Alexander Technique with Penny O'Connor MSTAT
Alexander Technique Lessons in London and Alonnisos
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One of the things that we as AT practioner need is good solid science to back up our claims of efficacy and improvement in functioning. Colleagues in Cinncinatti have done this wonderfully well in a study working with surgeons using laparoscopy, who stand for long hours in awkward positions wielding their wand-like instruments whilst gazing down a view-finder.
Sadly can’t imagine that exciting experiment being carried over to UK with all the cuts going on. But you can read all about it on:
Jeffrey M Schwartz in The Mind and the Brain writes of his studies on patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
He has successfully helped them by asking them to consiously inhbit the brain circuitry that creates the disorder and giving them the direction or instruction to do something else to create a new neural pathway.
He claims this as to be something very new, so I assume he has not come across FM Alexander’s work on consciously inhibiting brain circuitry of his vocal habit, best described in Chapter 1 of The Use of The Self, Evolution of a Technique. The exciting thing is that inthe last ten years this conscious direction has been scientifically proved with PEP scans to alter brain chemistry. FM didn’t have modern scientific investigations to back him up.
In an interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycnIO4o9vbE he states that he helped Leonardo diCaprio on The Aviator in portraying Howard Hughes who also suffered OCD: not only in his characterisation but also in relieving Leo from the symptoms afterwards as being a good method actor he actually gave himself OCD for 3 months after filming had stopped.
‘when actors portraya role they change how the seratonin in their brain works.’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7ucqimdau8&feature=related
Having a habit you wish to change is not the same as having OCD, but there is a correlation in the method of how to overcome it.
Just finished a fun and succesful week working withe 6 teachers/trainees on Alonnisos. Here’s what one of the participants wrote:
I find it difficult to put into words what I feel about the week we have just spent with you. I will find the words, of course and I will write an article and feed back for you, But for now I just want to let you know, with a large lump in my throat, and to give you a huge thank you for all of it. I don’t think in all my many years I have had such an experience and gained so much from just a week. You were so generous, perceptive, caring and, yes, loving in a very directed way. You gave each of us something special and individual.
Thank you Maureen James Angela Susan Anthea and Michel for making it such a special week.
There are some vey good audio interviews with practitioners of Ally Teck on different aspects of the Technique.
the latest one is by David Gorman, who trained me. Go listen!
snorkelling
I have had a very good two workshops in Alonnisos so far this summer and two more to go:
chilling out after lunch
teachers week is starting Friday 16th, booked out, and still a couple of places left for all comers on September 3rd.
to the monastery
Here are some photos of classic moments on boat trips and walks:
disembarking at Skantzoura
Experience Speaks for the Alexander Technique from Thomas Glen Cook on Vimeo.
This lovely little film has just come out by Thomas Glen Cook. http://www.vimeo.com/12544184
It is a lovely selection of Alexander students talking of their experience with the work, with some footage of lessons: guitarist/songwriter, politician, artists, bassoonist, actors, blind students, young people, older people….
It is an unhurried presentation – the work in action – student based and lasts about 20minutes. I highly recommend. Here’s the intro:
“This film does not define what the Alexander Technique is, nor did it ever intend to.It is rather an attempt to capture an impression, a rough sketch of Alexander’s discoveries with a mosaic of voices.
For those who have had lessons, these voices will surely resonate with a sense of familiarity. For those who have never encountered the Alexander Technique, perhaps these voices will spark a curiosity to learn more.”
Yes folks, Alexander himself has appeared in two works of fiction:
FM Alexander teaching
the best known is Aldous Huxleys’ Eyeless in Gaza. You can read all about this and others at http://alexandertechnique.com/ats/fiction/
One day there will be a book or play all set around the work. But I haven’t finished it yet….
You can also see a short film excert of Alexander on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbeXjewVmME Very raunchy picture behind him!
in which Richard Armitage describes his routine of lying down in semi-supine every morning as part of his healthy life style:
‘It’s a way of helping my voiuce production and control, but when my stress levels are high during filming, it gives me a break. I lie on the floor with a book over my head….(SURELY HE MEANS UNDER??)…….while I focus on the exercise. On the shoot on South Aftica I fell asleep pretty much everytime I did it.’
It is true. if I am in need of sleep, and I lie down in semi-supine on the floor….well it’s the best cat nap I ever have, and my back is soooolong and wide when I wake up.
The picture is of Misha a theatre student of mine lying down in the dressing room at the Criterion Theatre in London’s West End before the ArtsEducational Showcase this March.
Bit cramped but still possible for getting the voice and the nerves sorted.
http://www.thoughts.com/shinetruth/blog/Practicing-the-Alexander-Technique-560609/
This is very well written and observed, particularly useful if you are still thinking Alexander is all about posture!
running
Very pleased to hear from Peter a long term student of mine that he knocked off a further 15 minutes from his time in the London Marathon this year. Here’s what he said last year…
‘Thanks for all you your guidance and help over the past few months leading up to my London Marathon run – I was delighted to have got round in 3h 16 minutes and beat my previous time by a whopping 41 min. I came to you in search of advice on how to move my limbs more naturally but I have benefited from you teaching in a much wider way. Not only can I run now faster, longer, with less pain and more enjoyment but I’ve also learnt how to focus on the present moment in all aspects of my life, removing the stresses and strains that previously occupied my mind and making me feel more energetic. I always look forward to our weekly sessions as a chance for relaxation and learning more about the technique……
It’s all true! Thanks again, you’ve really revolutionised how I look at the mad world which I live in!’
