Alexander Technique And Meditation
Alexander Technique And Meditation
The Alexander Technique and meditation can be beautifully interwoven. Since the Alexander Technique is a ‘pre-technique’, using it before meditating can enhance your meditation practice. The Alexander Technique can help shorten the time it takes to get to the state or tone you want when you meditate, and help you stay in that place longer when you’re through. Most of us don’t necessarily practice meditation to become a better meditator; we meditate for the the effects it has on our lives.
Meditation teachers speak of the importance of ‘posture’ as you meditate. The Alexander Technique is invaluable here. You neither want to be collapsed as you meditate, nor do you want to be rigidly straight, adding unnecessary tension. If you apply the principles of the Alexander Technique, you can help rid your body/mind of excess tension. You can be in a more meditative place even before you formally begin the meditation. It can help make the line between meditating and not meditating blurry. Your meditation practice is augmented because you’re living your life in a more calm, quiet, conscious, easeful way. It takes less time to arrive into the ‘meditative state’ because you’re already there, or close.
Here’s Jon Kabat-Zinn speaking of sitting meditation from his book ‘Coming To Our Senses”:
…It means taking your seat in and in relationship with the present moment. It means taking a stand in your life, sitting. That is why adopting and maintaining a posture that embodies dignity-whatever that means to you-is the essence of sitting meditation. The embodiment of dignity inwardly and outwardly immediately reflects and radiates the sovereignty of your life, that you are who and what you are-beyond all words, concepts, and descriptions, and beyond what anybody else thinks about you, or even what you think about you. It is a dignity without self-assertion-not driving forward toward anything, nor recoiling from anything -a balancing in sheer presence, a presencing.
To me, this is Meditation and the Alexander Technique, incredibly described.
Mark Josefsberg Alexander Technique NYC
Call Mark@ 269- POSTURE
or 917.709.4648
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Excellent points about the blending of techniques Mark, when my friend Sydney Laurel first showed me the Alexander Technique I was surprised how I could feel the difference immediately. My meditation posture goes hand in hand with my state of mind.
If I may, I’d like to point your readers to some excellent instructions on How to Meditate and a basic overview of this ancient tradition as practiced in Tibet.
Thanks so much, Bruce, and thanks for the link!
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Hello Mark! Lovely article. I like that you use the word “easeful” regarding posture and meditation. I think Integral Yoga and AT have similar approaches to cultivating the meditative state. Thanks for visiting my blog and for connecting! OM Shanti. Holly
I like your comments about AT and mediation. In our training we had to opportunity to work with students of Zazen meditation. They had to sit for long hours in the retreats. Strengthening their backs was a plus!
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Alexander Technique-Improve your posture, stop your lower back pain, upper back pain, neck pain, stress and tension. The Alexander Technique is simple, proven, practical and effective for back posture, neck posture, headaches, breathing problems and more. I’m a full-time Alexander Technique teacher offering Alexander Technique lessons and Alexander Technique classes in New York City, New York.
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Neck Pain »
Alexander Technique Quotes by Medical Doctors
“The Alexander Technique remains the best of the self-care strategies to prevent the sequel of poor posture and poor breathing.”-Harold wise, MD.,PC, New York, NY
“The Alexander Technique stresses unification in an era of greater and greater medical specialization. Its educational system teaches people how to…
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2. Think of your head moving up. (The crown of your head)
3. Slightly, slowly lower your nose.
4. Continue 1,2,3, and let your sit bones release down in your chair, but your torso moves up.
5. If you’re standing, let your feet release down while the rest of you moves up.
6. Let your jaw dangle open, even when you’re lips are closed. (Give it a try)…
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Mark@MarkJosefsberg.com
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