Alexander Technique and Posture
One of the problems of trying to achieve ‘good posture’, or ‘perfect posture’ is that these terms imply rigidity. Some Alexander Technique teachers attempt to avoid the word posture altogether, calling it the ‘P’ word.
One could learn to have ‘good posture’ in a few minutes, especially if you think of military posture. Military posture is standing up as straight as possible, with your stomach in, chest out, chin tucked in, shoulders back etc. I guess we could add ‘not being able to move’ and ‘not being able to breath fully’. ‘Tighten every muscle in your body and tense your jaw.’ Might as well make a fist, too. Do we need any more tension?
Maybe we could think of ‘poise’ instead of ‘posture’. What if you think of poise as being flexible, able to change direction seamlessly and easily? Poise and pride. Think of having pride in yourself, having your head up high, but without arrogance. You don’t want to think of sticking your nose in the air. In fact, sometimes you’ll want to lower your nose, as the crown of your head moves up.
Poise, pride, freedom of movement, ease and lightness may describe what the Alexander Technique offers in terms of good posture. However, when people come for sessions to get their ‘posture fixed’, their posture gets fixed. One of the differences between good posture and employing the principles of the Alexander Technique is that with the Alexander Technique we’re taking tension away instead of adding it. Plus the Alexander Technique has extremely beneficial side effects.
Mark Josefsberg Alexander Technique NYC
(269)- POSTURE
or 917.709.4648
TWITTER- AlexanderTechNY
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