Self Study
For the first 6 months of learning the Alexander Technique, I had no lessons – I read the following books:
- The Use of the Self – F. M. Alexander. Essential reading I think, particularly the Evolution of a Technique in which Alexander describes how he came up with the technique. This really needs careful study and will make more sense with repeated reading as you go on and learn more about the body.
- The Alexander Technique Workbook – Richard Brennan. Very good, diagrams of the spine etc are useful, fairly helpful if you’re trying to work out how to ‘do it’.
- The Alexander Technique – Liz Hodginson. More a description of the benefits, not much practical advice on how to do it, not recommended for this reason.
I also read all information available through these links. Uprighting.com is good and has lots of animations & pictures – although it doesn’t really mention the Alexander Technique much.
This description of an ‘Alexander Strategy’ is interesting, as I’ve often thought about this sort of thing but never so clearly as its been written here. Only came across this a couple of weeks ago, before this I hadn’t really thought much about the ‘upflow’ in the spine which seems so fundamental to the way her teachers have taught it.
Recently read “The Essential Writings of F Matthias Alexander” – summaries of Alexander’s books by Edward Maisel – introduction is very useful. It also includes an article by Frank Pierce Jones which includes excellent schematic diagrams of the muscular structures involved in the neck. Note to self – find more stuff by him.
Currently reading Man’s Supreme Inheritance by Alexander.
What I missed from the books
Not that they definitely weren’t in the books, but I didn’t give these things sufficient importance:
- Inhibition is the key – don’t neglect it by focusing on directions. Directions are really only there to help inhibition – as a check to make sure it happens properly.
- How you direct your attention is important – you should not ‘focus’ on the neck, the attention should be on the whole body. When giving a direction, it’s like putting it in the post and sending it off, trusting it will arrive in the future – you don’t focus on the area until you feel something happen. The attention should be kept as wide as possible. You can give the directions as many times as necessary – it doesn’t have to happen immediately.
- Don’t get frustrated. Easier said than done but you can only ‘do it’ with a relaxed attitude of ‘whatever happens, happens’
Things I only got from a teacher
- Specific pointers about what I’m doing wrong
- Feedback as to when I’m doing it right. Sometimes I didn’t even realise anything had happened!
- Images & directions to help with these things
I’d say if you’re going to learn on your own, you can do it, but you’ll save yourself so much time with a few initial lessons, and then probably some top-ups every now and then or if you get stuck. Which you will!
I shall continue to update this journal with relections on my experiences so far.
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