The Australian Kinesiology Association Inc is a non-profit organisation dedicated to educating people across the globe in natural health care techniques based on kinesiology.

Our vision statement:

"Through a philosophy of ongoing development and the promotion of our members, we enhance the knowledge and acceptance of our industry in the public arena"

Working with the body of knowledge
"Kinesiology encompasses holistic health disciplines which use the gentle art of muscle monitoring to access information about a person's well-being. Originating in the 1970's, it combines Western techniques and Eastern wisdom to promote physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. Kinesiology identifies the elements which inhibit the body's natural internal energies and accessing the life enhancing potential within the individual." (Definition approved by the Australian Kinesiology Association in 1999.)

Kinesiology began in the US in the work of 1930's 'human movement' or Kinesiology academics. Chiropractors soon found the muscle monitoring techniques useful and began to apply them when working on muscle function in their patients.

In the early 1960's, a Detroit chiropractor Dr. George Goodheart made the breakthrough that pushed Kinesiology to a whole new threshold. He found that muscle monitoring could also access the functional status of other physiological systems.

Goodheart researched further, exploring the subtle energy pathways described in Chinese medical literature. He found this premise held true. Goodheart had discovered a valid entry pathway into the information held as energetic patterns within the human body. He could quickly access the same information the Chinese had deciphered.

Applied Kinesiology originated from the work of Dr George Goodheart and other professional chiropractors in the US in the early 1960's.

Muscle Monitoring gave them a way into evaluating the integrity of many different systems. As research progressed, the techniques grew to include the meridian system (for energetic flow), Bennett Reflex Points (for vascular function) and Chapman Reflex Points (for lymphatic function).

At this point Kinesiology entered a totally new paradigm.

To distinguish their holistic work from the original bio-mechanical approach of Academic Kinesiology, the group defined themselves as Applied Kinesiologists, otherwise "AK" practitioners. Dentists, chiropractors, medical doctors, psychotherapists, educators and other health professionals also now use Applied Kinesiology.

Today almost four decades on, 'Kinesiology' serves as an umbrella-term for a rapidly expanding suite of specialized modalities. It is now practiced in over 50 countries. What ties the different modalities together is still a reliance on muscle monitoring as the basic feedback mechanism into the human "bio-computer".

In seeking underlying causes, rather than just treating overt health problems, Kinesiology remains faithful to the ancient model that says health problems are the outcome of blocked energy flow.

When this vital life force or Chi is disrupted, it can overtax or starve systems. If the person fails to adapt, the resulting compensation can be anything from mild emotional discomfort to permanent pain or disease.

The remarkable efficacy of kinesiology lies in its ability to specifically trace the imbalance, identify where and why function is blocked and then to facilitate a release that honours the person's own healing process.

WHAT IS THE AKA?

The AKA Inc is a national kinesiology body representing the professional interests of kinesiology practitioners, as well as the personal interests of students and the public.

There are a number of office bearing or administration positions within the AKA:

• Chairperson. Administers the affairs of the National Committe (NC) including organising and chairing meetings, coordinating the activities of the AKA.
• Secretary. Assists the Chairperson in coordinating the AKA. Oversees the day to day administration of the AKA
• Treasurer. For budgetary and day to day financial requirments of the association.
• Membership Registrar. Maintains the records of AKA members.
• Office coordinator. Administrates the AKA office under the guidance of the Secretary. Deals with correspondence, phone calls, finance and memberships.

The AKA is a formally constituted organisation and, as such, has rules, regulations and guidelines for all kinesiologists, thereby offering a level of professionalism expected from any health professional body.

The AKA has subcommittees working with specific tasks:

• Australian Kinesiology Practitioner Registration Board (AKAPRB). This board sets the standards and approves of applications for the registration of kinesiologists. It liaises with and lobbies other organisations such as ATMS and health insurance companies etc.
• Australian Kinesiology Course Accrediation Board (AKACAB). This board accredits kinesiology courses to ensure that they meet the standards required for practitioner registration.
• An AKA Ethics Committee.

The AKA also published a national quarterly magazine, In Touch, and holds an annual Kinesiology Conference. All memberships include a subscription to In Touch magazine.