The AT world has a forum on the internet and this was quoted in some discussion on neuroscience:
All changes even the most longed for have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another Anatole France
I found this to be true during my training especially. I love the word melancholy. My student from Brazil used it the same day I read this quote. Has a wonderful nuance to it. So different from ‘depression’ or ‘sadness’. I used to mourn some of my old habits as I let them go. It was good to honour their use to me in the past. ‘Oh you mean I don’t have to try anymore?? After all those years of trying so hard to be right/good/perfect….etc etc’ Relief and melancholy….melancholy and then relief and joy and wahoo!!!
Some come to the Work wanting relief from back pain, not realising the profound nature of Alexander Technique. and believe it is possible to change their postural set with no emotional or life-changing consequences. Changing their job, deciding to move house, to get married or divorced has nothing to do with the fact that they are having lessons in change, does it? Of course not, these things may have happened anyway………..
