sustained (Correct answer)
Strong, Indirect, Sustained

Correct answer: Light, Indirect, Sustained

Float combines Light Weight, Indirect Space, and Sustained Time, creating a buoyant, dreamy, and wandering quality.

Question 63: Which LMA category addresses body part connectivity?

Body (Correct answer)
Effort
Shape
Space

Correct answer: Body

The 'Body' category in Laban Movement Analysis specifically focuses on the structural and anatomical aspects of movement, including how different body parts connect and coordinate. It examines patterns of connectivity (e.g., core-distal, head-tail, upper-lower), sequencing of movement, and the initiation of movement from various body parts. This helps understand the physical organization and integration of movement.

Question 64: The concept of 'locomotor-non-locomotor' in BF developmental work distinguishes between:

Upper and lower body movement patterns
Effort actions and Space Harmony scales
Fast and slow movement
Movement that travels through space and movement performed in place (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Movement that travels through space and movement performed in place

Locomotor movement travels through space (walking, crawling), while non-locomotor movement occurs in place (bending, stretching, twisting).

Question 65: In pattern recognition, a CMA identifies a mover who consistently uses 'Action Drive' (Weight + Time + Space Effort). What is notably absent?

Shape changes
Body part differentiation
Spatial pathways
Flow Effort (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Flow Effort

Action Drive combines Weight, Time, and Space Efforts while Flow is not a defining element, making it the absent Motion Factor.

Question 66: In LMA, 'Direct' Space Effort is characterized by:

Movement bound within the near reach space
A single clear focus, moving through space in a channeled manner (Correct answer)
Irregular, spontaneous spatial pathways
An inclusive flexible attention to multiple spatial pulls

Correct answer: A single clear focus, moving through space in a channeled manner

Direct Space Effort (fighting quality) involves a laser-like single focus and channeled, precise movement through space.

Question 67: Which Effort motion factor relates to the mover's inner attitude toward space and spatial attention?

Weight
Time
Space (Correct answer)
Flow

Correct answer: Space

The Space Effort factor reflects the mover's inner attitude toward space — whether their attention is channeled directly or meanders indirectly.

Question 68: Which of the following is NOT one of Laban's eight basic effort actions?

Flick
Bounce (Correct answer)
Slide
Wring

Correct answer: Bounce

The eight basic effort actions are: punch, slash, press, wring, dab, flick, glide, and float — bounce is not among them.

Question 69: In LMA Shape theory, 'Shape Flow' describes:

The relationship between two movers
The spatial pathway traced by the feet
The three-dimensional changing of the body's shape in relation to itself (Correct answer)
The effort quality of a movement phrase

Correct answer: The three-dimensional changing of the body's shape in relation to itself

Shape Flow describes the body growing and shrinking three-dimensionally in relation to its own center, independent of the environment.

Question 70: Which developmental movement pattern involves the body folding and unfolding around a transverse axis?

Contralateral
Homolateral
Homologous
Spinal (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Spinal

Spinal patterning involves the body flexing and extending around its longitudinal or transverse axes, like a worm or snake undulating.

Question 71: When a CMA is working cross-culturally and applies Effort analysis to movement that carries specific cultural meaning (such as ritual or ceremonial movement), the primary ethical concern is:

The practitioner should use Time effort categories exclusively in cultural contexts
Cultural movement cannot be analyzed using LMA without first translating it to English description
Practitioners should only work with cultures whose movement they personally perform
Imposing a Western analytical framework may misrepresent or disrespect culturally specific movement practices (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Imposing a Western analytical framework may misrepresent or disrespect culturally specific movement practices

Applying a culturally embedded framework to diverse movement practices risks ethnocentric misinterpretation and requires cultural humility and consultation.

Question 72: The term 'hollowing' in Shape Flow refers to:

Lengthening the spine upward
Widening the arms to the side
Drawing the front surface of the body inward, away from the environment (Correct answer)
Expanding the front of the body outward

Correct answer: Drawing the front surface of the body inward, away from the environment

Hollowing is the backward/inward movement of the front body surface, creating a concave front — the opposite of bulging.

Question 73: Which system records the pathways and direction of movements?

Breathing rhythm charts
Spatial intent and kinesphere (Correct answer)
Eye movement tracking
Pulse monitoring

Correct answer: Spatial intent and kinesphere

In Laban Movement Analysis, the concept of 'Spatial intent' and the 'kinesphere' are used to describe and record the pathways and directions of movements. The kinesphere refers to the personal space surrounding the body that can be reached by movement, while spatial intent describes the specific directions and dimensions of movement within that space. This helps analyze how movement is organized in relation to the environment.

Question 74: In LMA, 'condensing' refers to:

Using bound flow exclusively
Combining two planes simultaneously
Moving toward the active, fighting end of an Effort factor (Correct answer)
Reducing the size of movement

Correct answer: Moving toward the active, fighting end of an Effort factor

Condensing means moving toward the active or 'fighting' pole of an Effort factor, such as being strong, direct, sudden, or bound.

Question 75: In Laban Movement Analysis, the four Effort motion factors are:

Weight, Space, Time, Flow (Correct answer)
Strength, Speed, Tension, Pathway
Force, Direction, Rhythm, Shape
Gravity, Symmetry, Tempo, Breath

Correct answer: Weight, Space, Time, Flow

The four Effort motion factors are Weight (strong/light), Space (direct/indirect), Time (sudden/sustained), and Flow (bound/free).

Question 76: In LMA Body analysis, 'Spatial Intent' refers to:

The directional orientation that organizes a body part's movement path (Correct answer)
The shape made by the whole body in space
The effort quality of spatial attention
The rhythm of breathing in relation to movement

Correct answer: The directional orientation that organizes a body part's movement path

Spatial Intent describes how the mover's intention directs a body part toward a specific location or direction in space.

Question 77: In Laban's spatial theory, 'deflection' means:

Moving only in one plane
Moving away from the kinesphere entirely
Changing effort quality during movement
A slight deviation from a pure spatial direction toward an adjacent one (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A slight deviation from a pure spatial direction toward an adjacent one

Deflection is a slight swerving from a pure dimensional or diagonal direction toward a neighboring spatial point, creating oblique paths.

Question 78: What is a benefit of somatic movement practices?

Improved posture and reduced tension (Correct answer)
Decreased mindfulness
Increased workout time
Higher energy expenditure

Correct answer: Improved posture and reduced tension

A significant benefit of somatic movement practices is improved posture and reduced tension. By guiding individuals to become more aware of their habitual movement patterns and areas of chronic muscular effort, these practices facilitate the release of unnecessary tension and promote more balanced body organization. This often leads to greater ease in movement, reduced physical discomfort, and a more aligned posture.

Question 79: The 'contralateral' developmental pattern is important because it:

Focuses on spinal flexion only
Keeps both sides of the body moving symmetrically
Isolates the upper body from the lower body
Integrates cross-body diagonal connections between opposite limbs (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Integrates cross-body diagonal connections between opposite limbs

Contralateral movement integrates opposite arm and leg diagonally across the body's midline, supporting complex locomotion and cross-brain integration.

Question 80: In Shape theory, 'growing' Shape Flow is associated with:

Bound flow and condensed effort
Narrowing and shortening of the body
Opening, expanding, or reaching outward from the body's center (Correct answer)
Collapsing inward toward the core

Correct answer: Opening, expanding, or reaching outward from the body's center

Growing Shape Flow is the outward, expansive change in body shape — opening, widening, lengthening, or bulging away from center.

Question 81: An 'Effort drive' in LMA combines how many Effort motion factors?

Two
Four
Three (Correct answer)
One

Correct answer: Three

An Effort drive is a combination of three of the four motion factors, each time omitting one factor which characterizes the drive type.

Question 82: Somatic movement education differs from traditional physical rehabilitation primarily in that it:

Requires medical diagnosis before initiating any movement work
Focuses exclusively on isolated muscle strengthening
Centers the client's subjective sensory experience as the primary agent of change (Correct answer)
Uses evidence-based protocols and measurable outcomes exclusively

Correct answer: Centers the client's subjective sensory experience as the primary agent of change

Somatic education differs from rehabilitation in centering the learner's own internal sensory awareness as the mechanism of change, rather than externally correcting or strengthening the body.

Question 83: In assessing developmental movement, a CMA notes a child's inability to use carving/shaping. This suggests a deficit in:

Linear reach and retract skills
Effort variation
Personal body rhythm and breath
Spatial awareness and environmental relationship-building (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Spatial awareness and environmental relationship-building

Carving/Shaping is the mode through which movers relate volumetrically to the environment; its absence suggests difficulty forming three-dimensional relationships with space and people.

Question 84: Which Effort state combines Strong Weight and Direct Space qualities?

Awake State (Correct answer)
Remote State
Near State
Dream State

Correct answer: Awake State

The Awake State combines the sensing and thinking motion factors—Weight and Space—in an alert, engaged quality.

Question 85: Cross-Lateral (contralateral) body connectivity involves coordination between:

The relationship between core and peripheral body parts
Opposite limbs—right arm with left leg, or left arm with right leg (Correct answer)
Any movement that crosses the body's midline
Movement that traverses multiple spatial planes simultaneously

Correct answer: Opposite limbs—right arm with left leg, or left arm with right leg

Cross-Lateral connectivity integrates diagonal pairs of opposite limbs in a counter-balancing pattern essential to mature locomotion.

Question 86: In Labanotation, the column immediately to the right of the center line typically records movement for:

The left leg
The right leg (Correct answer)
The right arm
The head

Correct answer: The right leg

The column immediately to the right of the center line records the right leg's movement, mirroring the body's layout on the staff.

Question 87: The 'Spell Drive' in Effort theory combines:

Space, Weight, Time (omits Flow)
Space, Weight, Flow (omits Time)
Weight, Time, Flow (omits Space)
Space, Time, Flow (omits Weight) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Space, Time, Flow (omits Weight)

The Spell Drive combines Space, Time, and Flow while omitting Weight, creating a hypnotic, dream-like, otherworldly quality.

Question 88: In Body organization, 'breath support' in LMA primarily relates to which developmental pattern?

Cellular (Correct answer)
Spinal
Cross-lateral
Homologous

Correct answer: Cellular

Cellular breath support is the earliest developmental pattern, rooted in the basic cellular pulsation of inhale and exhale.

Question 89: In Shape theory, 'condensing' Shape Flow refers to:

Moving in the horizontal plane
Using strong effort qualities
Growing outward in all dimensions
Shortening, narrowing, and hollowing — shrinking the body inward (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Shortening, narrowing, and hollowing — shrinking the body inward

Condensing Shape Flow is the inward, shrinking quality — the body narrows, shortens, and hollows, reducing its three-dimensional volume.

Question 90: When observing movement patterns over time, what does 'Phrase' refer to in Laban Movement Analysis?

The rhythmic count of musical beats
The effort quality dominant in a sequence
The spatial pathway traced by a limb
A unit of movement with a beginning, middle, and end (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A unit of movement with a beginning, middle, and end

A movement phrase is a meaningful unit of movement that has an arc-like structure: preparation, main action, and recovery.

Question 91: In educational settings, a CMA instructor who has a dual relationship with a student (e.g., also their therapist) should:

Keep both roles separate by never discussing movement in the therapeutic context
Disclose the dual relationship to the school and manage or terminate one relationship to avoid conflict of interest (Correct answer)
Ask the student to choose which relationship to maintain
Maintain both relationships as long as they remain transparent

Correct answer: Disclose the dual relationship to the school and manage or terminate one relationship to avoid conflict of interest

Dual relationships create conflicts of interest that can compromise professional judgment; disclosure and management or resolution are ethically required.

Question 92: The 'yielding-pushing-reaching-pulling-grasping' sequence in developmental movement re-education (as used in BMC) is organized around which developmental principle?

Movements progress from distal to proximal organization
Strength precedes flexibility in all motor learning
Each action builds neurologically on the completion of the previous action (Correct answer)
Actions follow a cephalocaudal (head-to-tail) developmental progression

Correct answer: Each action builds neurologically on the completion of the previous action

In BMC's developmental framework, each action in the sequence (yield→push→reach→pull→grasp) requires the neurological establishment of the previous one to function optimally.

Question 93: In Bartenieff Fundamentals, 'inner-outer' connectivity relates to:

The breathing cycle in and out
Movement going from the kinesphere inward
The relationship between the body's deep intrinsic muscles and its outer surface or movement expression (Correct answer)
Effort flow from bound to free

Correct answer: The relationship between the body's deep intrinsic muscles and its outer surface or movement expression

Inner-outer connectivity addresses the integration of deep intrinsic muscles with the body's outer layers and external movement expression.

Question 94: In movement phrasing, the 'preparation' phase serves which primary function?

It defines the moment of peak intensity in the phrase
It gathers readiness and sets up the conditions for the main action (Correct answer)
It provides a transition phrase to connect to the next movement unit
It marks the resolution and completion of the movement sequence

Correct answer: It gathers readiness and sets up the conditions for the main action

The preparation phase gathers energy and establishes the readiness that makes the main action of the phrase possible.

Question 95: In Laban Movement Analysis, the term 'kinesphere' refers to which concept?

The pathway a body part traces through space
The personal space bubble surrounding the mover's reach (Correct answer)
The emotional quality of a movement phrase
The rhythmic pattern of locomotion

Correct answer: The personal space bubble surrounding the mover's reach

The kinesphere is the sphere of personal space that surrounds the mover and extends to the furthest reach of the limbs.

Question 96: Irmgard Bartenieff integrated Laban's movement theory with which other discipline to develop Bartenieff Fundamentals?

Ballet technique and Pilates
Sports science and biomechanics
Yoga and Ayurveda
Physical therapy and neurodevelopmental principles (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Physical therapy and neurodevelopmental principles

Bartenieff combined Laban's movement analysis with her training and practice in physical therapy and neurodevelopmental approaches.

Question 97: When a supervisee CMA disagrees with a supervisor's ethical judgment about a client case, the appropriate action is to:

Immediately report the supervisor to a licensing board without further discussion
Raise the concern respectfully with the supervisor and, if unresolved, consult the organization's ethics resources or a third party (Correct answer)
Take unilateral action to override the supervisor's decision
Comply silently with the supervisor's decision regardless of personal ethical concern

Correct answer: Raise the concern respectfully with the supervisor and, if unresolved, consult the organization's ethics resources or a third party

Ethical disagreements in supervision should first be addressed directly and respectfully, with escalation to formal channels only when direct dialogue fails.

Question 98: Which system helps document observations systematically?

Musical notation
Motif Writing (Correct answer)
Sign language
Acting scripts

Correct answer: Motif Writing

Motif Writing is a simplified notation system derived from Labanotation, specifically designed for documenting movement observations in a clear and systematic way. It uses symbols to represent key movement elements, patterns, and relationships, allowing analysts to record and communicate movement sequences and qualities efficiently. This system provides a concise method for capturing and sharing movement data.

Question 99: Which developmental movement pattern, central to BMC and Bartenieff work, involves simultaneous movement of both arms and both legs?

Homolateral
Radial
Homologous (Correct answer)
Contralateral

Correct answer: Homologous

Homologous movement involves the upper or lower halves of the body moving simultaneously and symmetrically, as seen in a frog jump or both arms reaching overhead together.

Question 100: The concept of 'Effort rhythm' in LMA refers to:

The number of times an action repeats
The spatial pattern traced by the feet
Musical tempo applied to movement
The patterned sequence and variation of Effort qualities over time (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The patterned sequence and variation of Effort qualities over time

Effort rhythm describes how Effort qualities flow, change, and pattern themselves across time in a mover's ongoing movement sequence.

Question 101: In BMC, the 'yield' action is foundational because it:

Strengthens core muscles for postural support
Establishes the push-reach-pull-grasp developmental sequence through ground contact (Correct answer)
Releases fascial restriction through sustained pressure
Teaches the practitioner to give way under partner weight

Correct answer: Establishes the push-reach-pull-grasp developmental sequence through ground contact

Yielding in BMC establishes the foundational neurological support that precedes all pushing, reaching, pulling, and grasping actions — it is the first action in the developmental movement sequence.

Question 102: In Effort theory, 'indulging' in a motion factor means:

Moving toward the yielding or passive end of the factor's continuum (Correct answer)
Avoiding the factor entirely
Using maximum force in that factor
Combining two motion factors simultaneously

Correct answer: Moving toward the yielding or passive end of the factor's continuum

Indulging means yielding to or going with the passive pole of an Effort factor, such as being light, indirect, sustained, or free.

Certified Movement Analyst (CMA)

The CMA certification, awarded by the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (LIMS), assesses professional competency in Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) across four core domains: Body, Effort, Shape, and Space. Candidates must demonstrate both theoretical knowledge and applied movement observation skills.

100

Questions

120 min

Time Limit

70%

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Sources & references

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