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Bernard Aucouturier was born in 1934 in a village near Tours (France). His parents were both teachers; his father was painter and a theatre and cinema enthusiast, while his mother was also involved in politics. The parents followed the ideas of Celestin Freinet’s pedagogy according to which the natural interest and curiosity of the child are the  starting points for a true learning process. As a child, Aucouturier was given a lot of freedom to learn and explore; his early experiences will greatly influence his later work with children.

After his high school diploma in Tours, Aucouturier pursued his studies in Physical Education in Lyon. He soon becomes interested in the works of Dr. Le Boulch, his professor, whose work focuses on the analysis of movement and motor skills and also challenges the Swedish method of gymnastics and physical education in general. He learns about the theories of Freud, Dolto, and Ajurriaguera and of great teachers like Montessori, Dewey, Decroly, Freinet, Makarenko and Neill. In Lyon, he begins working as a physical education teacher, but he quickly realizes that the profession is not for him because it is too focused on achievements.

He returns to Tours when he accepts the invitation for a collaboration by a team of educators who work with deaf children. It is at this point that Bernard Aucouturier begins his dedication, observation and research which will become the foundations of his Pratique Psychomotrice. Bernard Aucouturier develops the PPA starting from the observation of young children during endless hours of working with them. He works with children being confronted with all kind of physical and emotional challenges. His book “Bruno” is a testimony of his work. His research is ongoing and he collaborates with neuropsychiatric, psychoanalysts and psychologists from all over Europe.

In 1967, he founded with A. Lapierre the "French Society for Education and Psychomotor re-education." He collaborates with A. Lapierre, I. Darrault, J. L. Empinet and G. Mendel.

In 1976, Italy opens the first PPA training school, followed by Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Germany, Argentina, Mexico, Chile and Brazil, South Africa and Canada.

In 1987 the European Association of Schools of Psychomotor Training Practice is founded (Asefop). In January 30, 2009, Professor Bernard Aucouturier registered his method with the logo “PPA®”. In September 2010, Aucouturier, previously retired from his position as President of the Aseefop, registers the newly founded “ École International Aucouturier”.