My friend’s grandchild, shows us how it’s done – head balanced, back long and wide, hip knee and ankle joints free…..
I found this written on a blog site on FB and loved it. Wanted to pass it on. Written by Alan Bowers, an Alexander teacher in New York:
The Alexander Technique. It’s art alright, but it’s everywhere, art in the ordinary. It’s not just for actors and singers. It’s not just for the cool kids or the arbiters of taste. It’s not highfalutin. It has nothing to do with race, gender, or sexual orientation. It’s in the way you lift a child if you choose to do it mindfully and without hurting your back or that of the child. It’s in way you sit on a toilet, if you’d really like to do that for the rest of your life or as long as you possibly can without help. It’s in the way you touch your mate. A free wrist on a free arm is crazy sexy. The Alexander Technique is in everything you do if you want it to be. It’s art in the ordinary, the “how to of how you do everything.” ( Judith Stern)
Just to let you know I will be returning to my London practice from September 16th and my appointments are already booking up…..so feel free to email me and get your lessons scheduled in for the autumn….
Meantime here’s a tip for walking up stairs effortlessly – imagine you’re stepping into a cardboard box instead. The movement of stepping onto or into something is the same – but by thinking of stepping into something, you take away the expected effort and allow yourself to stay supported longer on the back leg. A good example of inhibition in action!
A colleague has written this wonderful blog comparing the entrance to Monet’s Water Lilies at L’Orangerie in Paris (which is a favourite of mine) with the main principle of Alexander principle , ‘inhibition’. Do read it. It’s fabulous.
http://markjosefsberg.com/alexander-technique/alexander-technique-uninhibited-inhibition-in-paris
That’s what one of my student’s said today as she lay in the table : It’s like the Tardis from Dr. Who – more space on the inside of my body than I thought!
For new students or those considering having lessons, this link will give you an idea of the sort of results you might experience after a few months…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YBvfoijQd4
I look at this again after a year and still feel amazed and proud of these students.
Come and join us in Alonnisos, that magical Greek Isle , for sun sea and exploration in the timeless ease grace and energy of the Alexander Technique.
Places still left for the workshop July 5th – 13th. Below is a picture of the morning mediatational walk down to the local bay for our morning swim and Chi Kung
Email me for further details alexpen@onetel.com, or visit my other website www.alexanderingreece.com
In this film on You Tube you will see the silent hands of an Alexander Teacher working with Gabriel as he sings ‘baby lonestar’.
It looks so cool!
Just set the dates for this year’s fun and learning on the Greek island
July 5th – 12th all levels
July 19th -26th teachers trainees and advanced students
Aug 30th – September 6th all levels
And new this year a special week of lessons, accommodation included, from June 14th – 21st. In this week you can choose either to have lessons once a day or twice a day, and you aren’t tied to workshop activity and timetable, but still join up with other Alexandrians if you wish.
I will still be offering individual courses and lessons throughout the summer from mid June to mid July if you can’t make these dates or don’t like workshops.
Here’s a pic from last year’s – the morning meet before walking down the mule track to the sea.
It’s just finished, my teacher’s week in Alonnisos and if you go to my Alexander Technique in Greece Facebook page you will see lots of pix documenting the week. Great fun had by all! There are still a couple of places left for my workshop first week in September…
