How Emotions Cement into Postural Attitudes

Years ago in Australia, a barrister by the name of John came to have lessons with my sister – also an Alexander teacher. Ro insisted that he take a lesson every day.

However, he was unresponsive. 

One of the key features of a lesson is being touched. The intention of the teacher's touch is to guide you to move posturally in a new way. This then helps you do what you want to do: to breath, to stretch, to play music or sing. Anything at all.

In John's case, he was exploring sitting, standing and walking. Usually a student is responsive to their teacher's touch – and the result is pleasantly surprising. However, touching John was like trying to influence a piece of wood. Nothing happened. This went on for several weeks.

Then one day, that all changed.

John came in with a bright smile on his face, declared he felt "fantastic" and – for the first time - was incredibly responsive. He was moving smoothly, changing his breathing patterns, getting taller and generally having the best time he had ever had in a lesson.

"John," my sister remarked after 10 minutes of this, 

"What happened? You are so different today!"

"Well Rosemary," he replied, "It's interesting you say that. I had a very vivid and peculiar dream last night."

My sister was intrigued; she asked to hear more.

"I dreamt I was a snake. And I keep shedding my skins – so many of them!"

And this was what was happening to John physically. Postural attitudes cemented into place by years of belief were finally melting away, laying bare the original grace and beauty of his movement system.

Alexander touch had been finally penetrating his system all along - despite his initial unconscious resistance.

Alexander touch is like evolutionary engineering – you’re reset you to evolutionary defaults.

A teacher can assist to return you to the unencumbered postural movements you manifested as a child. You can see fabulous posture in little human creatures, but as they grow into adults, it is mostly lost.

Touching as a teacher is a way to reset student’s system back to its original settings. Don’t take too much credit when you’re successful – credit goes to Nature and evolution!
In John's case, it happened overnight – but only after a long period of input. Which is why no student must give up. There's no saying how long it will be – except to make the point that it is no quicker than learning a new musical instrument or studying martial arts.

Evolutionary engineering takes time. 

That's why I have ThinkingBody course – to give teachers a wide range of tools to help their evolutionary engineering. When you get a student like John, you need all the help you can get.

You can read more here – it’s discounted 40% this month. Enter this coupon code as you purchase:

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