“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance”~Confucius
The Alexander Technique and drugs.
Alexander Technique students and trainees hold Alexander teachers to a high standard, and a certain standard about getting high.
Alcohol, smoke, and other drugs are unnecessary, potentially harmful, and aren’t conducive to good use, so Alexander Technique teachers don’t drink, smoke, or do drugs. Period.
Ok, except maybe like wine or sherry (like F.M. Alexander)
Ok, maybe an occasional cigar (like F.M. Alexander)
Ok, maybe a beer or two.
Ok, except when taking aspirin, any prescription or over-the-counter drug, or herbs.
Coffee please!
And by drugs I refer to reefer.
And harder drugs.
And harder liquors.
And tobacco.
And Coke.
And coke.
All caffeine.
Coffee.
Tea.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall.
F.M. Alexander used a mirror to better observe himself. It may be useful for us to get out the metaphorical mirror to better see ourselves, our attachments, viewpoints, behaviors, and other mental habits; to shine a light on the quality of our needs and the intentions behind them.
Holding our needs tightly.
Maybe we could all use a little more mirror to observe our need to appear smart, or spiritual, or superior.
To notice if we feel our style of teaching is better, or the only “true” Alexander Technique.
We could notice any attachment to titles—including “Senior”, “Master”, or “Rebel”.
Our need to be abrasive, to get noticed—or the need to be respected.
The need to find fault in other teachers in order to feel better about ourselves.
The need to find fault in our students.
The need to find fault in ourselves.
Our needs and behaviors aren’t always congruent with empowering our colleagues, students, and ourselves, to free our neck, and move up.
Mark Josefsberg-Alexander Technique NYC
(917) 709-4648
Image Courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net-“Need Want Like Dice” by Stuart Miles
Thank you so much again Mark. As always I sm humbly snd very humanly reminded of our very basic humble humanity and primary control.
Thank you so much Barbara,
As I wrote this I remind myself. In a way , we are always beginners in aspects of the Alexander Technique. in my opinion F.M. Alexander himself had a long way to go.