In these lazy, hazy days of summer, do you have some best practices that you do to maintain your free movement and also enhance your knowledge of the body/mind connection so that you are creating positive changes in your freedom of movement, breath and balance?
I don't know about your summer, but things do slow down a bit for me in august, and I have more time to reflect and to make choices about how I want to spend my day.
So often when I work with clients, I hear from them that they can't seem to slow down and take time to take care of themselves. One of the fundamental teachings of the Alexander Technique is to become aware and conscious of our movement choices and the BEST way to become more aware is to get conscious and notice the way we are moving.
Usually we don't choose; we just move. And usually mindlessly! What happens when you make it a "practice" TO SLOW DOWN and notice how you are doing the movement activity? It feels GOOD!
It is facinating to me that during the actual Alexander Technique lesson we slow down so much, that we can experience a totally different movement progression, say in walking or reaching up for a teacup on a high shelf. By practicing the activity with more awareness all kinds of things start revealing themsleves...we notice that our shoulders have become tense, our necks get tight, our breathing becomes restricted...why when we do the activity with awareness and the "fingertips leading the arm" does the activity become easier while actually be successful in continuing to breathe?
This is the way the person is designed to move, with awareness and co-ordination, and directing ourselves into free movement.
We say in the Alexander Technique that awareness is the first step. If you aren't aware of your movment choice, you are not choosing, but instead you are letting your habits take over.
Of course some habits are fine; we shouldn't have to think about walking every time we have to go somewhere! But paying attention to the amount of unnecessary tension in our walking, and then having a process in which to reduce that tension, well that's what feels so different and so good!
Whenever I start with a new student, I give them the "doorknob" exercise" to do at home. That is, to pause just as they are about to open a door, and notice the excess tension in their necks and shoulders, and see if they can reduce the tension before opening the door.
this exercise works so well, because just like the many times we sit and stand in a day, we are often opeing doors in a day. Each time we do it, we can employ the practice of pausing, directing ourselves into length and width, and freeing our breath! Like a refreshing summer rain...
have a lovely August, friends and students! Hopefully I will see you really soon, butr meanwhile, enjoy a simple "best practice" and see if it makes your day go a little better!
Sincerely,
Diane
I don't know about your summer, but things do slow down a bit for me in august, and I have more time to reflect and to make choices about how I want to spend my day.
So often when I work with clients, I hear from them that they can't seem to slow down and take time to take care of themselves. One of the fundamental teachings of the Alexander Technique is to become aware and conscious of our movement choices and the BEST way to become more aware is to get conscious and notice the way we are moving.
Usually we don't choose; we just move. And usually mindlessly! What happens when you make it a "practice" TO SLOW DOWN and notice how you are doing the movement activity? It feels GOOD!
It is facinating to me that during the actual Alexander Technique lesson we slow down so much, that we can experience a totally different movement progression, say in walking or reaching up for a teacup on a high shelf. By practicing the activity with more awareness all kinds of things start revealing themsleves...we notice that our shoulders have become tense, our necks get tight, our breathing becomes restricted...why when we do the activity with awareness and the "fingertips leading the arm" does the activity become easier while actually be successful in continuing to breathe?
This is the way the person is designed to move, with awareness and co-ordination, and directing ourselves into free movement.
We say in the Alexander Technique that awareness is the first step. If you aren't aware of your movment choice, you are not choosing, but instead you are letting your habits take over.
Of course some habits are fine; we shouldn't have to think about walking every time we have to go somewhere! But paying attention to the amount of unnecessary tension in our walking, and then having a process in which to reduce that tension, well that's what feels so different and so good!
Whenever I start with a new student, I give them the "doorknob" exercise" to do at home. That is, to pause just as they are about to open a door, and notice the excess tension in their necks and shoulders, and see if they can reduce the tension before opening the door.
this exercise works so well, because just like the many times we sit and stand in a day, we are often opeing doors in a day. Each time we do it, we can employ the practice of pausing, directing ourselves into length and width, and freeing our breath! Like a refreshing summer rain...
have a lovely August, friends and students! Hopefully I will see you really soon, butr meanwhile, enjoy a simple "best practice" and see if it makes your day go a little better!
Sincerely,
Diane
Diane L. Sussman is a Nationally Certified Teacher of the Alexander Technique who has been serving clients for more than 25 years. She is an expert in movement co-ordination, and brings her enthusiasm for wellness, free movement and poise into the lives of her students throughout the country.
Also an Energy Healer and Body Transformation Coach, Diane would be happy to answer questions you may have about next steps for your future embodiment of health and well being! (215) 563-1271
Also an Energy Healer and Body Transformation Coach, Diane would be happy to answer questions you may have about next steps for your future embodiment of health and well being! (215) 563-1271
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