Results tagged “walk” from Hilary King's Blog
I went to this year's Conference for STAT Recognised Alexander Technique Teachers, held at Sussex University. It
was a lively and informative event, with a good range of workshops,
lectures and discussion about teaching the Alexander Technique. Issues to do with the
structure and running of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander
Technique, STAT, were also debated in depth at the AGM.
The Annual Memorial Lecture this year was given by Vivien Mackie and was titled 'Doing Only What is Necessary, and Taking the Time it Takes'. This was a fascinating and amusing account of Mackie's experience of learning the cello with Pablo Casals, which eventually led her into training to be an Alexander Technique teacher and how she applied this learning over forty or so years of playing music and teaching the AT, mainly but not exclusively, to musicians.
The conference also offered us a time to mix and exchange work and ideas with other AT teachers. It was good to see the Technique being used quite naturally in a range of different ways - sitting through lectures, having a drink at the bar or, as in the photo, to see a young teacher using the lying down procedure to look after his tired back during a walk through the parkland.
When the Alexander Technique becomes a way of life and is used like this, outside lessons as well as in them, then it really becomes a valuable and effective tool that we can use to look after ourselves.
If you would like to find out more about Alexander Technique lessons in Stoke Newington, North London, you may contact me here.
The Annual Memorial Lecture this year was given by Vivien Mackie and was titled 'Doing Only What is Necessary, and Taking the Time it Takes'. This was a fascinating and amusing account of Mackie's experience of learning the cello with Pablo Casals, which eventually led her into training to be an Alexander Technique teacher and how she applied this learning over forty or so years of playing music and teaching the AT, mainly but not exclusively, to musicians.
The conference also offered us a time to mix and exchange work and ideas with other AT teachers. It was good to see the Technique being used quite naturally in a range of different ways - sitting through lectures, having a drink at the bar or, as in the photo, to see a young teacher using the lying down procedure to look after his tired back during a walk through the parkland.
When the Alexander Technique becomes a way of life and is used like this, outside lessons as well as in them, then it really becomes a valuable and effective tool that we can use to look after ourselves.If you would like to find out more about Alexander Technique lessons in Stoke Newington, North London, you may contact me here.
Use the Alexander Technique While You Walk
When we have lots of rain and in particular when leaves or ice are on the ground, paths can become treacherous, as my own path gets at this time of year. It is very tempting to tighten up our legs muscles, ankles, the muscles around our hip joints and probably our neck muscles as well. Most of that tightening is done in anticipation of a possible fall and this can be tiring - and is rather a waste of energy! If we feel ourselves slipping, then bracing ourselves at that point can sometimes be helpful but we don't need to brace for long periods of time 'in case'.
This doesn't serve us. In fact, tightening our neck muscles reduces the information we can obtain about our balance, and locking our ankles and hips also interferes with our ability to fine tune our balance. I often look at young women wearing stilettos and wonder just how they manage to cope on slippery paths, because they are already thrown off balance because their hips knees, ankles and backs are pushed into unnatural positions by their high heels.
It is always helpful to think about the way we walk but it is particularly important when paths are slippery. You can help yourself by walking along with awareness and your neck freely lengthening, as you have learned in your Alexander Technique lessons, so that you obtain maximum information about your balance from the tiny movements your head will make as you move. When you also allow your feet and legs to move and support you freely, without excessive bracing, you will probably feel far more comfortable and secure.
When we have lots of rain and in particular when leaves or ice are on the ground, paths can become treacherous, as my own path gets at this time of year. It is very tempting to tighten up our legs muscles, ankles, the muscles around our hip joints and probably our neck muscles as well. Most of that tightening is done in anticipation of a possible fall and this can be tiring - and is rather a waste of energy! If we feel ourselves slipping, then bracing ourselves at that point can sometimes be helpful but we don't need to brace for long periods of time 'in case'.
This doesn't serve us. In fact, tightening our neck muscles reduces the information we can obtain about our balance, and locking our ankles and hips also interferes with our ability to fine tune our balance. I often look at young women wearing stilettos and wonder just how they manage to cope on slippery paths, because they are already thrown off balance because their hips knees, ankles and backs are pushed into unnatural positions by their high heels.
It is always helpful to think about the way we walk but it is particularly important when paths are slippery. You can help yourself by walking along with awareness and your neck freely lengthening, as you have learned in your Alexander Technique lessons, so that you obtain maximum information about your balance from the tiny movements your head will make as you move. When you also allow your feet and legs to move and support you freely, without excessive bracing, you will probably feel far more comfortable and secure.
With wintry frost and ice here, it's time to take care on pavements. If you are afraid of falling, it is tempting to tense up all over but remember, you will have more sense of your balance and more control over your movements if you refuse to tighten but walk in an alert and free manner - a good time to use all you have learned in your Alexander lessons.It's also time to keep warm, in order to look after our health. Perhaps we can do our bit for the environment and start off by wearing an extra layer of clothing, rather than turn the heating up without thinking.
Wildlife needs even more help from us at this time of year. I was watching a blackbird trying to drink in the birdbath, which had frozen. He kept pecking at the ice but it was too solid. The blackbird watched as I went out and poured water into the birdbath and seconds later he was happily having a drink and a bath. My pond has also frozen over, so it is necessary to gently create some openings in the ice, so the frogs that are hibernating there will be able to breathe.
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_
Hilary King - BA (Hons) PGDip Psychol. Dip Couns. MSTAT - Tel: 020 7254 9206
Copyright © 2004 - 2010 Hilary King, All rights reserved.