For those robust readers, here is a quote from Aldous Huxley, who took lessons with Alexander.
"It is now possible to conceive of a totally new type of education affecting the entire range of human activity...an education which, by teaching them the proper use of the self, would preserve children and adults from most of the diseases and evil habits that now afflict them...I heartily recommend this latest and, in many ways, most enlightening of Mr. Alexander's books. In the Universal Constant in Living they will find, along with a mass of interesting facts, the ripest wisdom of a man who, setting out fifty years ago to discover a method for restoring his lost voice, has come, by the oldest of indirect roads, to be a quite uniquely important, because uniquely practical, philosopher, educator, and physiologist."
They all tended to write with very long sentences back then, and you can tell, with a little math, that he wrote this comment about Alexander's last book in 1945.
To summarize, I have shared with you the name of one of Alexander's books. Also, I have shared with you another person's comment about how broadly you can apply principles of Alexander's Technique - yes, it's not just for posture, back pain, Morton's Neuroma, or any other specific problem.
Now for a game.
Place your little finger above your top lip, between the lip and the nose. Opposite your finger, at the back end of the head, is the atlas, the first bone in the neck. That's where your head articulates. Now gently, very gently, tip your head left and right and feel the slight movement in the back of your head/neck. As you go through your day, give this area a thought once in a while. See if you can tell what you have been doing there.
And while you are at it, PAUSE!
...to be continued.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Posture Control Checklist
Here it is, 2009, over 100 years since FM Alexander discovered not only the existence of the "primary control," but also how to use it well. But who knows about this in the United States?
When I crossed through customs at London's Heathrow airport in 1989, on my way to complete extra requirements for qualification as a teacher of the Alexander Technique, the attendant recognized the area I was studying. "Oh, it's about the back, right?"
My grateful nod of assent was mostly to indicate I was glad someone who could keep me out of the country had a sense of the noble purpose that drew me. I didn't want to engage him in a discussion of the merits of the long-view as compared with the "myopic view." But the question still remains, "What is Alexander's Technique good for?"
Just two years before this, in 1987, George Goodheart, one of the world's most wise, long-lived and knowledgable chiropractors wrote an article about his observations of Alexander's work on a patient. Her foot condition, Morton's Neuroma, cleared when she was "adopting the Alexander posture." Goodheart's article begins with the statement, "Most of us are familiar with the concepts of Alexander...who felt that the postural center is at the base of the skull."
I want to know who "most of us" really was in 1987.
But more importantly to this blog, we can see here another example of reducing Alexander's work to a thing about posture.
So like the customs guy and Dr. Goodheart, we also want to tend to reduce his work to something about a particular thing. Is it about the back? Is it about the posture? If it's about posture, what happens when you are an actor adopting a poor posture to convey character?
Well, as it turns out, FM Alexander's work is about neither, although you can say all maladies can be affected by his technique. Alexander's work is about how you use yourself in activity.
If you call it remedial education, then it is about unlearning poor habits.
If you call it physical therapy, then it is about engaging postural reflexes in a more efficient way.
Whatever you call it, Alexander challenges us to look at what we are doing with and to ourselves, and then to reconsider.
Pause.
Next time, we talk about what happens after the pause.
When I crossed through customs at London's Heathrow airport in 1989, on my way to complete extra requirements for qualification as a teacher of the Alexander Technique, the attendant recognized the area I was studying. "Oh, it's about the back, right?"
My grateful nod of assent was mostly to indicate I was glad someone who could keep me out of the country had a sense of the noble purpose that drew me. I didn't want to engage him in a discussion of the merits of the long-view as compared with the "myopic view." But the question still remains, "What is Alexander's Technique good for?"
Just two years before this, in 1987, George Goodheart, one of the world's most wise, long-lived and knowledgable chiropractors wrote an article about his observations of Alexander's work on a patient. Her foot condition, Morton's Neuroma, cleared when she was "adopting the Alexander posture." Goodheart's article begins with the statement, "Most of us are familiar with the concepts of Alexander...who felt that the postural center is at the base of the skull."
I want to know who "most of us" really was in 1987.
But more importantly to this blog, we can see here another example of reducing Alexander's work to a thing about posture.
So like the customs guy and Dr. Goodheart, we also want to tend to reduce his work to something about a particular thing. Is it about the back? Is it about the posture? If it's about posture, what happens when you are an actor adopting a poor posture to convey character?
Well, as it turns out, FM Alexander's work is about neither, although you can say all maladies can be affected by his technique. Alexander's work is about how you use yourself in activity.
If you call it remedial education, then it is about unlearning poor habits.
If you call it physical therapy, then it is about engaging postural reflexes in a more efficient way.
Whatever you call it, Alexander challenges us to look at what we are doing with and to ourselves, and then to reconsider.
Pause.
Next time, we talk about what happens after the pause.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Learning How to Stop
FM Alexander developed his technique around a demand. The demand was essentially, "Do Something!"
In his case it was the demand to get on stage and project his voice in an acting career. As his voice deteriorated, he learned that what was happening to him was the natural result of the conditions present, and those conditions were being created by HIM. So what do you do? Just change the conditions!
The difficulty here lies in the fact that those conditions have become an ingrained habit...and how do you change a habit? Just stop! The Nike commercial becomes a remedial education commercial with the addition of one word, "JUST DON'T DO IT!"
But then what is a person to do if you're not to do?
Alexander's key was that he stumbled onto the principle in vertebrate physiology called the primary control (his term). Simply, it is the fact that what happens in the head/neck relationship with the back determines how well things work for the rest of the body.
So when FM says "Stop," it means, "stop interfering with the right head/neck relationship."
Just one Alexander lesson can open your eyes to what he means there, but to get it fully, it's a good idea to have a few lessons.
It's not chiropractic, and it's not physical therapy, although it enhances the results in both of those fields. Just remember, the goal with Alexander technique is to help you retrain yourself to avoid habits that interfere with the best outcome.
In his case it was the demand to get on stage and project his voice in an acting career. As his voice deteriorated, he learned that what was happening to him was the natural result of the conditions present, and those conditions were being created by HIM. So what do you do? Just change the conditions!
The difficulty here lies in the fact that those conditions have become an ingrained habit...and how do you change a habit? Just stop! The Nike commercial becomes a remedial education commercial with the addition of one word, "JUST DON'T DO IT!"
But then what is a person to do if you're not to do?
Alexander's key was that he stumbled onto the principle in vertebrate physiology called the primary control (his term). Simply, it is the fact that what happens in the head/neck relationship with the back determines how well things work for the rest of the body.
So when FM says "Stop," it means, "stop interfering with the right head/neck relationship."
Just one Alexander lesson can open your eyes to what he means there, but to get it fully, it's a good idea to have a few lessons.
It's not chiropractic, and it's not physical therapy, although it enhances the results in both of those fields. Just remember, the goal with Alexander technique is to help you retrain yourself to avoid habits that interfere with the best outcome.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
New Hope for TMJ Syndrome
When FM Alexander was teaching in England in the early 1900's, he had a man come to him who suffered with severe TMJ syndrome. After a series of lessons, which at that time took many months, the problem vanished. Years later, Walter Carrington, the late dean of the Constructive Teaching Centre in London, happened to meet this man's doctor who gave him (and us) an interesting followup to this story.
Turns out original x-rays of the TMJ showed deterioration of the articular cartilage (that's very bad). After the lessons and the cessation of the TMJ problem, re-x-rays showed that the cartilage grew back. Isn't that interesting? Too bad this wasn't published as a case report!
Here's what we know about cartilage; it doesn't like too much oxygen, it grows better in an environment of lower temperatures and lower oxygen. From this we can see that inflammation caused by high pressure in the joint will eat up the cartilage. If you can change those conditions, what do you think will happen? Right! The cartilage grows back.
The complexity of TMJ Syndrome requires a thorough exam to find out the cause and determine the best course of action. At Alexander Technique in Rockford, IL, we look at the joints, muscles and nerves to find out the best, most efficient way to restore balance to the system.
Here we are, ready to help! 815-670-0245
Turns out original x-rays of the TMJ showed deterioration of the articular cartilage (that's very bad). After the lessons and the cessation of the TMJ problem, re-x-rays showed that the cartilage grew back. Isn't that interesting? Too bad this wasn't published as a case report!
Here's what we know about cartilage; it doesn't like too much oxygen, it grows better in an environment of lower temperatures and lower oxygen. From this we can see that inflammation caused by high pressure in the joint will eat up the cartilage. If you can change those conditions, what do you think will happen? Right! The cartilage grows back.
The complexity of TMJ Syndrome requires a thorough exam to find out the cause and determine the best course of action. At Alexander Technique in Rockford, IL, we look at the joints, muscles and nerves to find out the best, most efficient way to restore balance to the system.
Here we are, ready to help! 815-670-0245
Friday, December 18, 2009
Help for Fallen Arches
FM Alexander was approached by a London Policeman years ago who suffered with painful fallen arches. FM told him, "I don't know if I can help you, but if you have lessons with me every day for two weeks, we'll be able to find out."
Two weeks later, the gentleman was feeling so good he went for a very long walk, against FM's advice. Without the "tincture of time" to strengthen the feet, he overdid it and wound up in worse shape than before. So what's the moral of the story...?
Simply reducing the abnormal muscle tone in the head/neck region will correct the signaling system to the feet, but strengthening the joints and tendons seems to be an important element for long-term effect.
How many other symptoms can vanish with using the Alexander Technique? Are you ready to find out?
Contact Alexander Technique in Rockford, IL, to find out if you can be helped. 815-670-0245
Two weeks later, the gentleman was feeling so good he went for a very long walk, against FM's advice. Without the "tincture of time" to strengthen the feet, he overdid it and wound up in worse shape than before. So what's the moral of the story...?
Simply reducing the abnormal muscle tone in the head/neck region will correct the signaling system to the feet, but strengthening the joints and tendons seems to be an important element for long-term effect.
How many other symptoms can vanish with using the Alexander Technique? Are you ready to find out?
Contact Alexander Technique in Rockford, IL, to find out if you can be helped. 815-670-0245
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Getting Rid of Tension
In the beginning, we asked, "How can you teach this FM Alexander Technique to others?"
My teacher, Kitty Wielopolska and her friend, Lulie Westfeldt were in attendance in the first teacher training course in 1929. Lulie was a Southern Baptist, FM was at least "non-religious."
One of the things that FM did to "liven up" the atmosphere was say things to irritate. On one occasion, looking to push Lulie's buttons said, "Belief is a matter of customary muscle tension!"
Can you think of any better way to put down someone's faith?
On the other hand, if we look at this statement without the faith-bashing overtones, thinking about Alexander's main point, we can see that how we do things - speak, work, move - is all in terms of what we believe is important to get the job done. That boils down to customary muscle tension. In the video posted just before this, we see an Alexander teacher who believes that in order to speak convincingly, it is important to pull the head back and stiffen the suboccipital muscles, shortening the stature and creating excess rib compression.
For vertebrates, that activity impairs optimum function. Things don't work right if you keep that up for long. The neat thing about Alexander is that he says, "Stop it!" Having a teacher to help you learn how to stop it is a good thing.
So are you ready to open the door to reducing muscle tension?
Contact Rockford Alexander Technique at 815-670-0245.
My teacher, Kitty Wielopolska and her friend, Lulie Westfeldt were in attendance in the first teacher training course in 1929. Lulie was a Southern Baptist, FM was at least "non-religious."
One of the things that FM did to "liven up" the atmosphere was say things to irritate. On one occasion, looking to push Lulie's buttons said, "Belief is a matter of customary muscle tension!"
Can you think of any better way to put down someone's faith?
On the other hand, if we look at this statement without the faith-bashing overtones, thinking about Alexander's main point, we can see that how we do things - speak, work, move - is all in terms of what we believe is important to get the job done. That boils down to customary muscle tension. In the video posted just before this, we see an Alexander teacher who believes that in order to speak convincingly, it is important to pull the head back and stiffen the suboccipital muscles, shortening the stature and creating excess rib compression.
For vertebrates, that activity impairs optimum function. Things don't work right if you keep that up for long. The neat thing about Alexander is that he says, "Stop it!" Having a teacher to help you learn how to stop it is a good thing.
So are you ready to open the door to reducing muscle tension?
Contact Rockford Alexander Technique at 815-670-0245.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Help For Function-Related Headaches
In this well-done video, (I only go into the problems with it with another Alexander teacher) we see three settings where some good learning is taking place. Each of them are work settings where you can see the simplicity and utility of Alexander's Technique. It gives you a structure to do things in a better, less wearing manner. My only warning is that you cannot assume that if you have headaches, it is because you are stiffening your neck. If there is a structural problem causing abnormal hormone balance (which can cause headaches), it is more efficient to correct that with upper cervical NUCCA care.
Are you ready to enjoy more ease with your work in Rockford, IL?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
