The Work on my Self

I think about my posture, form and the way I’m using my self many times throughout the day, and try to do things better with varying degrees of success and attention.

Every so often, before doing an activity, I manage to completely stop myself and focus on the main directions I find work best for me:

1. Neck free
2. Head not moving back or down
3. Spine lengthening
4. Not arching the back
5. Not pushing the hips forward
6. Legs releasing away from the hips
7. Shoulders releasing away from each other

Most of the time, however, I find that in the pause I’ve created in order to give the directions, my mind wanders off and I lose track of the original end. Then when I remember what I’m supposed to be doing I either “end gain” and go straight for it (with the habitual pattern of movement) or I just go through a cycle of:

1. Become aware of an end
2. Stop
3. Give directions
4. Mind wanders off
5. Remember the end
6. Go to 2.

Sometimes, when my mind doesn’t wander off, and I just give the directions many times and then make a fresh decision about what I’m going to do, at the very point where I shift my attention to making the decision, I can feel all the directions take effect - my neck frees and my spine lengthens. Then, keeping with the directions, I do what I had decided upon and make the movement in a new and unfamiliar way (a good way), and I also notice my mind is so clear - all the chatter has stopped.

I don’t seem to be able to do this on demand though, as I said most of the time when I try to give directions my attention wanders off and it just doesn’t work like this.

The things I’ve noticed about when it does work:

• Although I’ve stopped myself and inhibited any immediate reaction to the best of my ability, I’m still fully aware of the end I want to gain - this musn’t get forgotten and sidelined by the process.
  • Reminds of a quote I read in the Edward Maisel book (I think) about not forgetting the aim: “doing something for no reason is a sign of insanity” an adequate description of the cycle I mentioned above.
• As I give the directions, I think of their effect right through the movement I’m going to make (while still not doing anything) - like making a plan for the movement. I think of the whole movement with the neck being free (direction 1) and then the whole thing again with the neck being free and the head moving forward and up (directions 1 & 2), then again with 1, 2 & 3 and so on until I have them all ‘running’.
  • This is very “3 dimensional” thinking
  • When it’s working properly I can feel something in the muscles as I give the directions, but I never focus on them, this is just something I’m aware of in the background. It’s like the muscles which the directions are intended to relax are releasing a little bit, in preparation to relax throughout the movement.
• I’m not worried about whether I’m doing it right. Note: I think it might be good to remind myself about this as the first step every time.
• I’m not thinking about the process, I’m just doing it.
• I’ve done it both on the spur of the moment and when I’ve really set out to “do” the technique.
• I’m not too focused on anything in particular.
• My mind isn’t racing off thinking about other things - although as I said when I do manage it it really clears my mind - I’d like to be able to do it in order to stop my mind racing off.

For having tried to learn the Alexander Technique for over a year, I’ve probably actually only managed this really successfully a few times. I think I need a bit more discipline (without fear/tension/stiffening). I’m sure when I do it right, though, this is the Alexander Technique…

If only I could do it more often…

The man himself:

What can I do to execute the inhibition-direction-decision-action procedure more successfully? Hints to self:

• Be more confident and don’t care about the result. Any concern over whether I’m doing it right causes apprehension & tension which dooms me to failure. I really do care about doing it right, but the means whereby I shall do it right is to not care whether it is right. This is hard to do
• Review my blog to pick out the important points I’ve noted.

Semi-Supine

When lying semi-supine don’t try to do anything, just lie there (thanks for the hint Dan). Reminds me of:

You do not need to leave your room.
Remain sitting at your table and listen.
Do not even listen, simply wait.
Do not even wait, be quite still and solitary.
The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked,
it has no choice,
it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.
- Franz Kafka