Alexander Technique: November 2007 Archives

It's nearly holiday time and some people may think that they don't need to 'do' the Alexander Technique over the holidays, because they will be relaxed anyway. This is an unhelpful way to look at the Technique, which is far more than just 'relaxation'. If we forget to include the A/T during our everyday activities, it is so easy to slip backwards into our old habits.

However, if you keep being aware of your use and continue practising the lying down procedure over the holiday, your use may even improve and you may become more free and easy in your movements than you have been for some time. Reward yourself!

For those of you who are visiting warmer climes, remember that you can often lie down outdoors when you need to, or just choose to. 

The photo was taken in the New Forest, where this man lay down in semi-supine to ease his back pain. He'd only had a couple of lessons and was perhaps not lying with the ideal height of support under his head but it was good to see the Lying Down Procedure being used so naturally, in such a beautiful setting.

Sam Murphy of the Guardian has written another article about the Alexander Technique (17th Nov '07), this time comparing it to Tai Chi on a number of parameters. Again, the article makes for interesting reading and it is good that he is discussing the Technique.

Murphy compares various research studies into the two disciplines and it is true to say that there needs to be more research undertaken into the Alexander Technique, as scientific 'evidence' about its effectiveness is a little flimsy.

An important difference between the two, is that the Alexander Technique is not a set of exercises but becomes more of a way of life. An important aim of the Alexander Technique is to learn how to improve the use of our bodies, whatever we happen to be doing - so we can apply it to improve our Tai Chi practice, for instance.

One statement that Murphy makes, I would like to query.  He says that 'Good posture, at rest or in movement, is the raison d'etre of the Alexander Technique'. Certainly, our posture tends to improve as a result of learning the Technique but it is the means-whereby we bring about those changes, which is important. This is because we don't just 'sit up straight', but learn to let go of our habitual reactions, along with the associated mis-use that tends to distort our natural poise.  We then give ourselves directions that bring about changes in the way we use ourselves and in so doing, we allow our bodies to re-align. Good posture is usually an outcome of taking lessons, providing the pupil applies their learning of the Technique to their daily life, but is not the main aim of the work.

Perhaps it would be appropriate to quote Alexander himself, as reported by some of his pupils:

'There is no such thing as a right position, but there is such a thing as a right direction'

and

'You are not here to do exercises or to learn to do something right, but to get able to meet a stimulus that always puts you wrong and to learn to deal with it'.

F M Alexander - Aphorisms

'Aphorisms' is a small book, full of fascinating quotes from F M Alexander

There was an interesting article by Sam Murphy in the Guardian (Wed 6th November '07) called 'More Speed, Less Pain'.  Murphy writes about the experience of learning to run differently through having a running lesson with Malcolm Balk, who combines the Alexander Technique with running skills and has developed an approach to his teaching called 'The Art of Running'. This article can still be seen online at Guardian Unlimited and is well worth reading, whether you are interested in running to improve your health, or the Alexander Technique, or both, as it gives you a taste of the way in which you can train yourself to run using the Technique.

As Murphy puts it 'I've been running for 18 years and it's never felt this easy and, well, bouncy'. The article's title also indicates that it is possible to move faster when using the A/T, not that we all have to slow down, as some people fear they will have to do, in order to be aware of their use. When we let go of habits that interfere with our movements, it is possible to act freely and more speedily, if we choose to. This is quite another experience to that of rushing around, whilst end-gaining in a driven manner.

In his article, Murphy refers to several of F M Alexander's theories such as doing, non-doing and end-gaining - and for those of you have not come across these concepts as used in the Alexander Technique, you may like to refer to my Glossary Definitions of these terms.

Murphy also quotes Alexander as saying "Stop what you are doing wrong, and the right will take care of itself" - something we could all do well to remember. However some people may benefit from the help of an Alexander teacher, in order to understand how to do this during our activities.

Malcolm Balk has also written a book which many Alexander students have found interesting and helpful to use when thinking about how to apply the Alexander Technique to their running, so that can can run freely and with poise, whilst helping themselves to avoid injury.

Master the Art of Running by Malcolm Balk and Andrew Shields is available here for just £8.39 at the moment  - (usual price £12.99)