Author: Penny O’Connor

I have been having a wonderful week swapping work with Pippa Bondy, a teaching colleague from my days when we trained in the Alexander Technique in North London. We walk down to a special bay nearby every morning for some swimming and Chi Kung and then walk back up the steep path. I find again that place of non-doing, where letting the legs go as I clamber up the hill moves me gently easily lightly…..in the water I let the arms go and as they automatically sink into the water beneath me, I find myself propelled forward effortlessly, no pushing, connected, conscious…..
Pippa has develpoed a shamanic healing practice and I recommend you visit her site www.ancienthealingways.co.uk – a very practised and sensitive guide.

What’s going on? I asked Justin as he paused perplexed for rather a long time during our lesson together this week. ‘mental gymnastics’ he replied. And we laughed because that’s exactly how it is – a brain workout.  Inhibition and direction:
  “Have a thought of walking, then say no, I’m not immediately going to walk, but I I’m ging to keep my directions going. Then ask yourself if you are free to sit in the chair.  If you are free to sit, then you are free to walk…..”

“At the still point of the turning

world .Neither flesh nor fleshless;

Neither from nor towards; at the

still point, there the dance is.”

 T.S.Eliot

Finding the still point, non-doing, non-interfering, ‘coming into our backs’., not end-gaining but staying present…..it’s at the heart of our work.

After 20 minutes in semi supine on my table last night, I asked my student Mark how he was feeling.  After some thought, “Unwrinkled…”  came the reply. Love it.
And last Friday an acting student who I’d been working with for 4 terms on her terribly stiff neck and shoulders at last manged to let go. “I feel my head is turning on a ball bearing!” she gasped in wonder and surprise as she looked around the room and floated up from the chair…..