Alexander Technique and the Golden Thread.
The Alexander Technique has been described as a golden thread that runs through your life. After a bit, the Alexander Technique becomes a part of you.
My student and I were discussing ways in which she could more fully integrate the Alexander Technique into her life.
We Alexander Technique teachers are fortunate in that we ‘turn up the volume’ of Alexander Technique principles hours per day. While most people have the stimulus of a computer, a boss, or a deadline-which helps bring them down, our stimulus is our students- who help bring us up.
But what about my student, who has no intention of training to become a full-time Alexander Technique teacher? She sought out the Alexander Technique to solve a particular problem. How can she spend more time with the Alexander Technique in the forefront of her consciousness?
Though I have plenty of ideas about how this could be done, I asked my student for her own ideas.
Alexander Technique Junctions.
She came up with the word “Junctions”, a word I rarely use. She thinks of changing positions, for example from sitting to standing, as a junction.
A junction is a time that you initiate a movement; any movement. We worked on initiating the juncture from sitting to standing by letting her head lead her spine into length, before she hinged using her hip joints. There are thousands of these junctions. Every breath is a junction. Every thought is a junction. Every second is a junction.
Alexander Technique Reading.
To help her more fully incorporate the Alexander Technique into her life, to “keep her head in the game”, I suggested reading about the Alexander Technique, online or in print. When I mentioned reading, I saw her ‘light up’, so we spent some time exploring reading. I suggested several Alexander Technique books as well as Alexander Technique websites she’d enjoy.
Alexander Technique Listening.
I asked her for further ideas.
She thought for a while, (I inhibited), and then she said perhaps she could listen to something. Perfect. I suggested www.bodylearningcast.com, which features podcasts regarding the Alexander Technique. She said she could listen while doing her constructive rest.
She really gave herself a great lesson.
Mark Josefsberg-Alexander Technique NYC
(917) 709-4648
Photo by Worradmu courtesy of FreedigitalPhotos.net
Great ideas, Mark. I started an “Alexander Technique Book Club” for my students (past and present) for this very reason. I think the chance to get together with other AT enthusiasts is something helpful, too – a chance to discuss things that maybe you don’t really get a chance to with people who don’t know anything about AT. I’ve contemplated starting an online version, but am hesitant to take anything else on right now!!
Oh yes – the book club is great for me – ensures I read the books!
That’s a great idea, Imogen!
Hi Mark,
I can’t imagine a better constructive rest session than one accompanied by a podcast! 🙂
Yes Robert. I recommend that to my students all the time!