Uncategorized – Body Learning Blog: Recent Episodes
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Exploring the Alexander Technique and the Discoveries of F. Matthias Alexander with Robert Rickover of Lincoln, Nebraska and Toronto, Canada
I’m always experimenting with new Alexander Technique self-directions and the other day I came up with this one: “I am not constricting myself” – a variant of the more frequently used “I am not compressing myself”. Both of these are Negative Directions, and for both the Freedom Direction version could be “I am free”.
Alexander Technique directions, and the Technique more generally, provide a powerful way to avoid creating excess tension in response to external events.
You can learn more about Alexander Technique self-directions from this episode of the Alexander Technique Podcast:
https://bodylearning.buzzsprout.com/382/271700-a-brief-history-of-alexander-technique-directions.mp3 Like other directions, this new direction can also be applied to specific parts or regions of your body. For example: “I am not constricting my neck, or “….my face” or “…my feet” – the list of possibilities is limitless.
I decided to learn a little about the animal whose very name refers to constriction: the dreaded Boa Constrictor. I discovered that contrary to popular belief, Boas are not usually dangerous for humans and they don’t actually squeeze so hard that their prey stops breathing right away. Rather it kills by constricting it’s victim just enough to shut off blood flow to the brain and heart.
We humans sometimes act as though we were a self-constricting species. We’re prone to tighten our bodies in all sorts of harmful ways that interfere with our natural functioning.
This is nothing new. Sure, there’s a lot going on in today’s high-stress situations, excessive use of video screens etc. that can be a stimulus to self-constrict. But we’ve been doing it for thousands of years. The Bible, for example, has many references to self-constricting: stiffening the neck, hardening the heart and so on. In one particularly scathing rebuke, God says: “I am planning such a misfortune against this clan that you will not be able to free your necks from it. You will not be able to walk erect.” – Micah 2, verse 3
Unlike the Boa’s victims, we don’t usually die from all this harmful self-inflicted tension. But it certainly gets in our way, and can lead to severe and chronic pain, poor posture and the like.
And unlike the Boa’s victims – rodents, lizards, mice and the like, who are painfully aware they are being constricted – we often have no idea that we are doing this to ourselves. The effects of our habits of self-constricting have become so deeply ingrained that they have often come to feel normal.
One of the reasons I sometimes prefer to use the word constricting instead of compressing in a self-direction is that, for me at least, it conveys more the idea of an action originating from within us that we’d like to stop. I also like the word because those self-constricting patterns are often exceedingly complex and, again for me, the word compressing implies a little less complexity.
If you’d like, try some constricting directions for yourself and see how they compare to their compressing direction counterparts, or other Alexander directions you are using. Please let me know, below and on Facebook, what you discover. And if you are not clear just how to use an Alexander direction effectively, this podcast, also from the Body Learning Podcast, may be helpful:
https://bodylearning.buzzsprout.com/382/136406-effective-ways-to-use-alexander-technique-directions.mp3
American Country Music dwells a lot on self-inflicted tension in its many forms. Here the Late Great Hank Williams learns that modern medicine is often powerless to help:
Boa image Copyright : 3quarks
In a previous post, Mind and Body go to Couple’s Therapy, Mind and Body talked about their issues with each other, and how they hoped the Alexander Technique would help. Arrangements were made to visit a teacher of the Technique.
A few weeks later I thought it would be interesting to see how things are going with them. As it turned out, they are no longer they, but one Self. So I interviewed Self about what happened.
Me: It’s must have been a big change going from Mind and Body to Self.
Self: Yes, in many ways it was. I’ve come to realize that those two aspects on myself, that were trying to operate independently as though they were separate parts, were causing themselves a great deal of unnecessary trouble.
Me: Could you elaborate a little on that?
Self: I’ll do my best. But I have to say first of all that this new unity is quite new to me and there is a lot about it Il don’t fully understand.
Anyway, I (back then it was we) went to a very nice lady who took plenty of time to listen to the predicament my Mind and Self found themselves in – the constant bickering and blaming. Once we were finished, she started the Alexander Technique lesson.
And here’s what was so unexpected, and so amazing really. She didn’t really talk about our problems in any sort of obvious way. Instead, she used her hands to guide me into an easier way of sitting, and later standing and walking. I felt freer than I can ever remember.
Me: That must have been quite an experience!
Self: It was indeed. I wanted her to continue with that kind of guidance forever. But as she said, “I can’t follow you around all day. And, even if I could, it’s you who has to really make the changes in yourself. Right now, I’m just showing you what’s possible.”
Me: So how were you able to make those changes yourself?
Self: It was both simple and quite challenging at first. She introduced me to what are called Alexander Technique “directions” which are basically statements of intent – such as “I am free.” or “My neck is free.” or “My breathing is free.” It sounds very simple – simplistic even – but those directions can produce immediate positive results as I discovered during that first lesson.
Me: Sounds easy. What made them challenging?
Self: Well, I did say “simple” – but not necessarily easy. She explained that the way in which those directions are self-delivered is at least as important as their content. They need to have a very soft quality – nothing pushy or demanding. And they’re not to be clung to. Indeed, as she pointed out, it inevitable that I’ll forget them. When I notice that, I just gently bring them back. She also alerted me to a few common “traps” that one can easily fall into.
I won’t bore you with all the details, but it did take some time for me to able to self-direct effectively. The whole learning process made it absolutely clear to me that there was no real separation between “Mind and “Body.”
Me: Could you say more about that?
Self: Sure. As I mentioned before, I found that an Alexander Technique direction, properly delivered, produces an immediate physical change.
Similarly, putting myself in what my Alexander teacher called a “position of mechanical advantage” (she often called it the “Monkey”) or in the Constructive Rest position has a more subtle, and slower, effect of my mental state.
The goes same for “Power Poses” which Alexander teacher Imogen Ragone wrote about in her blog post Power, Presence, Confidence and Vulnerability.
Me: I can see that Mind and Body have an extremely close connection. But are they actually unified?
Self: Good question! I think I’ll defer to a podcast interview for the Alexander Technique Podcast you did with Alexander Technique teacher John Macy, in which that very question was asked (by you) and answered (by him)!
You can listen to it here:
http://bodylearning.buzzsprout.com/382/313810-mind-body-unity-and-the-alexander-technique.mp3 Me: Good answer Self! In fact that interview came about because I wasn’t able to come up with a good answer to the question myself.
Thank you so much for the interview Self!
Self: You’re most welcome Robert!
Me: I’d be very interested in hearing from Alexander Technique students and teachers about how they’ve come to see the Mind-Body question, based on their own experiences with the Technique. Please leave your comments below.
Image purchased from 123rtf.com