Today I worked with an older gentlemen who was extremely responsive. It was his first lesson and to his surprise and delight, he kept “moving up” throughout the entire time. Once, after I removed my hands from his head/neck, he smiled and said “I could stay in this position forever!”
That’s was my cue to go into my “There are no right positions; only right principles” routine, but this time I didn’t. (In Alexander Technique terms, I inhibited.) It was a teaching moment; for me. I didn’t assume my usual Alexander Technique position. I wised up; hopefully, once and for owl.
I decided not to ruin the good experience he was having; a pedagogical decision that I thought would ultimately help him. There will be plenty of time for “there are no right positions” later. In this moment, I chose to let us both take a moment to enjoy his newfound feeling of uprightness, ease, flexibility, and freedom.
And, he was in a position, if you will.
Positions may have connotations of stiffness, holding, and rigidity. Position may also be defined as “attitude”. Just sitting, looking ahead, with the minimum amount of tension and full breathing, is a neutral, free, open position. It’s a position of attitudinal, and mechanical advantage; a position of readiness, grace, and poise. That was the Alexander position I chose for myself as well.
Mark Josefsberg-Alexander Technique NYC
Image courtesy of Dr. Joseph Valks/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Neutral, free, open, with readiness, poise and grace – I’d like to stay in THAT position forever! Thanks for the inspiring post, Mark. I enjoy reading your blog.
I’d like to stay there too! Thanks very much, Karen
Beautiful Mark! I really like how you were able to inhibit and meet your student where he was at. It’s so difficult to do that, and you seem to have done it so easily. Lovely.
Well, I did it once! Thanks Victoria!
You know that Marj Barstow used to change whatever she agreed with based on what the person was doing as they said it. This is what your post reminded me about…if someone is “getting” what you want to communicate, by all means – whatever they say while they’re in action is absolutely the right thing for them.
That’s great. Thanks a lot, Franis.
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