I was recently reading two books, and coincidentally they both referenced asthmatic attacks—with differing approaches for relief. The first book was “Explaining the Alexander Technique—The writings of F. Mathias Alexander—In conversation with Walter Carrington and Sean Carey. The second book was “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott.
In the Alexander Technique book Walter Carrington states: “Alexander was particularly brilliant at getting someone to stop the reflex spasm by encouraging the neck muscles to release so that the head went forward and up. I saw him do this on a number of occasions when people were in the midst of an attack. It really was rather spectacular.”
This is Anne Lamott talking about her young child, Sam:
“Sam was having his first asthma attack. We were both afraid and sad and did not quite know what was going on, but Sam was hooked up to a nebulizer, with a mask over his mouth and nose, and I was sitting beside him on his bed, wishing I had thought to grab a toy as we left the house. So I looked inside my purse and managed to come up with a tiny box of crayons. I drew a terrible giant on the blank side of two [index] cards. Sam, sucking away at his mask, watched me with fear. Next I poked holes in each of the giants’ right hands, and stuck tongue depressors through the holes. Then I staged a vigorous, clicking sword fight. Sam’s eyes grew wide, and he smiled. After a long while he could breathe again freely, and we were told we could go home.”
F. M. Alexander’s method was primarily via the body side of the continuum, using what we call “primary control”. Thinking is involved, of course, but mostly thinking about body parts. Ann Lemott’s way was primarily via the mind/spirit side using humor and love.
We Alexander Technique teachers have the option of employing a combination of skills; truly a mind/body/spirit approach to asthma, neck tension, back pain, and a host of other other issues. Let’s not underestimate the power of connection, love, and humor—along with Alexander’s amazing discoveries.
Mark Josefsberg-Alexander Technique NYC
(917) 709-4648
Image Courtesy of Freedigitaldownloads.net-“Health Of Spirit Mind And Body Means Mindfulness” by Stuart Miles
Leave A Comment