Hilary King's Blog
Read more about the Alexander Technique including observations on more general topics that interest me, and notifications about my teaching timetable.
Here are some dates for your diary.
Please note that I will be not be teaching in Stoke Newington from
Monday 21st April - Tuesday 13th May.
Please note that I will be not be teaching in Stoke Newington from
Monday 21st April - Tuesday 13th May.
My next Short Introductory Alexander Technique Course will commence on Saturday 24th May.
This Introductory Course will run over 3 Saturday mornings and the fee includes a 1:1 follow-up lesson, so that participants can really get a sense of what lessons are like and be more able to decide whether or not to continue with further individual lessons.
This Small Group Course, with a maximum of 6 participants, offers beginners the chance to find out about the Alexander Technique in a friendly environment in which the participants can experience some individual hands-on work, both in the follow-up lesson and on the Course itself.
The Course will be run by Hilary King who will be assisted by Eric Bell, a graduate teacher from LCATT, a local Alexander Technique Teacher Training School. This not only allows the course participants more time receiving some individual hands-on work but it also allows student teachers the experience of working with a group of beginners.
For more information about what to expect from an Introductory Course, you may read my article.
This Introductory Course will run over 3 Saturday mornings and the fee includes a 1:1 follow-up lesson, so that participants can really get a sense of what lessons are like and be more able to decide whether or not to continue with further individual lessons.
This Small Group Course, with a maximum of 6 participants, offers beginners the chance to find out about the Alexander Technique in a friendly environment in which the participants can experience some individual hands-on work, both in the follow-up lesson and on the Course itself.
The Course will be run by Hilary King who will be assisted by Eric Bell, a graduate teacher from LCATT, a local Alexander Technique Teacher Training School. This not only allows the course participants more time receiving some individual hands-on work but it also allows student teachers the experience of working with a group of beginners.
For more information about what to expect from an Introductory Course, you may read my article.
Ellen Graubart a local artist who, incidentally, is familiar with the Alexander Technique, is holding a solo exhibition now and it is well worth going to see. You can read about Graubart and see a preview of some of her work if you visit the URL below. I'll let the photos of the paintings speak for themselves but will add that they are even better in reality. It's an exciting and vibrant exhibition.
Art exhibitions are a time when many people end up with back ache, because they are standing for long periods without being aware of the way they are using their bodies. Looking up above eye level to see a painting, without awareness, can contribute to the problem if we contract our neck and the muscles in our lower back. This can create problems such as a hollow back, putting pressure onto the lumbar vertebrae and discs, which causes discomfort and even back pain.
So take yourself to the exhibition and remember all you have learned in Alexander lessons; be aware of your use, look after your neck and back so that you remain freely poised and pain-free. You will appreciate Graubart's excellent work far more as a result.
Sailing 2 - Ellen Graubart
Venue: The Millinery Works Gallery, 87 Southgate Rd, Islington, N1 3JS
Date: 9th April - 4th May
http://www.millineryworks.co.uk/
Art exhibitions are a time when many people end up with back ache, because they are standing for long periods without being aware of the way they are using their bodies. Looking up above eye level to see a painting, without awareness, can contribute to the problem if we contract our neck and the muscles in our lower back. This can create problems such as a hollow back, putting pressure onto the lumbar vertebrae and discs, which causes discomfort and even back pain.So take yourself to the exhibition and remember all you have learned in Alexander lessons; be aware of your use, look after your neck and back so that you remain freely poised and pain-free. You will appreciate Graubart's excellent work far more as a result.
Sailing 2 - Ellen Graubart
Venue: The Millinery Works Gallery, 87 Southgate Rd, Islington, N1 3JS
Date: 9th April - 4th May
http://www.millineryworks.co.uk/
The Henry Moore exhibition at Kew Gardens finished at the end of March but leaves a wonderful memory for all those who saw it.
Mother and Child, although very abstract, evokes a strong sense of calm tenderness. Mother is portrayed holding the baby in a way that allows a safe, intimate connection with her.
I could also see the sculpture from an Alexander Technique perspective, as illustrating a common habit that many people have: contracting down on one side of the body and looking down with the head and neck to one side. Such patterns of mis-use can also be developed when writing, playing the guitar or using a mouse for instance.
If people habitually assume lop-sided positions, an imbalance in muscle use occurs, subjecting the vertebrae and intervertebral discs to an uneven, downward compression. This can cause back pain and problems such as scoliosis and sciatica.
So keep that tender intimacy with your child but remember to look after yourself at the same time. If a great work of art can also remind us to be aware of our own use, that is an unexpected bonus.
Henry Moore ~ Mother and Child ~ Kew Gardens
Mother and Child, although very abstract, evokes a strong sense of calm tenderness. Mother is portrayed holding the baby in a way that allows a safe, intimate connection with her.
I could also see the sculpture from an Alexander Technique perspective, as illustrating a common habit that many people have: contracting down on one side of the body and looking down with the head and neck to one side. Such patterns of mis-use can also be developed when writing, playing the guitar or using a mouse for instance.
If people habitually assume lop-sided positions, an imbalance in muscle use occurs, subjecting the vertebrae and intervertebral discs to an uneven, downward compression. This can cause back pain and problems such as scoliosis and sciatica.
So keep that tender intimacy with your child but remember to look after yourself at the same time. If a great work of art can also remind us to be aware of our own use, that is an unexpected bonus.
Henry Moore ~ Mother and Child ~ Kew Gardens
Do you enjoy running and would like to think more about your use whilst doing so? It is certainly possible to do this in your regular Alexander lessons, to great effect. Also, there are a couple of Workshops coming up in London with Malcolm Balk, author of Master the Art of Running, that will look in depth at how to improve your running technique.
The Workshops are designed to incorporate the Alexander Technique into your running, so that you can hone your skills, run more freely and avoid injury.
Dates: April 27th; May 4th
Contact: Brita ~ britafor@alextech.freeserve.co.uk
The Workshops are designed to incorporate the Alexander Technique into your running, so that you can hone your skills, run more freely and avoid injury.
Dates: April 27th; May 4th
Contact: Brita ~ britafor@alextech.freeserve.co.uk
How aware are you, of the way you use yourself when telephoning? Watch other people using a phone, it can be an eye-opener. You may well see habits that you can recognise as being similar to your own, so that you can learn from them about your own use (and mis-use).
The most exaggerated way of mis-using yourself when phoning, is to clamp the phone between your ear and your shoulder whilst you continue another activity with your hands free. With this habit, it is usually the same shoulder that always gets scrunched up. Just think about what happens to your neck, as you continually compress down on one side of the vertebrae. Neck and shoulder pains will soon be on their way, if they are not with you yet, unless you stop this habit.
Another common form of mis-use, often seen in busy open plan offices and noisy public places, is to thrust the neck forwards, curling in and downwards whilst talking, in an attempt to gain some sense of privacy. This is a particularly frequent form of mis-use seen in mobile phone users. This cannot create the private space we would like but it does create tension and problems in the neck, shoulder and upper torso. These become very tight, stiff and pulled down into a forward curve as we box ourselves in, often resulting in back and shoulder pain as a result of developing a pronounced kyphosis.
Our sensory appreciation is often faulty, so we can be unaware of such habits of mis-use, even when we are conscientious about applying the Alexander Technique in other areas of our life.
One young woman realised that this habit was so strong that it felt impossible for her to use her left hand and ear during a phone call, even though her hearing functioned perfectly well in both ears. Now that's a strong habit that was purely built around her perceptions. However, once aware of her pattern, the young woman could begin to let go of it and work to improve her use, both during Alexander lessons and during her phone calls.
This sort of habit is a good example of how our thoughts and attitudes get played out in our bodies, illustrating the way the body and mind interact and work as one.
If you would like to recycle your old mobiles, I can send them to various charities, including BackCare 'the charity for healthier backs' with whom I am registered as an Affiliated Professional Member.
The most exaggerated way of mis-using yourself when phoning, is to clamp the phone between your ear and your shoulder whilst you continue another activity with your hands free. With this habit, it is usually the same shoulder that always gets scrunched up. Just think about what happens to your neck, as you continually compress down on one side of the vertebrae. Neck and shoulder pains will soon be on their way, if they are not with you yet, unless you stop this habit.
Another common form of mis-use, often seen in busy open plan offices and noisy public places, is to thrust the neck forwards, curling in and downwards whilst talking, in an attempt to gain some sense of privacy. This is a particularly frequent form of mis-use seen in mobile phone users. This cannot create the private space we would like but it does create tension and problems in the neck, shoulder and upper torso. These become very tight, stiff and pulled down into a forward curve as we box ourselves in, often resulting in back and shoulder pain as a result of developing a pronounced kyphosis.
Our sensory appreciation is often faulty, so we can be unaware of such habits of mis-use, even when we are conscientious about applying the Alexander Technique in other areas of our life.
One young woman realised that this habit was so strong that it felt impossible for her to use her left hand and ear during a phone call, even though her hearing functioned perfectly well in both ears. Now that's a strong habit that was purely built around her perceptions. However, once aware of her pattern, the young woman could begin to let go of it and work to improve her use, both during Alexander lessons and during her phone calls.
This sort of habit is a good example of how our thoughts and attitudes get played out in our bodies, illustrating the way the body and mind interact and work as one.
If you would like to recycle your old mobiles, I can send them to various charities, including BackCare 'the charity for healthier backs' with whom I am registered as an Affiliated Professional Member.
Would you like to go on some walks and meet other people, socially, from the Alexander community? Would you like to talk about your experience and application of the Alexander Technique, with people other than your teacher?
This will also be a chance to think about your use and how you walk in 'real life'. Do you, for instance, tend to pull down towards your feet and just 'push on', particularly if the path is muddy? Or are you mindful of your use and allow your head to lead you into movement with freedom and ease as you look around and see how spring is progressing along the way.
These walks have been arranged for the Friends of the Alexander Technique and anyone who has had Alexander Technique lessons .
If you would like to join in, please contact Kevin:
atwalk@kevinsaunders.co.uk or phone 07815 797 645.
In the event of bad weather the walk might be shortened.
You can find details here:
http://www.atfriends.org/ATFriends10.htm#Alexander_Technique_London_Walks_
Evelyn Rothwell, internationally respected oboist, widow of the famous conductor Sir John Barbirolli and also a patron of the Alexander Trust, died on January 25th at the age of 97.
Through much of her long and impressive musical career, Evelyn Rothwell used her maiden name but after her husband's death, she began to be known as Lady Barbirolli, or 'Lady B' at the Royal Academy of Music where she taught for a number of years.
Her Obituary can be found in the Telegraph and other papers.
This announcement seems strangely synchronistic, as it was just the day before, on 25th January, that I wrote my Blog entry about the Alexander Trust.
Through much of her long and impressive musical career, Evelyn Rothwell used her maiden name but after her husband's death, she began to be known as Lady Barbirolli, or 'Lady B' at the Royal Academy of Music where she taught for a number of years.
Her Obituary can be found in the Telegraph and other papers.
This announcement seems strangely synchronistic, as it was just the day before, on 25th January, that I wrote my Blog entry about the Alexander Trust.
Formed in 1991, the Alexander Trust is a registered charity with an impressive list of patrons:
Lady Barbirolli, Ursula, Lady Benn, Rev. Dr Martin Israel, Sir Ben Kingsley and Sir Charles Mackerras.
The Trust was set up to promote research and study into the Alexander Technique and to help make Alexander's work more available to the general public.
So far, it has supported book publications and some recordings, plus important research projects into the effects of the Alexander Technique when learnt by people with such conditions as cancer, Parkinson's Disease and repetitive strain injury (RSI).
Being a charity, it welcomes any financial help that people can offer, so that it may continue to support such projects in the future. If you have been helped by learning the Technique and would like to contribute to the Trust's work, you can visit the Trust's Website to find out more:
www.alexandertrust.org.uk
Lady Barbirolli, Ursula, Lady Benn, Rev. Dr Martin Israel, Sir Ben Kingsley and Sir Charles Mackerras.
The Trust was set up to promote research and study into the Alexander Technique and to help make Alexander's work more available to the general public.
So far, it has supported book publications and some recordings, plus important research projects into the effects of the Alexander Technique when learnt by people with such conditions as cancer, Parkinson's Disease and repetitive strain injury (RSI).
Being a charity, it welcomes any financial help that people can offer, so that it may continue to support such projects in the future. If you have been helped by learning the Technique and would like to contribute to the Trust's work, you can visit the Trust's Website to find out more:
www.alexandertrust.org.uk
Do you want to know more about the process of climate change, written in easy to understand language? The BBC have created some graphics, based on scientific research, that do just that.
Compare the levels of climate change it's predicted we'll create through our present greedy consumption of fossil fuels, with the lower levels we could bring about with more sustainable lifestyles: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/sci_nat/04/climate_change/html/climate.stm
In the Alexander Technique we aim to improve our individual use and the means-whereby we gain our own immediate, personal ends, so that we look after our health and wellbeing. This attitude of mind can be expanded, to develop awareness of our use in relation to the world's shrinking resources and of our impact on the environment.
In order to gain the end that most of us agree that we want, ie a world in which we do not contribute to global warming, we need to address our increasing mis-use of these natural resources. The means-whereby most of us are living now, seems to be having a negative impact on the environment. We can all make conscious choices to live more sustainably, inhibit our unthinking and wasteful habits and bring about changes to improve the situation.
For ideas about how you can make positive changes and live more sustainably, visit: http://www.everyactioncounts.org.uk/
Compare the levels of climate change it's predicted we'll create through our present greedy consumption of fossil fuels, with the lower levels we could bring about with more sustainable lifestyles: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/sci_nat/04/climate_change/html/climate.stm
In the Alexander Technique we aim to improve our individual use and the means-whereby we gain our own immediate, personal ends, so that we look after our health and wellbeing. This attitude of mind can be expanded, to develop awareness of our use in relation to the world's shrinking resources and of our impact on the environment.
In order to gain the end that most of us agree that we want, ie a world in which we do not contribute to global warming, we need to address our increasing mis-use of these natural resources. The means-whereby most of us are living now, seems to be having a negative impact on the environment. We can all make conscious choices to live more sustainably, inhibit our unthinking and wasteful habits and bring about changes to improve the situation.
For ideas about how you can make positive changes and live more sustainably, visit: http://www.everyactioncounts.org.uk/
Hilary King - BA (Hons) PGDip Psychol. Dip Couns. MSTAT - Tel: 020 7254 9206
Copyright © 2004 - 2007 Hilary King, All rights reserved.