Alexander Technique Walking

Please Release Me.

 

Alexander Technique core directions include letting your neck muscles release, so that your head will go up, with a slight forward rotation. Take that step before you take a step.

Freeing your neck is like releasing the emergency brake, and neck freeing before and during any action is primary.

 

 F.M. Alexander, Meet Dr. Seuss.

 

Once you’ve taken the emergency brake off by releasing your neck, what part of you moves forward first?

It’s not your nose, and it’s not your toes. It’s not your thighs and it’s not your eyes. It’s not your hips and it’s not your lips. Though it’s no law, don’t lead with your jaw, and may I suggest not to start with your chest?

 

People Who Kneed People.

 

The knee moves forward first.

After releasing your neck, peel your foot off the floor as your knee moves forward and your head moves up.

Step, and let the heel touch the ground.

The weight is transferred to the ball of the foot and then the toes. Let the toes have their time on the ground. Allow a full rolling of the foot—heel, ball-toes…heel, ball-toes.

 

It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing.

 

Let your arms swing. We commonly hold tension in our neck, upper torso and upper arms. This prevents a natural arm swing.

Your entire torso spirals as you walk; the right shoulder with the left knee, and the left shoulder with the right knee.

Your arms will swing; you don’t have to swing them. If your torso is spiraling naturally and you leave your arms alone, they will swing. The contralateral, swinging rhythm of your arms and torso is a dance.

 

Walk This Way.

 

A man walks over to a clerk in a drug store and asks for the talcum powder. The clerk says “Sure. Walk this way.” The man says: “If I could walk that way I wouldn’t need the talcum powder.”

 

Mark Josefsberg-Alexander Technique NYC

Mark@MarkJosefsberg.com

(917) 709-4648

Image Courtesy of  FreeDigitalPhotos.net-“Portrait Of Fashion Model” by imagerymajestic