How can we "allow it to happen" if we are at the same time "looking for results"?
The "end-gainer" in us, won't let it happen, will want to be sure that it happens.
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
The "step"
Alun Thomas, mentioned once that Margaret Goldie (one of F.M.Alexander assistants) used a step in her lessons.
I have built myself such device, of about 50*50cms and 10 cms height, and found it extremely useful.
It gives many choices, for example which leg leads, to stay on the step or stepping back, etc, etc.
I use it also for practicing "lounge", by keeping one leg at the floor, instead of taking the full step.
I have built myself such device, of about 50*50cms and 10 cms height, and found it extremely useful.
It gives many choices, for example which leg leads, to stay on the step or stepping back, etc, etc.
I use it also for practicing "lounge", by keeping one leg at the floor, instead of taking the full step.
Monday, December 13, 2004
Simplicity
"All the darned fools in the world believe they are actually doing what think they are doing"
F.M.Alexander, Teaching Aphorisms
What has this to do with simplicity?
Let's consider a man who has a bad habitual posture he tells himself, or is told, to stand up straight.
If he has his back slouched, in order to correct this defect, he could for example pull his shoulders backwards.
What he "thinks he is doing", is standing up straight. But what he is "actually doing", is adding the pull of his shoulders to his habitual bad standing posture.
So, whatever we "do" to correct a specific defect, it will only complicate the matters further.
"A rose is a rose is a rose ..."
F.M.Alexander, Teaching Aphorisms
What has this to do with simplicity?
Let's consider a man who has a bad habitual posture he tells himself, or is told, to stand up straight.
If he has his back slouched, in order to correct this defect, he could for example pull his shoulders backwards.
What he "thinks he is doing", is standing up straight. But what he is "actually doing", is adding the pull of his shoulders to his habitual bad standing posture.
So, whatever we "do" to correct a specific defect, it will only complicate the matters further.
"A rose is a rose is a rose ..."
Monday, November 15, 2004
Forward and Up reconsidered ...
Referred to Joe Armstrong’s articles "Reconsidering Forward and Up", and "Forward and Up reconsidered" :
(available online at http://home.earthlink.net/~jarmstrongatech/ )
Why make things unnecessarily complicated?
It is "forward and up in relation to the spine", and it is not a "position".
(available online at http://home.earthlink.net/~jarmstrongatech/ )
Why make things unnecessarily complicated?
It is "forward and up in relation to the spine", and it is not a "position".
Monday, November 08, 2004
Mechanical Advantage
I believe that positions of mechanical advantage, or in other words, the "right way of doing according to the Alexander Technique", are not always advantageous.
"Don´t you see that if you get perfection today, you will be further away from perfection than you have ever been."
F. M. Alexander, Teaching Aphorisms
One should be able to carry normal activities under varying conditions, not only "ideal" conditions.
On the other hand, positions of mechanical dis-advantage provide a strong stimulus to coordinate oneself.
"Don´t you see that if you get perfection today, you will be further away from perfection than you have ever been."
F. M. Alexander, Teaching Aphorisms
One should be able to carry normal activities under varying conditions, not only "ideal" conditions.
On the other hand, positions of mechanical dis-advantage provide a strong stimulus to coordinate oneself.
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Freeing the neck
If your neck feels stiff, that is not to say your neck ''is'' stiff.
F.M. Alexander, Teaching Aphorisms
I) It makes sense the other way around
If your neck feels free, that is not to say your neck is free.
II) Cause and effect
By itself or through the throat (which is an associated part to the neck), the neck is part of several interconnected mechanisms:
F.M. Alexander, Teaching Aphorisms
I) It makes sense the other way around
If your neck feels free, that is not to say your neck is free.
II) Cause and effect
By itself or through the throat (which is an associated part to the neck), the neck is part of several interconnected mechanisms:
- Posture
- Sight
- Breath
- Speech
- Mastication
So that if your neck feels stiff, it might be that it's because your jaw is stiff.
Monday, November 01, 2004
The head leads, and the body follows ...
If the head leads (by "doing") , the body will not follow.
On the other hand, by following the body (i.e. "non-doing") , the head leads.
By following the body, head and body move as one, "altogether". And then of course the head will lead.
On the other hand, by following the body (i.e. "non-doing") , the head leads.
By following the body, head and body move as one, "altogether". And then of course the head will lead.
Saturday, October 30, 2004
Conscious Control
There is a wealth of literature on Alexander Technique, but you will find almost no reference at all to this subject, save from F.M.Alexander own books.
For me, what F.M. meant by Conscious Control, should be conceived as an altered state of mind. It should be our normal state of mind, but we have lost it in our childhood.
It is well described and in an accesible way, in A.Maslow's book "Towards a psychology of being".
For me, what F.M. meant by Conscious Control, should be conceived as an altered state of mind. It should be our normal state of mind, but we have lost it in our childhood.
It is well described and in an accesible way, in A.Maslow's book "Towards a psychology of being".
Friday, October 29, 2004
Use and functioning
"Use affects functioning", is according to Dr W.Barlow "The Alexander Principle".
What is "Use"?"
Use" is the cause, and "functioning" are the effects.
"Use" is previous to any activity (i.e. functioning), including posture, movement and even thinking!
Joe Armstrong deals with two different kinds of “use” in F.M. wriings, “manner of use” and “conditions of use”:
“Manner of use pertains, of course, to how we do things - respond, behave, direct, etc. - whether we do them consciously or subconsciously. Conditions of use pertains mainly to the quality of muscle tonus (anywhere from extreme tightness to extreme flaccidity) that exists in us regardless of how good or how poor our manner of use might be at any given moment”
Joe Armstrong, “A crucial distinction: manner and conditions of use”
The Alexander Technique is about “manner of use”:
What is "Use"?"
Use" is the cause, and "functioning" are the effects.
"Use" is previous to any activity (i.e. functioning), including posture, movement and even thinking!
Joe Armstrong deals with two different kinds of “use” in F.M. wriings, “manner of use” and “conditions of use”:
“Manner of use pertains, of course, to how we do things - respond, behave, direct, etc. - whether we do them consciously or subconsciously. Conditions of use pertains mainly to the quality of muscle tonus (anywhere from extreme tightness to extreme flaccidity) that exists in us regardless of how good or how poor our manner of use might be at any given moment”
Joe Armstrong, “A crucial distinction: manner and conditions of use”
The Alexander Technique is about “manner of use”:
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